Byetta

Is anyone noticing a difference giving injections in the thigh versus the abdomen? I have been getting so dizzy and have been doing abdominal injections but have switched to the thigh region and the dizziness is better, though the headache is a little worse now.

I had problems with high numbers after lunch/before supper and in the morning.  A low carb lunch as Warren has tried did work for me, but it didn't help with the morning fastings that were high.  Some wine before bed brought the morning fasting down a bit, but ultimately  I had to give in to going back to taking my amaryl with the byetta.  I take it about 8 pm and now my morning blood sugars are low hundreds and after lunch spikes have gone, too.  Maybe in the future, I'll be able to drop it, but not now.  I also take metformin twice a day.  If you are on other meds with the byetta, you need to be prepared for the occasional hypoglycemic episode and keep glucose tablets with you all the time.  So far, I have been pretty fortunate and been staying nice and even. 

I'm no longer nauseated or dizzy, so chins up guys, it passes.  (some of the dizziness I was having was because my blood pressure was too low)  Had to have my BP pill dosage cut back.  More good news!

Just a thought - have you thought of decreasing your dose?  I don't use Byetta and I don't know much about it, but apparently if you take too much it can cause dizziness etc.

It will pass. I had horrible dizziness for awhile. Just be careful with the driving and avoid getting up quickly. I swear I nearly passed out in a store looking at something on the bottom shelf and rising quickly.

I think it lasted about a week.  I took my bp in the store and it was 90/65, much lower than I am accostomed to. 

I've heard others complain of head congestion too.  That also, seems to be temporary.  If its not your bp, then it could just be sinuses causing the dizziness.  Either way, it should pass like everything else.  Good luck. 

Thanks, I think that anywhere we can get suggestions/ideas with this fairly new medication is worth posting.

Hi: i starting using byetta 4 weeks ago and from the start i was sick to the point of no return!! i continue using byetta at 5 ml now i am up to 10 twice a day. i don't even take my humilog in the mornings because my sugar drops tobelow 70's. i hope that by reading your postings i can have the strength to continue. please advice me if you can!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Hi Sharon,

Geeeeeez!!! if your doctor hasn't slapped your hand, I will !!    you have to, repeat, HAVE TO check your sugar levels.  You have no idea what the Byetta is doing for you nor if you are still in or out of control without those tests.  Its no big deal. 

Here's something that makes it more humane.  If you're in the US, get the B&D 33g lancets.  They are soooooo small they are virtually painless.  That should help your testing motivation.  Go to your computer and use Microsoft Excel and keep track of those results or even just write them down so that your doctor has something to go on when taking you off or putting you on meds! 

And I sure wouldn't stop taking the metformin until I knew what my BS was for sure and also until I'd talked it over with my doc.  That stuff is key to helping the Byetta do its job.

Check that BS and let us know what the Byetta is doing for you. (didn't mean to come off as if Im lecturing you, just concerned is all)

 Warren

Thats great, Warren.  Good luck on the increased dosage.  Hope the lizard doesn't bite too hard. 

So good that you were able to eliminate those meds.  I have eliminated a good deal of mine, too.  Its very encouraging. 

Suffering from the Lizzard bite???  Well what if you only had to let the Lizzard bite you once a week instead of twice a day!! 

Lily has finished its Phase II clinical trials on a very large sample size for Byetta LAR, a once a week injection of Byetta.  The phase two trials show that it is at least as effective as what we are now using.  Me personally?  I want to see them move into the Phase III trials sooner than later.

 Warren

I just started on the 10 Byetta 2x a day and I haven't made it past the first shot. The nausea and stomach pains are horrendous. I'm losing weight and my numbers are good because I can't eat. I've been using the Pepto Bismol which usually helps but this week it's not doing much. Anybody have any other suggestions?

Thanks.

Melanie

Wow! I am so happy to have found this forum! I was diagnosed with Type II in September and was on metformin for awhile but the sideffects didn't go away and my old endocrinologist didn't do a thing about it, so I went to see a new doctor who dropped my dosage of metformin and put me on byetta. I had no problems with the 5mcg pen but I had to wait about a week after I wasn't supposed to use the 5mcg pen anymore (one month after opening) to get the 10mcg pen because of stupid insurance problems! My doctor had actually told me to just use the 5mcg pen until I got the 10 mcg pen, but I dont think he thought it would take so long to get! The pharmacy I was at kept telling me I needed prior authorization, but my Dr. office said I didn't and that went back and forth for awhile. When I finally go the 10mcg pen and started taking it I started feeling the fun sideffects, dont know if it was becuase I was without the medication for a little bit or what . I wasn't really thinking it was connected with the Byetta, but after reading all of your posts, at least I know where all this nausea and these headaches are coming from! I am feeling REALLY *yuck* right now. I have really bad nausea and a headache that just seems to go on forever. I also get really dizzy when I'm in the shower and I put my head down so that I can rinse out my hair. I felt like I was just going to tip over and faint or something! I'm thinking about taking some pepto or something as one of you advised. In the meantime, very glad to have "met" you all! Happy holidays!