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What Are the Dangers of Byetta?

Byetta is a drug prescribed for the treatment of diabetes. There are some risks associated with the medication that are important to consider. Understanding the benefits and risks associated with medications used to treat diabetes and other diseases can assist the healthcare provider and patient with selecting the best course of action in effective treatment.

  1. Identification

    • Issued as the drug Exenatide and marketed as Byetta, this medicine is manufactured by Amylin Pharmaceuticals. Byetta is delivered by injection to help treat Type 2 diabetes in adults. It helps produce more insulin in the body, regulates blood glucose levels and slows down digestion.

    Side Effects

    • According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), reported side effects of Byetta include nausea, vomiting, indigestion and upper abdominal pain. In the event of severe abdominal pain without without vomiting, patients should promptly seek medical care.

    Acute Pancreatitis

    • In 2007, the FDA announced the review of 30 reports of acute pancreatitis in patients taking Byetta to treat their Type 2 diabetes. The FDA has asked the manufacturer of Byetta, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, to include information about acute pancreatitis on the product label. If pancreatitis is suspected by a healthcare professional, use of Byetta should be immediately discontinued until final diagnosis when alternative treatment can be provided.

    Risk Factors

    • In additional reports of the FDA study in 2007, it was noted that 27 out of the 30 reported cases of acute pancreatitis had other risk factors including gallstones, alcohol use and extremely high levels of triglycerides. Of the 22 patients who improved after discontinuing Byetta, pancreatitis returned in three patients when they began using the drug again.

    Additional Reactions

    • Additional reported adverse reactions to Byetta include allergic reactions such as rash and pruritus, gastrointestinal reactions including abdominal distension, diarrhea, vomiting and constipation. In addition, renal and urinary disorders including acute renal failure have been reported by the National Institutes of Health.

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