Dosage guide
Byetta dose escalation schedule
Week-by-week titration for Byetta (exenatide) — starting dose, step-up schedule, maintenance, maximum, and what to do if you miss a dose.
Starting dose
5 mcg twice daily
Maintenance
5 mcg or 10 mcg twice daily
Maximum dose
10 mcg twice daily
Dose form & administration
- Dose form
- Multi-dose prefilled pen, subcutaneous injection
- Dosing frequency
- Twice daily, within the 60 minutes before the morning and evening meals (or the two main meals, about 6 hours or more apart), never after a meal
Titration timeline
FDA-labeled step-up schedule. Most clinicians follow this exactly, but may pause at a step for an additional 4 weeks if side effects are intolerable.
- 1
Month 1
5 mcg twice daily
Within the 60 minutes before the morning and evening meals.
- 2
Month 2 on
10 mcg twice daily
Recommended after 1 month, based on response.
If a step-up is poorly tolerated
The label starts at 5 mcg twice daily and recommends 10 mcg twice daily after 1 month, based on how you respond.
Missed-dose protocol
Max skip window
Skip it; next scheduled dose
Skip the missed dose and resume with the next scheduled dose. Do not inject after a meal.
When to contact your prescriber
- You cannot keep up the twice-daily schedule.
- Several missed doses in a row.
- Signs of pancreatitis or kidney problems.
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