Byetta® Recall and Byetta® Warnings
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Byetta®, an injectable type-2 diabetes medication, has been found to increase patients' risk of fatal side effects, including pancreatitis. To date, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received nearly 40 reports of patients developing severe pancreatitis following Byetta® use. Of these, six resulted in death.
Despite these reports of life-threatening Byetta® side effects, the FDA has yet to issue an official Byetta® recall that would take this medication off the market.
Instead, the FDA has issued two national Byetta® alerts:
• In October 2007, the FDA warned healthcare professionals that taking Byetta® could cause patients to develop serious cases of pancreatitis (including acute, hemorrhagic and necrotizing pancreatitis).
• In August 2008, the FDA issued another Byetta® warning, highlighting the fact that six patients had died from Byetta®-induced pancreatitis.
Following this second Byetta® warning, the FDA consulted with Amylin and Eli Lily (the makers of Byetta®) about including strong warning labels on Byetta® pens. The FDA is also currently considering whether to force a "black box" warning, the most serious type of FDA warning label, on the packaging to warn about the Byetta® dangers.
Byetta® Dangers: Side Effects Associated with Byetta® Use
The following forms of pancreatitis, a life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas, are among the most serious Byetta® side effects:
• Acute pancreatitis, a rapid swelling of the pancreas that causes intense back pain, fever, chills and nausea.
• Hemorrhagic pancreatitis, pancreatic swelling coupled with internal bleeding.
• Necrotizing pancreatitis, inflammation of the pancreas that results in tissue death.
Of these, necrotizing pancreatitis is the most serious. However, if either acute or hemorrhagic pancreatitis is left untreated, both can also be fatal, as they can turn into necrotizing pancreatitis.
Patients can minimize their risk of developing such severe Byetta® side effects by:
• Discussing their complete medical history with their doctors before starting a Byetta® regimen
• Understanding the symptoms of pancreatitis
• Getting immediate medical attention, should pancreatitis symptoms arise.
Other Byetta® Warnings
Clearly, some patients will have a higher risk of developing potentially fatal Byetta® side effects. Factors that can increase a patient's risk include having a history of:
• digestive problems
• kidney disease
• stomach disorders (such as gastroparesis).
Similarly, drinking alcohol can complicate the effectiveness of the Byetta® drug and lead to serious side effects (including severe hypoglycemia, dangerously low blood sugar).
Following Byetta® Side Effects
Injured patients will need immediate medical attention to prevent further complications and, in the worst cases, death. Pain medication and enzyme therapies are common treatments for pancreatitis.
Once a patient's health is stable and (s)he has found an alternative type-2 diabetes medication, it's crucial that the affected individual meet with a personal injury attorney who specializes in Byetta® lawsuits.
During an initial consultation, prospective plaintiffs can:
• Find out if they have a case against Eli Lily and Amylin Pharmaceuticals.
• Learn more about the process of filing and winning a Byetta® lawsuit.
• Get information about settlements in cases similar to their own.
• Decide whether they want to file an individual claim or join an already-progressing class action case.
To encourage injured Byetta® patients to pursue their cases, most Byetta® lawyers offer free consultations and will work on contingency, meaning they do not get paid unless compensation is awarded.
If You Have Been Injured by Byetta®
Have you or a loved one been injured after taking Byetta®? If so, contact us to speak with an experienced Byetta® attorney who specializes in drug recall litigation & lawsuits. Let us help you win the compensation you need and deserve.
