Acute Pancreatitis
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Acute pancreatitis is a potential side effect of using Byetta®, a new type of medicine for treating Type 2 diabetes. Byetta® works to control a diabetic's blood sugar (glucose) level by helping the body produce the needed amount of insulin at the right time. Acute pancreatitis is a painful, dangerous side effect that has been observed in some patients treated with Byetta®.
Inflammation of the Pancreas
In acute pancreatitis, the suffix "-itis" refers to inflammation (of the pancreas). The pancreas plays very important roles in the body's metabolism of sugar, fats and protein. It secretes hormones, including insulin, and enzymes that help digestion. An inflammation of the pancreas can develop gradually, or it can have a very sudden onset; this is "acute" pancreatitis. The inflammation of the pancreas signals that the cells of the pancreas are attacking the pancreas itself.
Symptoms and Signs of Acute Pancreatitis
Acute pancreatitis makes itself felt with several symptoms, including:
- fever
- nausea, vomiting
- abdominal pain, mild to severe
If you have been using Byetta® and you experience these symptoms, contact your physician immediately.
Emergency Room, Hospital Stay
A "mild" attack of acute pancreatitis may improve on its own within a week or so, but an emergency room visit and ensuing hospital stay are necessary in many other pancreatitis cases. Complications of acute pancreatitis can easily put a patient into the hospital's intensive care unit.
A severe bout of acute pancreatitis can cause significant damage to the pancreas, and it can be the triggering factor for chronic pancreatitis, a very troubling condition that may last for months or years. Over time, chronic pancreatitis destroys pancreatic cells and wreaks havoc with the body's production of insulin and digestive enzymes.
Chronic pancreatitis can also lead to pancreatic cancer — one of the most deadly forms of cancer.
