Byetta Side Effects

The diabetes drug Byetta, a Bristol-Myers Squibb product, has been linked to a variety of serious side effects. These problems include the risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says it is investigating independent research that suggests that there is an increased risk of pancreatitis and the development of pre-cancerous cells in patients with Type 2 diabetes who were treated with a class of drugs called “incretin mimetics.”

Incretin mimetics include exenatide, which is marketed as Byetta and Bydureon. Byetta is a prescription drug that is injected. Bydureon is an extended-release form of the medication.

Byetta has also been linked to kidney failure, including 62 cases of acute renal failure and 16 cases of renal insufficiency between April 2005 and October 2008, according to the FDA.

The lawyers of The Driscoll Firm, LLC, are investigating cases of Byetta-linked pancreatic cancer. If you have developed pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer or other severe medical problems from the use of Byetta or Bydureon, you may be eligible for compensation to assist you with medical bills and for your pain and suffering. Call us today at our toll-free number or contact us online to learn more about your legal rights and options.

Researchers: Pancreatitis Risk Doubles with Byetta

A report from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the February 2013 edition of JAMA Internal Medicine said the risk of being hospitalized with acute pancreatitis doubles in patients who take Byetta or other incretin mimetics.

Byetta and similar drugs were found to contribute to the formation of lesions in the pancreas and an increase in the number of ducts within it, adding to the frequency and severity of inflammation, researchers said.

The Mayo Clinic says that pancreatitis may resolve without treatment in mild cases, but severe cases can cause life-threatening complications.

These include:

  • Pancreatic cancer, if pancreatitis persists over a long period.
  • Kidney failure. The FDA reported in 2009 that 78 Byetta patients had suffered from kidney failure, including cases that led to death, kidney transplants, hospitalization and dialysis.
  • Pseudocysts, or fluid and debris that collects in cyst-like pockets in the pancreas. A large pseudocyst that ruptures can cause complications, such as internal bleeding and infection.
  • Malnutrition, as the damaged pancreas produces fewer of the enzymes necessary to break down and process nutrients from food.

Symptoms of pancreatitis include:

  • Upper abdominal pain
  • Abdominal pain that radiates to your back
  • Abdominal pain that feels worse after eating
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Tenderness when touching the abdomen.

The Mayo Clinic says to make an appointment to see a doctor if you have persistent abdominal pain. Seek immediate medical help if your abdominal pain is so severe that you can’t sit still or find a position that makes you more comfortable.

Bristol Myers-Squibb says that diabetes patients should tell their healthcare providers before taking Byetta if they have had pancreatitis, stones in their gallbladder (gallstones), a history of alcoholism, or high blood triglyceride levels.

Get Legal Help If You Are Experiencing Byetta Side Effects

If you or a loved one has been prescribed Byetta or Bydureon exenatide injections for diabetes treatment and suffered from acute pancreatitis or other severe side effects afterward, contact The Driscoll Firm, LLC, today. You can call our toll-free number or use our online form. We can offer a free consultation about your case and explain the right you may have to obtain compensation for your medical expenses, lost income and pain and suffering.

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