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Byetta question from a newbie

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Posted 7/29/2006 6:04 PM (GMT 0)

I am type II since 4 years and now have been prescribed Byetta. I have several quick questions:

1) Is Byetta suppose to be taken at Breakfast/Dinner or at Lunch/Dinner?

2) I have been given 31G&5/16? Should I go to 3/16 as I am a bit psychologically concerned about needle pinching?

3) Can someone give me some good techniques of injecting, should it be straight and fast into the abdomen or just do it close to abdomen and slowly??

4)Some advice on travel case for 4-6 hrs?

Thanks

Tash

Posted 7/29/2006 6:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hey there. I've been a Byetta user for a few months now. I love it, congrats on starting a wonderful new med.

about traveling . . . it you call the byetta hotline, they will send you a free travel kit complete with ice pak to keep it cool enough to stay good. Other than that, you can have it at room temperature for 144 hours, but it cannot be above room temp.

I'm not sure how big my needles are, but the shot doesn't hurt. I don't even feel it. I inject, push the button down for 5 secs, remove and then hold the injection site on the skin for a few secs so it doesn't leak out.

Byetta is taken before breakfest and before dinner. There is 5 mcg dose and 10 mcg. You start on 5 mcg to get adjusted.

I inject in my thigh. I used to rotate a lot and found that other injection sites made me sick. The thigh has a slower absorption rate than, say, the butt of abdomen. You can see what works best for you.

Hope I could answer some of your questions.

Posted 7/29/2006 6:44 PM (GMT 0)
why can't it be taken before Lunch since I am not a big breakfast person, seems to me that it would benefit me more at lunch?
Posted 7/30/2006 4:28 PM (GMT 0)
That's something you'd have to discuss with your doctor. I was told that each shot must be taken 6 hours apart.
Posted 7/30/2006 4:33 PM (GMT 0)
thank you.
Also one more question. Last night I inject myself while standing and I didn't even feel it. This morning I injected myself while sitting and I think I went little slow and I had drop of blood coming out even after 15 minutes. Is this normal?
Posted 7/31/2006 12:53 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there Tash,
Exenatide(Byetta) is a revolutionary drug and you seem to have successfully sailed thru' the initial phase well.Blood coming out of the injection site happens when your needle pierces a small blood vessel
(capillary) and that is quite common;but blood oozing out for 15 minutes after the injection is pretty unusual.Are you on Aspirin or any other blood-thinning drug?

The position you are in when injecting can vary,but if someone with a pot belly were to inject in the lower part of the abdomen,he/she may not be able to see where the needle is piercing,so that they can apply pressure with spirit cotton for half a minute.

The one problem with pens is you cannot withdraw the plunger,like in a syringe to see whether the tip is nestling in a blood vessel(capillary).That's the price we pay,albeit a small one for new technology.

My 2 cents of advise is,the next time you inject,SEE where you have exactly injected and APPLY PRESSURE after withdrawing the needle!LOL
Posted 7/31/2006 2:57 AM (GMT 0)
I've looked up and posted below the links to the past posts (both good and bad) that I could find quickly to Byetta. These should help you with background from a number of forum members.

Byetta
When to take Byetta
Misdiagnosed ten years ago
Byetta 1st shot
Byetta question for Warren


The forum member, Warren, mentioned and posting in these links has taken a leave of absense from Healingwell while he works out of state on a trial. We should see him back in December.
Posted 8/1/2006 4:23 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much for all the wonderful info
Posted 8/1/2006 3:57 PM (GMT 0)

The injections are NOTHING! That was my biggest fear and after the first one I felt like an idiot for getting so worked up! eyes

Pinch your stomach and slowly insert the needle. It was suggested to me (from this site) to touch the needle to my skin and if I felt it move it to another spot and this seems to work great. The strangest part for me was leaving it there for the count of 5! Don't be in rush to pull it out. Sit by yourself, take deep breath and go for it! Honestly, it's nothing!

I take one injection 1 hour brfore breakfast and a second 1 hour before dinner. CHeck with your Dr for sure.

I got a travel pack free from Lilly's website. It's a nice zippered pouch w/ 2 gell packs, not frozen ice packs, gel packs that you refrigerate 24hrs before using them. They slip into pockets in the pouch and the pen stays between them. Good all day!

Chin up! THe benfits far out way any side effects or fears!

JoAnne

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