Byetta and Alcohol/Food Interactions

Talk to your doctor before using ethanol together with exenatide. Alcohol may affect blood glucose levels in patients with diabetes. Both hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) may occur, depending on how much and how often you drink. You should avoid using alcohol if your diabetes is not well controlled or if you have high triglycerides, neuropathy (nerve damage), or pancreatitis. Moderate alcohol consumption generally does not affect blood glucose levels if your diabetes is under control. However, it may be best to limit alcohol intake to one drink daily for women and two drinks daily for men (1 drink = 5 oz wine, 12 oz beer, or 1.5 oz distilled spirits) in conjunction with your normal meal plan. Avoid drinking alcohol on an empty stomach or following exercise, as it may increase the risk of hypoglycemia. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

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You should take exenatide twice a day, at any time within the 60 minutes (1 hour) before your morning and evening meals, or before the two main meals of the day, and at least 6 hours or more apart. You may experience decreased absorption of exenatide in the presence of food or other medications. Your other medications should be administered at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after your exenatide injection.

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