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Byetta & Abdominal Pain

When Byetta was introduced, diabetics across the United States rejoiced. For the first time, a drug was approved that would help control their insulin levels without causing weight gain. Byetta has lived up to its initial promises, although many users have experienced abdominal pain and discomfort from using the drug.

  1. Injection Spot

    • Byetta is injected into the abdomen and many users complain of stinging, burning, tenderness or bruising at the injection site. Requesting a smaller needle and getting help with proper technique for self-injections reduces these complaints.

    Gas and Bloating

    • Some Byetta users complain of gas and bloating in the abdomen. Reducing intake of carbohydrates and carbonated beverages can relieve this discomfort.

    Cramping

    • Byetta sometimes causes abdominal cramping. Most users find that it helps to experiment with their menu choices and the timing of their meals. Byetta is taken with two meals daily, so many users plan to have a larger meal when they are not taking an injection to reduce cramps.

    Upset Stomach

    • Queasiness, nausea and an upset stomach are the most common side effects of Byetta. Relief can be found by giving the injections in the inner thigh rather than the abdomen, drinking a meal replacement shake or cutting back to one injection per day until the body adjusts.

    Fullness and Discomfort

    • Byetta levels out insulin levels by slowing down the time the body takes to process sugars. This makes users feel full on small amounts of food. Over time, users adjust and generally lose weight due to this side effect.

    Pancreatitis

    • In 2007, the FDA released an alert that there was a possible link between pancreatitis and Byetta use. Continued research into the connection showed that Byetta users were no more likely to get pancreatitis than a person not on the drug.

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