Byetta Side Effects: Understanding Pancreatitis

San Francisco, CAPatients are reporting severe pain and side effects as a result of taking Byetta. Now, patients who have developed serious side effects after taking Byetta are investigating the possibility of filing a lawsuit against the drug's manufacturers.

Some have developed pancreatitis, a potentially life-threatening condition after taking the diabetes drug. In response to recent reports, the FDA has announced that it is updating Byetta's warning label to include the risk of pancreatitis.

Patients who have never suffered from pancreatitis may not realize how serious it can be. However, those who have developed it can confirm that it can be incredibly painful. Certainly, patients who take Byetta for their type 2 diabetes do not expect that they will develop as serious a problem as pancreatitis as a result.

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas, a large gland that secretes digestive enzymes into the small intestine and insulin and glucagons into the bloodstream. Usually, digestive enzymes do not become active until they are in the small intestine; however, if they become active while still inside the pancreas they can "eat away" at the pancreas. Although acute pancreatitis usually resolves itself after a short period of time, chronic pnacreatitis can result in slow destruction of the pancreas. Acute pancreatitis can cause chronic pancreatitis.

Both types of pancreatitis can cause serious complications including bleeding, tissue damage and infection. Furthermore enzymes and toxins can enter the bloodstream, causing injury to the patient's organs.

Acute pancreatitis often begins with pain in the upper abdomen that can become constant. The pain may spread to the patient's back and can be very intense. Further symptoms may include pain and tenderness in the abdomen, nausea, fever and vomiting. In severe cases patients may develop dehydration, low blood pressure, internal bleeding and heart, lung or kidney failure. In the most extreme causes the patient may go into shock and could die.

Patients who are taking Byetta and develop intense and/or persistent abdominal pain or other symptoms of pancreatitis should seek medical attention immediately. Anyone who develops pancreatitis while taking Byetta should be taken off the medication permanently.

Patients who have been seriously affected by Byetta are now investigating the possibility of a lawsuit against the makers of Byetta.