Byetta Pancreatitis Causes

New research suggests that the type-2 diabetes drug Byetta (exenatide) could potentially cause pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). If you are concerned that Byetta caused your pancreatitis, you are not alone. This medication has been linked to dozens of cases of pancreatitis — including at least two deaths.

Do I Have a Texas Byetta Lawsuit? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you or a loved one was injured by Byetta, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a Byetta pancreatitis lawsuit in Texas.

Byetta and Pancreatitis

Byetta (exenatide) is an injectable anti-diabetes medication that works by stimulating a patient’s pancreas to secrete extra insulin (a hormone that lowers blood-sugar levels). Byetta treats diabetes by lowering a patient’s blood-sugar levels after they eat a meal.

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas, which is a gland located under the stomach that secretes hormones (such as insulin and glucagon) and powerful digestive enzymes. The most serious types of pancreatitis include:

• Hemorrhagic pancreatitis:
• Necrotizing pancreatitis:

Does Byetta Cause Pancreatitis?

It is unknown whether Byetta causes pancreatitis. However, recent studies and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have raised serious concerns about a potential causal link between Byetta and pancreatitis. The FDA published a Safety Warnings in 2007 after receiving 30 of reports of pancreatitis in Byetta patients. In 2008, this warning was updated after the FDA received 6 more reports of hemorrhagic and necrotizing pancreatitis, including 2 fatalities.

In 2011, researchers published a study linking Byetta to a nearly 12-fold increased risk of pancreatitis, but drug-makers Eli Lilly and Amylin Pharmaceuticals forced the journal to withdraw the paper.

What Causes Pancreatitis?

The exact cause of pancreatitis is not well understood. It is thought that inflammation occurs when powerful digestive enzymes inside the pancreas (which are normally inactive) somehow activate and start to digest pancreatic tissue. This can cause severe swelling, bleeding, tissue damage, and even death.

The Mayo Clinic has published the following list of causes of pancreatitis:

• Certain medications
• Gallstones and certain gallstone treatments (ERCP)
• Alcoholism
• Abdominal surgery
• Family history of pancreatitis (genetic)
• Cigarette smoking
• Cystic fibrosis
• Abdominal injury
• High calcium in the blood
• High triglyceride levels in the blood
• High levels of parathyroid hormone in the blood
• Viral infection, including mumps
• Pancreatic cancer
• And more

Do I have a Byetta Lawsuit in Texas?

Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.

Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”

The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years experience, participation in over 600 jury trials and $60 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact us for a free Texas Byetta lawsuit review.