Skip Navigation

About Lawsuits

Suboxone Tooth Decay

Depo-Provera

Ozempic Wegovy and Mounjaro

Bard PowerPort

See if you qualify for compensation
See if you qualify for compensation

Byetta Lawsuit

||
Austin Kirk

Add Your Comments

The use of the diabetes drug Byetta may increase the risk of developing chronic, asymptomatic pancreatitis, which could ultimately lead to a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer from Byetta.

BYETTA LAWSUIT STATUS: As a result of the drug maker’s failure to properly research the side effects of Byetta or provide adequate warnings about the impact of the medication on the pancreas, product liability lawyers previously reviewed Byetta pancreatic cancer lawsuits on behalf of individuals nationwide.

AboutLawsuits.com is no longer reviewing new claims involving Byetta side effects. This page is maintained for informational purposes only.

Byetta Lawsuit

MANUFACTURERS: Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Bristol-Myers Squibb

OVERVIEW: Byetta (exenatide) is a type 2 diabetes drug which was approved by the FDA in April 2005 to help reduce blood sugar levels. Amid aggressive marketing and promotion, millions of prescriptions for the Byetta pen have been written.

The drug belongs to a class of drugs known as incretin mimetics, which mimic the action of endogenous incretin hormones like GIP and GLP-1, which are found in the gastrointestinal tract. Byetta lowers blood glucose levels by stimulating insulin secretion from pancreatic cells.

Shortly after the Byetta pen was introduced, reports of pancreatitis among users began to emerge. Although pancreatitis is a substantial risk factor for the subsequent development of pancreatic cancer, due to the chronic inflammation and increased cell turn over, Amylin Pharmaceuticals failed to warn users or the medical community about the importance of monitoring for the first signs of changes to the pancrease.

BYETTA PANCREATITIS SIDE EFFECTS:  In October 2007, the FDA issued an alert about reports of at least 30 users of Byetta diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. That warning was updated by the FDA in August 2008, after at least six additional cases of necrotizing pancreatitis or hemorrhagic pancreatitis were identified among Byetta users, including at least two deaths

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas, which can cause symptoms like:

  • Severe upper abdominal pain which may radiate through the back
  • Nausea and Vomiting
  • High or Low Blood Pressure
  • Elevated Heart or Respiratory Rates

If a user of the Byetta pen develops pancreatitis, it is important that the medication be stopped to avoid further risk of more serious injury. However, as a result of Amylin Pharmaceutical’s failure to warn about the risk of pancreatitis, many individuals continued to use the diabetes injection.

BYETTA PANCREATIC CANCER LAWSUITS:  A number of recent studies have suggested that there may be a link between Byetta and pancreatic cancer.

According to a study published in the medical journal Gastroenterology in February 2011, the development of pancreatic cancer among Byetta users was three times greater than among other diabetics.

In the February 2013 edition of JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers raised serious concerns about the Byetta pancreatic cancer risk, after a study found that individuals treated with Byetta were twice as likely to be hospitalized with pancreatitis, which could ultimately lead to pancreatic cancer.

Amylin Pharmaceutical’s failure to warn about the Byetta pancreas cancer risk has had devastating consequences for individuals throughout the United States, as it is the fourth most common cause of cancer related deaths in the United States.

Pancreatic cancer symptoms may include:

  • Upper abdomen pain
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Jaundice
  • Fatigue and weariness
  • Nausea and Vomiting
Tags: Byetta, Pancreatitis
Image Credit: ||

