Rx · Prescription required
Exenatide
Byetta® · Bydureon BCise®
FDA-approved to improve blood sugar control in adults (and children 10+ for the weekly form) with type 2 diabetes, with diet and exercise.
- Drug class
- GLP-1 receptor agonist
- How it is given
- Twice-daily or once-weekly injection
- Prescription
- Required
- Dispensed by
- DiRx Inc. · licensed pharmacy
FDA status: Byetta® and the other brand-name versions listed are FDA-approved medicines. If your doctor prescribes a compounded version, it is prepared by a licensed pharmacy for you and is not itself FDA-approved; your doctor and pharmacist explain which version you receive.
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Pricing is shared after you speak with our team and a licensed doctor approves treatment. Clinics see pricing after account verification.
Important safety information
Exenatide is a prescription medicine. It is not right for everyone: personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2 (weekly form); type 1 diabetes; severe kidney disease; history of pancreatitis. Tell your doctor about every condition you have and every medicine and supplement you take.
Common side effects are described below. Stop and seek care for any severe or unexpected reaction. This page is education, not medical advice; your doctor and pharmacist give the instructions for your treatment.
How to get started
- Message us on WhatsApp or call (954) 420-7747.
- Talk with a licensed doctor, who reviews your health history and decides if this medicine is right for you.
- If prescribed, our team shares pricing and a licensed pharmacy fills your order.
Plain-language guide
Exenatide, explained by our clinical team
What it is
Exenatide was the first GLP-1 medicine, approved in 2005 and famously derived from a hormone in Gila monster saliva. Byetta® is injected twice daily before meals; Bydureon BCise® is a once-weekly extended-release form.
It is a type 2 diabetes medicine, not a weight-loss medicine, although lower appetite is a common effect.
FDA-approved uses
- Type 2 diabetes in adults, and in children 10 and older (Bydureon BCise®)
Our doctors prescribe for approved uses. Any other use is a decision made only by your doctor, for you, after evaluation.
How it is taken
Byetta® is injected within 60 minutes before the morning and evening meals. Bydureon BCise® is injected once a week, any time of day, with or without food.
What to expect
Lower post-meal blood sugar; nausea early on, which usually fades. Small lumps at the injection site are common with the weekly form.
Who should not take it
- Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2 (weekly form)
- Type 1 diabetes
- Severe kidney disease
- History of pancreatitis
Questions we hear
Is exenatide used for weight loss?
It is not approved for that purpose.
Twice daily or weekly?
Your doctor chooses based on your blood sugar pattern and preference.
Does it cause low blood sugar?
On its own rarely; combined with insulin or sulfonylureas the risk rises.
Real molecular structure
The molecule: Exenatide
Drag to rotate. Every atom and bond below comes from the public PubChem database of the U.S. National Institutes of Health; nothing is drawn by AI.
- Formula
- C184H282N50O60S
- Molar mass
- 4,187.0 g/mol
- Heavy atoms
- 577
- PubChem CID
- 45588096 ↗
Source: PubChem, National Library of Medicine (public domain).
Watch & learn
Videos: how it works and how it is used
Independent videos from doctors, hospitals and health educators on YouTube. They are for general education; your doctor gives the instructions for your treatment.
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Vox · YouTubeWhat Ozempic & Weight Loss Drugs Really Do to the Body
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Dr. Akshay Jain · YouTubeOther treatments
Semaglutide
Ozempic® · Wegovy® · Rybelsus®FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes (Ozempic®, Rybelsus®) and for chronic weight management and cardiovascular risk reduction in eligible adults (Wegovy®).
Price after approval
Tirzepatide
Mounjaro® · Zepbound®FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes (Mounjaro®) and for chronic weight management and obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity (Zepbound®).
Price after approval
Liraglutide
Victoza® · Saxenda®FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes (Victoza®) and chronic weight management (Saxenda®); generic versions are now available.
Price after approval
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