Non-Insulin Injectable Medications

Medication name

Onset

Peak

Duration

Exenatide (Byetta®)

10 minutes

2 hours

10 hours

How it works:

• Mimics incretins, the peptides that are secreted when a person eats; incretins stimulate insulin production and help the person feel full by delaying emptying of the stomach.

Side effects:

• Nausea
• Vomiting

Comments/special instructions:

• Byetta® is taken twice a day, within 1 hour of the two largest meals of the day.
• Byetta® can be used in combination with a sulfonylurea, metformin, or thiazolidinediones.
• Byetta® facilitates weight loss.
• The risk of hypoglycemia is greater if Byetta® is used with insulin or a sulfonylurea.

Pramlintide (Symlin®)

How it works:

• Symlin® is a synthetic version of amylin, a peptide that is secreted along with insulin when a person eats. Amylin helps the person feel full by delaying emptying of the stomach.

Side effects:

• Nausea
• Vomiting

Comments/special instructions:

• Symlin® is indicated for patients who have Type 1 diabetes and for those
  who have Type 2 diabetes and require insulin.
• Symlin® is administered before meals, usually at the same time as insulin.
  NOTE: Symlin® and insulin must be administered as separate injections.
• Symlin® facilitates weight loss.