Byetta Pancreatitis

The anti-diabetes drug Byetta (exenatide) is associated with pancreatitis, which is a life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas gland. According to FDA Drug Safety Communications from 2007 and 2008, Byetta is associated with dozens of cases of pancreatitis, including hemorrhagic and necrotizing pancreatitis.

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.

UPDATE: The Schmidt Firm, PLLC Files First Byetta Pancreatitis Lawsuit

In August 2008, Michael E. Schmidt of The Schmidt Firm, PLLC filed the first-ever Byetta pancreatitis lawsuit. The plaintiff, Victor Deleon of Virginia, suffered from life-threatening pancreatitis after he took Byetta to treat type-2 diabetes. The lawsuit was filed in San Diego Superior Court, near the headquarters of drug-maker Amylin Pharmaceuticals. If you were injured, we encourage you to contact our Byetta lawyers immediately for a free case consultation.

Byetta Overview

Byetta (exenatide) is approved to help people with type-2 diabetes control their blood-sugar levels. The medication comes in a pre-loaded injection pen, which delivers a medication that lowers a diabetic’s blood-sugar levels after they eat a meal. The active ingredient stimulates the pancreas (a digestive gland located behind the stomach) to produce extra insulin (a hormone that tells cells to absorb sugar from the bloodstream).

Byetta and Pancreatitis

• Does Byetta cause pancreatitis?
• What are the symptoms of pancreatitis?
• What are the complications of pancreatitis?
• How is pancreatitis diagnosed?
• What is the treatment for pancreatitis?

Individuals who use Byetta are at risk of acute pancreatitis, which is a sudden, severe inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is a gland that produces hormones and powerful digestive enzymes that break down food in the stomach. During a pancreatic attack, the digestive enzymes could be activated inside the pancreas. This can cause severe complications, including extensive tissue damage within the pancreas. If the pancreas ruptures, other abdominal organs can also be damaged.

Byetta is associated with numerous cases of severe pancreatitis, including:

• Hemorrhagic pancreatitis: Bleeding in the pancreas
• Necrotizing pancreatitis: Tissue damage or death, or severe infection, which may require surgical removal of necrotic tissue.

Individuals who are diagnosed with pancreatitis almost always require hospitalization. They may require extensive treatment, including fasting (not eating any food or drinking any water) to give the pancreas a chance to recover. During this time, intravenous fluids and nutrition may be administered. If Byetta pancreatitis becomes hemorrhagic or necrotic, surgery may be necessary to remove damaged pancreatic tissue and prevent infection.

Byetta FDA Pancreatitis Safety Warning

In October 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a Byetta Pancreatitis Safety Warning in response to more than 30 reports of Byetta pancreatitis. The FDA updated the warning in August 2008, because six additional cases of severe, hemorrhagic or necrotizing Byetta pancreatitis were reported. Of these six cases, two people died, and four required prolonged hospitalization.

The FDA published this warning about Byetta pancreatitis:

“[Byetta] should be promptly discontinued if pancreatitis is suspected. There are no signs or symptoms that distinguish acute hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis associated with Byetta from the less severe form of pancreatitis.”

Journal Forced to Withdraw Study Linking Byetta to Pancreatitis

In 2011, researchers published a study of Byetta pancreatitis based on data submitted to the FDA adverse event reporting system. They found Byetta was associated with an 11.8-fold increased risk of pancreatitis.

However, two weeks after the study was published online in the journal Gastroenterology, drug-makers Amylin Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly contacted the editor, Anil Rustgi, and forced the journal of withdraw the study.

According to the drug companies, the link between Byetta and a nearly 12-fold increased risk of pancreatitis was “unjustified” and could “spark an unnecessary health scare.”

Signs & Symptoms of Pancreatitis

The classic symptoms of pancreatitis are severe, persistent abdominal pain that may or may not be accompanied by nausea and/or vomiting. Byetta patients who exhibit the following signs and symptoms of pancreatitis should be evaluated immediately by a medical professional.

• Abdominal pain
• Pain that radiates into the back
• Swollen and/or tender abdomen
• Nausea, vomiting
• Indigestion
• Fever
• Increased heart rate
• And more

Byetta Pancreatitis Lawsuit

Our Byetta lawyers have already filed numerous Byetta pancreatitis lawsuits on behalf of individuals and families who were injured by this devastating side effect. If you believe Byetta is responsible for your pancreatitis, you are not alone — we may be able to help you recover damages, such as:

• Pain and suffering
• Past and future medical expenses
• Lost wages or income
• Permanent injuries
• Disability
• Decreased quality of life
• Loss of consortium for your spouse
• Wrongful death of your loved one

Do I have a Byetta Pancreatitis Lawsuit?

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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