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Byetta Pancreatitis Test & Diagnosis Information

Byetta Pancreatitis Test & Diagnosis Information

Were you diagnosed with pancreatitis after using Byetta (exenatide) to treat type-2 diabetes? Byetta is an injection pen that has been linked to dozens of cases of acute pancreatitis. Anyone who uses Byetta and suffers severe, persistent upper-abdominal pain should undergo medical tests for pancreatitis, because this disease can be deadly.

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

Experts recommend that patients who use Byetta (exenatide) should undergo medical tests for pancreatitis if they experience severe, persistent upper abdominal pain that may or may not be accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

Prompt testing and diagnosis of Byetta pancreatitis is essential, because symptoms of mild pancreatitis and life-threatening pancreatitis are very similar. According to a Safety Communication published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2008:

“There are no known patient characteristics which determine when pancreatitis associated with Byetta will be complicated by the hemorrhagic or necrotizing forms of this condition.”

Medical Tests for Pancreatitis

There are many available Byetta pancreatitis tests, including but not limited to:

  • Blood tests: These tests will look for elevated levels of pancreatic enzymes (amylase and lipase) in the bloodstream.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): This uses magnetic waves and a contrast dye to look for tissue damage or death (necrosis) in the pancreas. Necrotic tissue does not absorb the contrast dye.
  • Abdominal ultrasound: This is a non-invasive procedure that uses sound-waves on the outside of the body to get a picture of the pancreas.
  • Endoscopic ultrasound: This test uses an endoscope (a long, flexible tube with a camera on the end), which brings a small ultrasound device near the pancreas through the mouth, throat, and stomach.
  • Abdominal CT scan: This creates a 3D image of the pancreas with the use of contrast dye.

Diagnosis of Pancreatitis

Any diagnosis of pancreatitis can be frightening. Fortunately, in most cases, pancreatitis is not life-threatening and patients will improve when they stop taking Byetta. However, in some cases, pancreatitis can cause life-threatening bleeding, infection, tissue damage, organ failure, and even death.

Many people who are diagnosed with Byetta pancreatitis require hospitalization. They may take antibiotics, receive intravenous fluids, and pain-relieving medications. If pancreatic tissue becomes infected, the patient may require a catheter to drain off excess fluid. Surgery may be necessary to remove necrotic, infected pancreatic tissue and prevent sepsis (blood infection).

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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