Byetta® Attorneys

Byetta (Exenatide) Linked to Necrotizing Pancreatitis

Byetta® is an injectable medication that is used to treat Type II diabetes, which is a condition in which the body does not use insulin normally and is unable to control the amount of sugar in blood. The drug works by stimulating the pancreas to secrete more insulin when blood sugar levels are high. Byetta is manufactured by Amylin Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly and Company and was approved for use by the Food & Drug Administration in April of 2005.

Byetta’s side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, headache and heartburn. More serious side effects include hives; difficulty breathing or swallowing; swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet ankles or lower legs; severe abdominal pain and hypoglycemia.

The FDA issued a warning in October of 2007, advising health care providers of the risk of acute hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis with the use of Byetta. Acute hemorrhagic and necrotizing pancreatitis are severe forms of pancreatitis that can lead to the release of toxins into the blood stream, risking damage to other organs. In August of 2008, the FDA issued a second warning, stating that it received reports of death linked to the use of Byetta. The FDA also stated that it received 30 reports of acute pancreatitis in patients taking Byetta. The FDA instructed healthcare providers to advise patients taking Byetta to seek emergency medical assistance if they experience unexplained and persistent severe abdominal pain.

If you or a loved one were diagnosed with pancreatitis or other serious side effect while using Byetta, please contact our law firm for a free review of your potential legal claim.