If I had not for looking for something
else, I may have passed over these medications.
Amylin Mimetic
(Symlin)
This medication is not for people with
type 2 diabetes taking oral medications. It is only for
people already taking insulin. There are several warnings you
must take seriously. Symlin cannot be used in place of
insulin. You must use a separate syringe to inject Symlin.
Symlin may reduce the amount of insulin you need to use.
Non-compliance is a problem for those taking Symlin.
Symlin does help keep your blood
glucose at lower levels after you eat by helping your liver not put
glucose into your blood stream. It may also prevent hunger, causing
you to eat less and has the potential to assist in losing weight.
You should not take Symlin and need to
talk with your doctor if you can't tell when you are having low blood
glucose, a condition called hypoglycemia unawareness, you have
recently had severe low blood glucose, you have stomach problems
caused by diabetes-related nerve damage, and the standard if you are
pregnant, planning to get pregnant, or breastfeeding. Symlin has not
been studied for use in children. There may be times when you should
not take your usual dose of Symlin and this includes: if you're
having surgery and you’re sick and can’t eat. Also, discuss with
your doctor about other times not to take Symlin.
Symlin can cause the following side
effects and you should be prepared for them. They include - nausea
and vomiting-most often when you first start taking Symlin, swelling,
redness, or itching of the skin where Symlin is injected, headache,
decreased appetite, stomach pain and indigestion, tiredness, and
dizziness. Symlin does not cause low blood glucose by itself;
however, your risk of having low blood glucose is higher because
Symlin is always taken along with insulin.
Incretin
Mimetic (Byetta)
Byetta is very much like Symlin, but
you need to add that Byetta helps slow digestion by moving the food
slowly through your stomach. Byetta is not used in place of insulin;
however, people on oral medications or not on any medications may use
it if appropriate.
You should not take Byetta and need to
talk with your doctor if you have severe stomach or digestive
problems, you have any symptoms of kidney disease or are on dialysis,
you are pregnant, planning to get pregnant, or breastfeeding, and you
have type 1 diabetes. Byetta has not been studied for use in
children.
The possible side effects Byetta can
cause are - nausea and vomiting-most often when you first start
taking Byetta, headache, diarrhea, and dizziness. Byetta also can
cause an acid stomach or make you feel nervous.
If you are planning to take Byetta, you
need to know about problems with your kidneys
and talk with your doctor right away if
you notice any of the following - changes in the color of your urine,
how often you urinate, or the amount you urinate. swelling of your
hands or feet, tiredness, changes in your appetite or digestion, and
a dull ache in your mid to lower back. Byetta does not cause low
blood glucose by itself, but your risk of having low blood glucose
goes up if you also take diabetes pills that cause low blood glucose,
or insulin. Your doctor may advise you to take a lower dose of your
other diabetes medicines while you are taking Byetta.
Liraglutide
Injection (Victoza)
I dislike starting this with a warning,
but it is necessary and valid for this medication. Just because a
celebrity chef (Paula Deen) promotes this medication does not make it
safe and I suspect there will be more warnings in the future.
Warning Liraglutide
injection may increase the risk that you will develop tumors of the
thyroid gland, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC; a type of
thyroid cancer), which may cause death if it is not treated at an
early stage. If you develop thyroid cancer, your thyroid gland may
need to be surgically removed. Tell your doctor if you or anyone in
your family has or has ever had thyroid cancer, medullary thyroid
carcinoma, or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2;
condition that causes tumors in more than one gland in the body). If
so, your doctor will probably tell you not to use Liraglutide
injection. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your
doctor immediately: lump or swelling in the neck; hoarseness;
difficulty swallowing; or shortness of breath.
Keep all appointments with your
doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may order certain tests to
check your body's response to Liraglutide injection.
Your doctor or pharmacist will give
you the manufacturer's patient information sheet (Medication Guide)
when you begin treatment with Liraglutide injection and each time you
refill your prescription. Read the information carefully and ask your
doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. You can also visit
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website
(http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm085729.htm) or the
manufacturer's website to obtain the Medication Guide.
Talk to your doctor about the risks
of using Liraglutide injection.
I strongly urge you to read this link
or the suggested links above in the warning so that you can
familiarize yourself about Victoza. There are many special
instructions that need to followed for proper use and avoiding
problems with Victoza.
Series 12 of 12
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