Individuals who take Byetta (exenatide) and develop pancreatitis are at risk of life-threatening complications, including hemorrhagic and necrotizing pancreatitis. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned about this risk in a Drug Safety Communication in 2008. Possible complications include infection, bleeding, tissue death (necrosis), multiple organ failure, and death.
What You Can Do & How a Byetta Lawsuit Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Byetta induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was injured by Byetta, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
Byetta Pancreatitis
The link between Byetta (exenatide) and acute pancreatitis has been established in numerous studies and case reports. In 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a Safety Communication to announce that 30 people developed pancreatitis after using Byetta. Most of them suffered serious complications and required hospitalization.
In August 2008, the FDA published another Safety Communication to warn that they had received 6 more reports of Byetta pancreatitis, including 2 reports of death due to hemorrhagic and necrotizing pancreatitis. This is the most severe type of Byetta pancreatitis complication.
Byetta Pancreatitis Complications
The complications of Byetta pancreatitis include:
- Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS): Inflammation in the pancreas spreads to the entire body, which can cause organ failure.
- Tissue death: Necrotic tissue is highly likely to become infected.
- Infection: Bacterial contamination of dead or damaged pancreatic tissue.
- Respiratory complications
- Malnutrition: If the pancreas is not functioning, it will not produce digestive enzymes or hormones that are needed to process food.
- Diabetes: The pancreas may not produce insulin, which can result in chronic high blood-sugar levels.
- Pancreatic abscess: A collection of pus resulting from tissue death, liquefaction, and infection on the pancreas.
- Pseudocysts: A fluid collection within a defined wall of tissue. If it ruptures, it may cause internal bleeding and infection.
- Pancreatic cancer: Chronic pancreatitis is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer.
- Kidney failure
- Organ failure
- Permanent disability
- Death
Byetta and Necrotizing Pancreatitis
One of the most serious complications of Byetta pancreatitis is necrotizing pancreatitis. This complication typically occurs within 2-6 weeks after the onset of acute pancreatitis. It occurs when severe inflammation reduces blood-flow to pancreatic tissue, causing tissue death (necrosis).
Dead pancreatic tissue is highly vulnerable to bacterial infection. The mortality rate for necrotizing pancreatitis may exceed 20% when tissue becomes infected. The high mortality rate is largely due to sepsis (a severe, whole-body blood infection) and multiple organ failure.
Do I have a Byetta Lawsuit for Pancreatitis?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Byetta induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was injured by Byetta, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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