Byetta Associated with Serious Injury

Byetta injury lawyers and attorneys working for our firm have been investigating claims of necrotizing pancreatitis linked to Byetta since the FDA issued information for healthcare professional in October 2007. If you or someone you love suffered from pancreatitis while taking Byetta, you may be entitled to compensation. Please contact one of our Byetta injury lawyers as soon as possible to protect your legal rights.

What is Byetta?

Byetta is used to treat type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes. It is an injectable diabetes medicine that helps control blood sugar levels by helping the pancreas produce insulin more efficiently.

Byetta and The FDA

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Since the initial warning in October 2007, the FDA received reports of 6 cases of hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis in patients taking Byetta. Of the 6 cases of hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis, all patients required hospitalization, two patients died and four patients were recovering at time of reporting. Byetta was discontinued in all 6 cases. Byetta and other potentially suspect drugs should be promptly discontinued if pancreatitis is suspected. There are no signs or symptoms that distinguish acute hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis associated with Byetta from the less severe form of pancreatitis. If pancreatitis is confirmed, initiate appropriate treatment and carefully monitor the patient until recovery. Byetta should not be restarted. Consider antidiabetic therapies other than Byetta in patients with a history of pancreatitis.

FDA has reviewed 30 postmarketing reports of acute pancreatitis in patients taking Byetta (exenatide), a drug used to treat adults with type 2 diabetes. An association between Byetta and acute pancreatitis is suspected in some of these cases. Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has agreed to include information about acute pancreatitis in the PRECAUTIONS section of the product label.

FDA Warns About Byetta’s Association with Acute Pancreatits

WHAT IS NECROTIZING PANCREATITIS?

Necrotizing Pancreatitis is the most severe end of a spectrum of inflammation associated with pancreatitis. Inflammation causes cell death with resultant dead tissue, which is likely to become infected. The amount of necrotic tissue is the strongest predictor of mortality in necrotizing pancreatitis. After pancreatic necrosis occurs, 3 potential outcomes exist, resolution, pseudocyst, or abscess.

  • A pseudocyst is a collection of fluid surrounding the pancreas.
  • A pancreatic abscess is a collection of pus resulting from tissue death and infection.

Pancreatic abscess is a late complication of acute necrotizing pancreatitis, occurring more than 4 weeks after the initial attack. The mortality rate associated with pancreatic abscess is generally less than that of infected necrosis. The mortality rate of pancreatitis may exceed 20% or more with infected pancreatic necrosis and is largely related to sepsis and multiorgan failure.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF NECROTIZING PANCREATITIS

Signs and symptoms of necrotizing pancreatitis include:

  • Abdominal pain;
  • Fever or low body temperature (hypothermia);
  • Fast heart rate;
  • Rapid breathing;
  • Change in mental status, such as confusion or decreased alertness;
  • Diarrhea;
  • Low blood pressure — dizziness when you stand up;
  • Warm, flushed skin or skin rash or bleeding; and
  • Decreased urine output.

Contact a Byetta Injury Lawyer Now!

If you or someone you love suffered from pancreatitis as a result of Byetta, you have valuable legal rights. Please fill out our online form or call 1 800 99 POTTS (1-800-997-6887) as soon as possible to discuss your case with one of our Avandia injury lawyers.