According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, nearly 80 people with type-2 diabetes who used Byetta (exenatide) have required treatment for kidney failure or renal insufficiency. This treatment may include frequent blood tests, urine tests, medications, or dialysis. In end-stage kidney failure, patients may require a kidney transplant.
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 and Kidney Failure
Byetta (exenatide) is a drug that treats type-2 diabetes, a chronic metabolic condition. Both Byetta and diabetes are potential risk factors for developing kidney failure, which is why Byetta patients should be vigilant for symptoms of kidney problems.
The earlier Byetta patients with kidney failure begin treatment, the better the patient’s long-term outlook. Unfortunately, not all people who undergo treatment see improvements in their symptoms. In 2009, the FDA published a Drug Safety Communication to announce that 78 people reported Byetta kidney problems, including 4 deaths and 62 cases of kidney failure. However, only 39 people (50%) reported improvements in their symptoms after receiving treatment.
Byetta Kidney Failure Treatment
Treatment for kidney failure depends on the stage of the disease. Most Byetta patients with kidney disease will require regular blood tests and urine tests to check the progression of the disease. In the end-stages of kidney disease, patients with kidney failure may require dialysis or a kidney transplant.
The National Kidney Disease Foundation has divided kidney disease into 5 stages of treatment:
- Stage 1 Kidney Disease Treatment: This stage involves kidney damage, but no reduction in blood-filtration rate. Treatment for Stage 1 involves routing blood tests and urine tests to check the progression of the disease. Medications might be used to lower blood pressure and control blood-sugar levels. Patients may also need to lose weight, begin exercising, or improve their heart health.
- Stage 2 Kidney Disease Treatment: This stage involves mild impairment of blood-filtration. Treatment is mostly the same as Stage 1. However, blood tests may need to be performed in the hand instead of the arm to protect arm veins for future dialysis, if necessary.
- Stage 3 Kidney Disease Treatment: This stage involves moderate impairment of blood-filtration through the kidneys. The patient is at risk of serious complications, including permanent kidney damage.
- Stage 4 Kidney Disease Treatment: This stage involves severely decreased kidney function and filtration. The patient may need to prepare themselves for complete kidney failure, such as finding a kidney transplant donor or having a surgeon create a dialysis access point in their arm.
- Stage 5 Kidney Disease Treatment: This is the end-stage of kidney failure, in which the kidneys are no longer filtering blood or functioning. Patients with kidney failure will require dialysis (cleaning of their blood in a dialysis machine) or a kidney transplant.
Do I have a Byetta Lawsuit for Kidney Failure?
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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