Do you suspect that Byetta (exenatide) may have caused your pancreatitis? You are not alone. Byetta has been linked to dozens of reports of pancreatitis, including several deaths, and the FDA has published multiple safety warnings since 2007. These reports include hemorrhagic and necrotizing pancreatitis, which can quickly become life-threatening.
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 Pancreatitis
Adults with type-2 diabetes may use an injectable medication called Byetta (exenatide) to help control their blood-sugar levels. People with type-2 diabetes have cellular resistance to insulin (a hormone that lowers blood-sugar), which causes chronic high blood-sugar problems. The active drugs in Byetta cause the pancreas to release more insulin, which lowers blood-sugar levels.
Acute pancreatitis occurs when there is a sudden, severe inflammation in the pancreas (also known as a “pancreatic attack”). Experts do not know why inflammation occurs. One explanation is that inflammation occurs when the inactive digestive enzymes in the pancreas somehow activate, and begin digesting pancreatic tissue.
Byetta has been associated with dozens of cases of acute pancreatitis, and at least 6 cases of the following life-threatening types of pancreatitis:
- Hemorrhagic pancreatitis: Bleeding in the pancreas
- Necrotizing pancreatitis: Death of pancreatic tissue, severe infection.
Does Byetta Cause Pancreatitis?
Although no one knows exactly what causes pancreatitis, Byetta could potentially cause this disease. The active drug in Byetta specifically targets beta-cells in the pancreas and stimulates them to produce extra insulin. Furthermore, Byetta has been associated with dozens of cases of pancreatitis since 2007, including:
- Byetta was associated with 30 reports of acute pancreatitis, including 21 people who required hospitalization, according to an FDA warning from October 2007.
- In 2008, the FDA reported that 6 people suffered severe, hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis after using Byetta. They all required prolonged hospitalization, and two people died.
What Causes Pancreatitis?
The most common causes of pancreatitis in the United States are gallstones (acute pancreatitis) and alcoholism (chronic pancreatitis). However, there are many known risk factors for pancreatitis, including:
- Certain medications
- Gallstones and certain gallstone treatments (ERCP)
- Alcoholism
- Abdominal surgery
- Family history of pancreatitis (genetic)
- Cigarette smoking
- Cystic fibrosis
- Abdominal injury
- High calcium in the blood
- High triglyceride levels in the blood
- High levels of parathyroid hormone in the blood
- Viral infection, including mumps
- Pancreatic cancer
- And more
If You Believe Byetta Caused Your Pancreatitis
If you were diagnosed with pancreatitis and you believe Byetta may have caused your disease, it is essential that you contact a Byetta lawyer right away. You may be entitled to recover significant financial compensation for your pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages, and more — but you have a limited amount of time. You must file your Byetta pancreatitis lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires in your state.
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.
Attention Lawyers: We consider a referral from another law firm to be one of the greatest compliments. If your firm is interested in referring us a case or for us to send you a list of previous award judgments and/or average referral fees, please visit the Lawyer Referral section of our website.