My Diabetes Information Blogs
A Warning About Diabetes Medication Byetta
10/17/07
Diabetes Medications
Thirty cases of pancreatitis among users of a leading diabetes treatment prompted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to issue a safety alert.
People taking Byetta should seek prompt medical care if they experience unexplained abdominal pain, which may or may not be accompanied by vomiting. In the meantime, Byetta's maker, Amylin, is working with the FDA, and will revise the drug's labeling to warn about the possibility of developing acute pancreatitis while taking the medication.
This warning comes on the tails of revelations that other diabetes medications such as Avandia appear to increase the risk of heart conditions. So people may be erroneous linking the two diabetes drugs when they hear this news.
According the the Mayo Clinic's pancreatitis site most pancreatitis gets better on its own. But, there are some cases that could be fatal. If you are using Byetta and develop a stomachache, do not hesitate to call your doctor.
The benefits of Byetta most likely far outweigh the risks from pancreatitis. Patients taking Byetta should only worry if they have the symptoms mentioned above.
As always, carefully discuss your treatment options with your doctor.