Bydureon vs Byetta

Are you battling type 2 diabetes? If yes, you may be familiar with common non-insulin drugs like Bydureon and Byetta.

If you have type 2 diabetes, you’ll typically experience fluctuations in blood sugar levels, especially if your body can’t use insulin effectively. For this reason, our doctor may prescribe oral drugs to regulate your sugar levels.

What if oral medications aren’t effective? You need not worry, as you can manage your blood sugar levels using non-insulin injectable drugs.

Read on to understand how injectable drugs help regulate sugar levels. Plus, we’ll explore the similarities and differences between Bydureon and Byetta.

Bydureon

Bydureon is a short-acting injectable for managing type 2 diabetes. It is the only known exenatide that uses the continuous release mechanism to deliver medication into the body. Like most diabetes injections, the drug doesn’t contain insulin.

Byetta

Byetta is an injectable drug manufactured by the pharm tech company AstraZeneca. Byetta is known for being the first drug under the category to obtain approval from the US Federal Drugs Administration (FDA).

 Although the drug was originally approved for adult use, it has since gained recognition for managing sugar levels among diabetic children aged ten years or more.

Similarities Between Bydureon and Byetta

Bydureon and Byetta are both short-acting injections administered under the skin. You can have your injection shot on the thigh, upper arm, or stomach.

Both drugs also have the same active ingredient (exenatide), which boosts insulin production, yet have no insulin as an active ingredient. In addition, they regulate the liver’s rate of producing glucose, which further controls sugar levels in the body.

Differences Between Bydureon and Byetta

The two injectables are different in many ways, mainly in terms of dosage and frequency of administration.

First, Byetta is available in a cartridge enclosed by an injector pen. The prefilled pen comes with a month’s supply of the recommended dosage to take twice every day.

On the other hand, Bydureon is available as a single dose tray with a syringe, needles, and a vial connector. You only need a single shot of the drug each week.

Byetta and Bydureon also differ considerably in medication instructions, with the former having a stringent routine. Our doctors recommend taking Byetta injections within an hour of taking your day’s two main meals. In addition, you should leave six hours between the said meals.

Bydureon, on the other hand, has a fairly easier medication plan allowing you to take your shots any time of the day, even without meals.