Byetta Alternatives Compared

View side-by-side comparisons of medication uses, ratings, cost, side effects and interactions.
Byetta (exenatide)	Ozempic (semaglutide)	Rybelsus (semaglutide)	Enter another drug to compare

Byetta (exenatide)

Ozempic (semaglutide)

Rybelsus (semaglutide)

Prescription only

Prescribed for Type 2 Diabetes. Byetta may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Prescription only

Ozempic lowers blood sugar levels by mimicking the effects of GLP-1, a naturally occurring hormone that stimulates insulin secretion and lowers glucagon secretion from the liver. It is... View more

Prescription only

Rybelsus (semaglutide) is an oral medicine that can be used as a first-line medication to improve blood sugar control in adults over the age of 18 with type 2 diabetes. It works by mimicking the... View more

More about Byetta (exenatide)

More about Ozempic (semaglutide)

More about Rybelsus (semaglutide)

Ratings & Reviews

Byetta has an average rating of 7.8 out of 10 from a total of 82 ratings on Drugs.com. 71% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 12% reported a negative effect.

Ozempic has an average rating of 6.7 out of 10 from a total of 1566 ratings on Drugs.com. 52% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 23% reported a negative effect.

Rybelsus has an average rating of 6.5 out of 10 from a total of 307 ratings on Drugs.com. 49% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 22% reported a negative effect.

View all 82 reviews

View all 1566 reviews

View all 307 reviews

Side Effects Experienced by Users Side effects are reported in Drugs.com user reviews and not clinically verified.

Nausea (35.4%)
Hair loss (12.2%)
Diarrhea (4.9%)
Sick (4.9%)
Vomiting (4.9%)
Constipation (3.7%)
Tiredness (3.7%)

View all Byetta side effects

Nausea (33.2%)
Diarrhea (16.3%)
Constipation (15.6%)
Vomiting (12.4%)
Burping (8.7%)
Headaches (7.5%)
Upset stomach (7.5%)

View all Ozempic side effects

Nausea (41.0%)
Diarrhea (20.8%)
Constipation (17.3%)
Loss of appetite (9.4%)
Vomiting (8.5%)
Stomach pain (5.5%)
Upset stomach (5.2%)

View all Rybelsus side effects

Drug Class

GLP-1 Agonists (Incretin Mimetics)

GLP-1 Agonists (Incretin Mimetics)

GLP-1 Agonists (Incretin Mimetics)

Generic Availability

Lower cost generic approved

No lower cost generic approved

Pricing and Coupons * Prices are without insurance

Quantity	1.2 mL
Strength	5 mcg/0.02 mL
Per unit^*	$698.44
Cost^*	$838.13

View all Byetta prices

Quantity	1.5 mL
Strength	2 mg/1.5 mL (0.25 mg or 0.5 mg dose)
Per unit^*	$654.89
Cost^*	$982.34

View all Ozempic prices

Quantity	30 tablet
Strength	3 mg
Per unit^*	$32.74
Cost^*	$982.34

View all Rybelsus prices

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Dosage Forms

Subcutaneous solution

Subcutaneous solution

Oral tablet

Half Life Drug half-life is the time required for plasma concentration to reduce to half its original value.

2.4 hours

168 hours

CSA Schedule ¹ View glossary of CSA terms

Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.

Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.

Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.

Pregnancy Category

Category C Risk cannot be ruled out

See the full pregnancy warnings document.

Summary unavailable.

See the full pregnancy warnings document.

Summary unavailable.

See the full pregnancy warnings document.

Drug Interactions

A total of 375 drugs are known to interact with Byetta:

15 major drug interactions (34 brand and generic names)
357 moderate drug interactions (1816 brand and generic names)
3 minor drug interactions (20 brand and generic names)

A total of 274 drugs are known to interact with Ozempic:

15 major drug interactions (34 brand and generic names)
258 moderate drug interactions (1457 brand and generic names)
1 minor drug interactions (10 brand and generic names)

A total of 274 drugs are known to interact with Rybelsus:

15 major drug interactions (34 brand and generic names)
258 moderate drug interactions (1457 brand and generic names)
1 minor drug interactions (10 brand and generic names)

Alcohol/Food/Lifestyle Interactions

You should take exenatide twice a day, at any time within the 60 minutes (1 hour) before your... View more
Talk to your doctor before using alcohol together with exenatide. Alcohol may affect blood glucose... View more

Food may affect the absorption of semaglutide when taken orally. It is recommended that oral... View more
Talk to your doctor before using alcohol together with semaglutide. Alcohol may affect blood... View more

Food may affect the absorption of semaglutide when taken orally. It is recommended that oral... View more
Talk to your doctor before using alcohol together with semaglutide. Alcohol may affect blood... View more

Disease Interactions

First Approval Date

April 28, 2005

N/A

September 20, 2019

WADA Class View classifications

N/A

More Information

Patient Resources

Byetta uses

Ozempic uses

Rybelsus uses

Professional Resources

Prescribing information

Prescribing information

Prescribing information

¹ The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) schedule information displayed applies to substances regulated under federal law. There may be variations in CSA schedules between individual states.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

Byetta Alternatives Compared

See also:

Rybelsus

Trulicity

Ozempic

Lantus

Tresiba

Levemir

Victoza

Novolog

Basaglar

Soliqua

Further information

Byetta Alternatives Compared

See also:

Further information

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