Information about Bydureon BCise (Exenatide Extended Release)
Bydureon BCise is a weekly injection designed to help manage blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. It contains exenatide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that helps lower blood glucose levels by enhancing insulin secretion, suppressing glucagon, and slowing gastric emptying. The extended-release formulation allows for sustained delivery over a week using a single-dose, pre-filled autoinjector.
Product Highlights
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus:
- Used as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes.
- May be used alone or in combination with other oral antidiabetic medications such as metformin, sulfonylureas, or SGLT2 inhibitors.
Not for use in:
- Type 1 diabetes
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
Key Ingredient
- Exenatide (extended release)
Key Benefits
- Simplifies treatment regimen for better adherence.
- Lowers HbA1c and postprandial glucose levels.
- May contribute to modest weight reduction in many patients.
- Linked to beneficial impacts on both weight and blood pressure.
- Autoinjector design allows for easy self-administration.
Direction of Use
- 2 mg once weekly, injected subcutaneously.
- Injection Sites: Abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. Rotate injection sites weekly.
- Administration:
- Remove from the refrigerator and allow to warm to room temperature before injecting.
- Shake the autoinjector well to ensure the medication is fully mixed.
- Administer on the same day each week, at any time of day, with or without food.
- Missed Dose:
- If a dose is missed, administer as soon as possible within 3 days. If more than 3 days have passed, skip the missed dose and resume on the next scheduled day.
Safety Concerns
- In rodent studies, exenatide caused thyroid tumors. Although relevance to humans is unclear, a boxed warning exists.
- Reports of acute pancreatitis have occurred; stop treatment immediately if symptoms develop.
- Can occur, especially when used with sulfonylureas or insulin.
- Not recommended in patients with severe renal impairment (eGFR <30 mL/min).
- Lumps or nodules under the skin may occur due to the extended-release formulation.
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation are common, especially early in treatment.
Avoid Bydureon BCise If
- You have a known allergy to exenatide or any of the ingredients in the formulation.
- You or a family member have a history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).
- You have been diagnosed with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2)
- You have severe gastrointestinal disease, particularly gastroparesis.
- You have severe renal impairment or are on dialysis.
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding, unless deemed necessary by your healthcare provider.
- You have had pancreatitis in the past.
This product requires special packaging to maintain its integrity during the shipping process. DO NOT USE THIS MEDICATION if the attached temperature indicator shows that the medication was exposed to temperatures below 2 degrees or above 8 degrees Celsius, and contact the pharmacy immediately.
