- What is lixisenatide, and how does it work?
- What are the uses for lixisenatide?
- What are the side effects of lixisenatide?
- What is the dosage for lixisenatide?
- Which drugs or supplements interact with lixisenatide?
- Is lixisenatide safe to use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?
- What else should I know about lixisenatide?
What is lixisenatide, and how does it work?
- Lixisenatide is an injectable drug that reduces the
level of sugar (glucose) in the blood. It is used for the treatment type 2 diabetes
and is similar to
- exenatide (Byetta),
- liraglutide (Victoza),
- dulaglutide (Trulicity), and
- abliglutide (Tanzeum).
- Lixisenatide belongs in a class of drugs called incretin mimetics because these drugs mimic the effects of incretins. Incretins, such as human-glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), are hormones that are produced and released into the blood by the intestine in response to food. GLP-1 increases the secretion of insulin from the pancreas, slows absorption of glucose from the gut, and reduces the action of glucagon. (Glucagon is a hormone that increases glucose production by the liver.) All three of these actions reduce levels of glucose in the blood. In addition, GLP-1 reduces appetite. Lixisenatide is a synthetic (man-made) hormone that resembles and acts like GLP-1. In studies, lixisenatide treated patients achieved lower blood glucose levels and experienced weight loss.
What brand names are available for lixisenatide?
Adlyxin is the brand name available for lixisenatide available in the US.
Is lixisenatide available as a generic drug?
No
Do I need a prescription for lixisenatide?
Yes
What are the uses for lixisenatide?
- Adlyxin is used with diet and exercise to improve control of blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.
- It should not be used for the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis or type 1 diabetes.
What are the side effects of lixisenatide?
Common side effects of include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Hypoglycemia (when combined with insulin or sulfonyrea)
Other possible side effects of include:
- Indigestion (dyspepsia)
- Constipation
- Upper abdominal pain
- Abdominal distension
- Abdominal pain
- Injection site reactions (pain, redness, itching)
Possible serious side effects of include:
- Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis, angioedema [hives])
- Pancreatitis
- Acute kidney failure
- Antibodies to lixisenatide

QUESTION
______________ is another term for type 2 diabetes. See AnswerWhat is the dosage for lixisenatide?
- The recommended starting dose of Adlyxin is 10 mcg injected under the skins (subcutaneously) once daily for 14 days.
- The dose should be increased on day 15 to the maintenance dose of 20 mcg once daily.
Which drugs or supplements interact with lixisenatide?
- Adlyxin slows down transit of food and drugs through the intestine and, therefore, may reduce the absorption of drugs that are taken by mouth. Caution should be used when combining Adlyxin with oral medications that have a narrow therapeutic ratio or that require careful monitoring. If these medications are to be taken with food they should be taken with a meal or snack when Adlyxin is not administered.
- Oral medications such as antibiotics, or medications, for example acetaminophen (Tylenol) whose effects shouldn't be delayed should be taken at least 1 hour before Adlyxin injection.
- Oral contraceptives should be taken at least 1 hour before Adlyxin administration or at least 11 hours after an injection of Adlyxin.
- Combining Adlyxin with insulin or drugs that stimulate release of insulin, for example, glyburide (Micronase, Diabeta, Glynase, Prestab) may increase the occurrence of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). The dose of insulin or the insulin release stimulating drug should be reduced.
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Is lixisenatide safe to use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?
- There are no adequate studies of lixisenatide in pregnant women. Most experts agree that insulin is the drug of choice in pregnant women with diabetes.
- There are no adequate studies of lixisenatide in nursing mothers, and it is not known whether this drug is excreted in human breast milk.
What else should I know about lixisenatide?
What preparations of lixisenatide are available?
- Injection (Prefilled Pen): 50, 100 mcg/mL
How should I keep lixisenatide stored?
- Adlyxin pen should be kept in the package to protect it from light and it should be stored in a refrigerator at 2 C to 8 C (36 F to 46 F) prior to use.
- It should not be frozen.
- After first use, it should be stored below 30 C (86 F).
- The pen cap should be replaced after each use to protect it from light.
- The pen should discarded 14 days after first use.
When was lixisenatide approved by the FDA?
- The FDA approved lixisenatide in July 2016.
Summary
Adlyxin (lixisenatide) is a prescription medication used to treat type 2 diabetes in addition to diet and exercise. Side effects of Adlyxin include dizziness, constipation, indigestion, abdominal pain, dizziness, headache, diarrhea.
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Type 2 Diabetes Diet Plan
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Second Source WebMD Medical Reference
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Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that may be reversible with diet and lifestyle changes. Symptoms include excessive thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, fatigue, and an unusual odor to your urine. Most people don't know they have type 2 diabetes until they have a routine blood test. Treatment options include medications, a type 2 diabetes diet, and other lifestyle changes.
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Diabetes Treatment: Medication, Diet, and Insulin
The major goal in treating diabetes is controlling elevated blood sugar without causing abnormally low levels of blood sugar. Type 1 diabetes is treated with: insulin, exercise, and a diabetic diet. Type 2 diabetes is first treated with: weight reduction, a diabetic diet, and exercise. When these measures fail to control the elevated blood sugar, oral medications are used. If oral medications are still insufficient, insulin medications are considered.
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Diabetes Foot Problems
Diabetes related foot problems can affect your health with two problems: diabetic neuropathy, where diabetes affects the nerves, and peripheral vascular disease, where diabetes affects the flow of blood. Common foot problems for people with diabetes include athlete's foot, fungal infection of nails, calluses, corns, blisters, bunions, dry skin, foot ulcers, hammertoes, ingrown toenails, and plantar warts.
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Eye Problems and Diabetes
Diabetes and eye problems are generally caused by high blood sugar levels over an extended period of time. Types of eye problems in a person with diabetes include glaucoma, cataracts, and retinopathy. Examples of symptoms include blurred vision, headaches, eye aches, pain, halos around lights, loss of vision, watering eyes. Treatment for eye problems in people with diabetes depend on the type of eye problem. Prevention of eye problems include reducing blood pressure, cholesterol levels, quitting smoking, and maintaining proper blood glucose levels.
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Types of Diabetes Type 2 Medications
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Tips for Managing Type 1 and 2 Diabetes at Home
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