Diabetes: Non-Insulin Injectable Medications
Table lists non-insulin injectable medications, how they work, and their side effects.
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What are some non-insulin injectable drugs to treat diabetes, and how do they work?
Exenatide (Byetta®)
How it works:
- Keeps food in the stomach longer, increases insulin when you eat, and lowers the amount of glucose released by the liver.
Side effects:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Decreased appetite
Comments/special instructions:
- Byetta® is taken twice a day, within one hour before the two largest meals of the day.
- Byetta® can be used in combination with a sulfonylurea, metformin, thiazolidinediones, or Lantus.
- Byetta® helps with weight loss.
- The risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is greater if Byetta® is used with insulin or a sulfonylurea.
- Byetta® should not be taken if there is a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and by patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
Exenatide Extended Release (Bydureon®)
Bydureon is an extended-release form of exenatide and is injected once every seven days.
Comments/special instructions:
- Bydureon® cannot be used when taking Byetta.
- Bydureon® can be used in combination with a sulfonylurea, metformin, or thiazolidienediones.
- The risk of hypoglycemia is greater if Bydureon® is used with sulfonylurea. Bydureon® should not be used in combination with insulin.
- Bydureon should not be taken if there is a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and by patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
Liraglutide (Victoza®)
How it works:
- Keeps food in the stomach longer, increases insulin when you eat, and lowers the amount of glucose released by the liver.
Side effects:
Comments/special instructions:
- Victoza® is taken once a day at any time, regardless of meal times.
- Victoza® can be used in combination with sulfonylureas, metformin, or thiazolidinediones.
- Victoza® helps with weight loss.
- The risk of hypoglycemia is greater if Victoza® is used with insulin or a sulfonylurea.
- Victoza® should not be taken if there is a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and by patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
Dulaglutide (Trulicity®)
How it works:
- Keeps food in the stomach longer, increases insulin when you eat, and lowers the amount of glucose released by the liver.
Side effects:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Decreased appetite
Comments/special instructions:
- Trulicity® should not be taken if there is a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and by patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
Albiglutide (Tanzeum®)
How it works:
- Keeps food in the stomach longer, increases insulin when you eat, and lowers the amount of glucose released by the liver.
Side effects:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
Comments/special instructions:
- Tanzeum® comes as a powder and a liquid that are mixed together before the injection is given.
- Tanzeum® should not be taken if there is a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and by patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
Pramlintide (Symlin®)
How it works:
- Symlin® is a synthetic (man-made) version of amylin, a peptide that is released along with insulin when a person eats. Amylin helps the person feel full by delaying emptying of the stomach. It also lowers the amount of glucose released by the liver.
Side effects:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Decreased appetite
Comments/special instructions:
- Symlin® is for patients who have Type 1 diabetes and for those who have Type 2 diabetes and need insulin.
- Symlin® is given before meals, usually at the same time as insulin.
- NOTE: Symlin® and insulin must be given as separate injections.
- Symlin® helps with weight loss.
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