Byetta? Off Script Usage?

kok1922 · 03-03-2006, 03:18 PM

Hello

I'm not sure where to post this - I have been ignorning my PCOs for the past year and now finally have to address it again after the birth of my daughter.

I'm trying to decide if I should go on any medications to help level out my hormones and help me lose some weight. I'm IR but not diabetic.

Has anyone heard of any discussions of the drug "Byetta"? Are any PCOs women using it to regulate their hormones/sugar level like many use Glucophage?

If this has already been discussed, could someone point me to the right thread?

Thanks

Kayiena · 03-03-2006, 04:25 PM

Actually, yes there are some of us using it that way, including me. There's a thread titled "Has anyone heard.." that has more info on it, but I'd be happy to answer any of your questions!

I'll be in chat all day if you'd like to come in there, but I'll also check back in here.

http://www.soulcysters.net/chat/flashchat.php

kok1922 · 03-03-2006, 05:49 PM

Hi

Thanks for responding. I'll search for that thread...do you know which forum it is in? Diabetes II or another one? Also, thanks for the offer to chat but I'm at work today (supposed to be working

) and cannot chat b/c of a firewall or something like that... at any rate....

1) Are you IR?
2) Had you ever been on glucophage?
3) What is your dosage?
4) Is it a shot?
5) Who prescribed it? Meaning an OB/GYN? Endo?
6) Has it helped w/ weight loss or sugar levels? How have you seen a difference?

I'm going to look for that thread so if all of my questions that I'm asking you are answered there, I do apologize.

Thanks again for responding.

Kelly

Kayiena · 03-03-2006, 06:37 PM

Kelly - no prob! I'm at work too, and I can actually access the chatroom here, even behind our monstrous corporate firewall! Amazing, I think

Anyway, the thread is here in DII.. just search for that title.

To answer your questions...
1) Are you IR?
Yes.

2) Had you ever been on glucophage?
Am currently, 2000mg day, taken as 1000mg morning and night

3) What is your dosage?
I started at 5mcg twice a day, the low dose, stayed there for a month. Now, i'm on the 10mcg twice a day, and have been for almost 7 weeks now.

4) Is it a shot?
Yes. It's a pen-injector, like an insulin pen. It uses very small needles though, and they are hardly noticeable.

5) Who prescribed it? Meaning an OB/GYN? Endo?
My endo's nurse practitioner is who I see, and who prescribed it. I also see my ob, but not on nearly a frequent basis as I see my endo. For the first couple months, I saw them every 4 weeks, to make sure I was doing okay on it.

6) Has it helped w/ weight loss or sugar levels? How have you seen a difference?
Yes. I lost 10 lbs in the first month, and 4 in the second month, with no dietary changes. Blood sugars have gone down to picture perfect levels, as I know cause I monitor it at home. I feel better, and my face is where the loss is most noticeable.

Any more?

Also, check out www.byetta.com there's a wealth of info there too.

kok1922 · 03-03-2006, 07:00 PM

Ah, aren't you glad you ran into me today? I've got more questions...

So you are on Glucophage AND Byetta at the same time? That's interesting. Do you have an idea of why? I thought glucophage sensitized the cells to take in the insulin better and Byetta encourages the production of insulin?

Thanks so much for answering my questions. About 5 years ago, I lost 60lbs. low carbing and exercising. Since getting pregnant and having my daughter, I've found it so much harder to lose weight. And, now I'm at my highest weight ever and really need to lose 60-75lbs. Or more!

When I lost those 60lbs, I was only on bcp and not glucophage. I was on glucophage when ttc but it didn't seem to do much for me.

Thanks again

Kelly

Kayiena · 03-05-2006, 10:34 PM

Kelly, sorry it's taken me SO long to get back to you, I had to get my new computer up and running this weekend.

Yes, I do take met and byetta together, they work in very different ways. Byetta does make you produce more insulin, by working on the pancreas. Met makes your own cells take it up better, so together, they are more effective than anything alone would have been. The one point of caution, is that you shouldn't take byetta w/ avandia or others in its class, w/o being very careful, that can cause hypoglycemia.

But yah, I like it. Not a decision to make lightly, the side effects are hell for the first few weeks, and sometimes the injection sites are a bit sore. And unlike met, its a lot bigger investment. But definitely worth thinking about!