Byettaexenatide
According to the FDA label: BYETTA is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Limitations of Use • BYETTA contains exenatide. Coadministration with other exenatide-containing products is not recommended. BYETTA (exenatide) is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
52,309 adverse event reports submitted to the FDA (2005–2026)
Top Reported Adverse Events
The most frequently reported events in association with Byetta in the FAERS database. These are events reported by patients taking this medication, not necessarily caused by it. A single report may include multiple events.
Show these terms with plain-language definitions
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Blood Glucose Increased 15,473 reports
A blood test result showing a higher than normal blood sugar level.
Full definition in the glossary →Weight Decreased 12,125 reports
Nausea 12,041 reports
The feeling of sickness in your stomach that often comes before vomiting.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →Decreased Appetite 5,643 reports
Blood Glucose Decreased 5,517 reports
A blood test result showing a lower than normal blood sugar level. The opposite of blood glucose increased.
Full definition in the glossary →Vomiting 4,345 reports
Throwing up the contents of the stomach.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →Diarrhoea 2,742 reports
Loose or watery bowel movements, often frequent. Also spelled diarrhea in American English.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →Dizziness 2,674 reports
A feeling of being lightheaded, unsteady, or like the room is spinning.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →Drug Ineffective 2,250 reports
A report that the medication did not work as expected for the person taking it. This is a reporting category, not a sign the drug is defective. It simply means someone felt it was not helping their condition.
Full definition in the glossary →Headache 2,086 reports
Pain in the head or upper neck.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →Injection Site Pain 2,023 reports
Pain at the spot on the body where a medication was injected.
Full definition in the glossary →Pancreatitis 2,011 reports
Inflammation of the pancreas, which can cause severe belly pain.
Full definition in the glossary →Injection Site Bruising 1,843 reports
Bruising at the spot where a medication was injected.
Full definition in the glossary →Injection Site Haemorrhage 1,809 reports
Bleeding at the spot where a medication was injected. Also spelled hemorrhage in American English.
Full definition in the glossary →Fatigue 1,760 reports
Extreme tiredness or lack of energy that does not improve with rest.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →
Ranked by frequency of reports, not severity. The most-reported event is not necessarily the most dangerous or the most common in patients taking this drug.
Who Is Reporting
Demographics of patients in FAERS reports that included this information. Not all reports include patient demographics.
By Sex
View reporter sex data as a table
| Sex | Reports |
|---|---|
| Female | 32,750 |
| Male | 18,372 |
| Unknown | 209 |
By Age Group
View age group data as a table
| Age group | Reports |
|---|---|
| 0-17 | 50 |
| 18-34 | 604 |
| 35-49 | 5,196 |
| 50-64 | 17,768 |
| 65-74 | 9,221 |
| 75+ | 2,394 |
This shows who filed reports, reflecting who takes this drug and who tends to report, not who is at greatest risk.
Reported Outcomes
Outcomes recorded in FAERS reports that included Byetta. A single report may involve multiple reactions, each with a different outcome. These categories are defined by FDA reporting guidelines, not by PillSignal.
View outcome data as a table
| Outcome | Reports |
|---|---|
| Non-Serious | 37,680 |
| Other Serious | 8,800 |
| Hospitalization | 7,534 |
| Death | 1,762 |
| Life-Threatening | 707 |
| Disability | 424 |
Serious outcomes are far more likely to be reported than mild ones, so this overstates how often outcomes are serious. A recorded death does not mean the drug caused it.
Report Volume Over Time
Number of FAERS reports received per quarter for Byetta. Changes in volume may reflect shifts in prescribing rates, media attention, or reporting behavior, not changes in the medication's safety profile.
View report trend as a table
| Year | Reports |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 1,970 |
| 2006 | 12,667 |
| 2007 | 12,433 |
| 2008 | 7,681 |
| 2009 | 2,461 |
| 2010 | 1,753 |
| 2011 | 1,821 |
| 2012 | 996 |
| 2013 | 1,460 |
| 2014 | 1,912 |
| 2015 | 2,516 |
| 2016 | 1,149 |
| 2017 | 892 |
| 2018 | 771 |
| 2019 | 642 |
| 2020 | 340 |
| 2021 | 274 |
| 2022 | 197 |
| 2023 | 127 |
| 2024 | 168 |
| 2025 | 75 |
| 2026 (partial) | 4 |
The steep increase around 2004 reflects the FDA's move to electronic submission, not a change in this drug's safety. Trends track reporting volume, not risk.
Medications commonly reported with Byetta
In FDA adverse event reports that mention Byetta, these medications appeared most often in the same report.
- Metformin (9,468 reports)
- Insulin Glargine (5,742 reports)
- Glipizide (4,863 reports)
- Pioglitazone (4,516 reports)
- Aspirin (3,860 reports)
This reflects co-occurrence in submitted reports, not evidence of drug interaction or combined risk. People often report several medications taken for the same condition or for unrelated reasons. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist about your specific medications.
Related Drugs
Other medications with similar adverse event profiles in FDA FAERS reports.
Data Source
This data is sourced from the FDA's Adverse Event Monitoring System (AEMS), formerly FAERS, via the OpenFDA API. PillSignal is not affiliated with the FDA.
View this data on the FDA website →Data last updated: June 2026