121 Comments

Doris
I started taking Byetta in March 27th of 2008 and stopped taking it soon after. While I was on it and even after I stopped taking it I experience severe abdominal pain, nausea, heart palpatations, and now my stomach does not empty properly. It may have even caused a bacterial infection I had soon after taking it. I stopped taking it because I couldn’t handle the side effects anymore and I’m still having problems with my stomach and GI tract.
Sharon
In July of 2007 I was prescribed Byetta and began to use it. It worked extremely well at controlling my blood sugars, however I was constantly sick to my stomach with diarrhea constantly. I used this drug until November of the same year. I could no longer take the bad side effects and called my doctor. He told me to immediately stop using the Byetta and he prescribed Januvia. Until about three weeks ago I had this feeling of being extremely full all the time. I’m just wondering if this could have been some lasting side effects from the drug. Has anyone else experienced this?
angela
I never lost a pound on the byettam, as I was promised. It did control my appetite. I was naseus when I first started but then that subsided. I am afraid to go back to the dr. I did stop taking my byetta about 3 mnths ago because I hated giving myself shots.
S Smart
I took for 3 months everyday vomiting and pain. My doctor believed in the drug and did not want to take me off of it. I finally told him there was no way I was continuing to take this medicine. I still have problems with my GI tract.
Jarrod
i’ve been taken byetta for about 1 year my liver levels are out of control it has gone up by three times higher since taken byetta. my kidneys levels are bad also i have not checked my pancreas levels. i also suffer from lower back pain below my ribs when i lay down throuhout the night. i shake, have bad heartburn and nausia. if i stop taken Byetta will this get any better?
Stu
I’m afraid to eat anything because the Byetta shot starts a radiating burning feeling in my stomach within 1 hour followed my throwing up shortly there after. From 5:15pm last night when I took the shot until around 3:30am I had this constant burning feeling throughout my body just like when I was taking the Chemo treatments. Bye Bye BYETTA Before this stuff frys my insides out!!!
Bill
I have taken Byetta since 2005 when it was first approved. I have never had any problems with nausia and my blood sugar has been well controled. I have had some heart problems over the past three years I have had to have stints put in on two occassions as well as triple by-pass surgery. I had never had any heart problems in my life, also my chlostriol levels have always been excellent. I am not a Dr. but, I feel that all of tthese problems were brought on by the use of Byetta/
Richard
I took byetta for 14 months and had excellent control over my diabetes as well as lost 50 pounds. Six weeks ago my endocrinologist d/c my byetta and prescribed insulin due to extremely elevated liver enzynes. SMy liver levels have now gotten back to almost normal. I also had to d/c lipitor at the same time so I’m uncertain which or if both are related.
patricia
in 2006 i was precribed byetta. i began to take it even with the warning from my dr. about the side effects. he did say stay with it because in timr the symptoms will probably go away. that is what i did, every side effect listed i experienced. i was sick as a dog, lost a great deal of wehit, could not keep anything down, the abdominal was awful, i mostely stayed in bed then i would take the second dose, the onslaught continued. after being told by my dr. to hang on a few more weeks i did but got no better. in 2007 i stoped taking byetta for three months then i was told to begin again. again i suffered the same symptoms but with a vengence. after 6 mo. i finally told my dr. i could not do this anymore. now i take lantus, but my sugars are difficult to keep at a normal range.
FDA Byetta Review for Expanded Use Delayed as Agency Reviews Warning Revisions : AboutLawsuits.com
[…] Byetta (exenatide), which is jointly marketed by Amylin and Lilly, has been used by nearly 1 million people in the United States to help control blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetics. It is currently approved as an add-on therapy for people also using metformin, a sulfonylurea drug or a thiazolidinedione medication, such as Avandia or Actos. […]
Shelly
I started Byetta in 2006 and stop taking it about four months ago. I was never told about the pancreatitis issues. My doctor took me off of it because my blood sugar was well maintained. For a little over a year I have been having severe abdonminal pain and abnormal bloodwork. I was told my liver and pancreas levels were high. I have under gone several tests. Now it looks like I have liver disease. I’m having a liver biospy done this coming Thursday to see how bad it is. I’m 34 and what most doctors consider a good diabetic. My A1C hasn’t been any higher than 6.7 in a year and a half. Now I’m thinking that their is a link to my liver issues. Has anyone else been having liver issues? I was also told that my gall bladder is involved. So I’m having issues with three organs. I had a full cardio work up about three months ago. Everything is fine. I only failed the EKG. Since taking Byetta I have been having heart palpations. I’m glad I’m no longer taking Byetta.
patty
I started taking byetta in july of 07. It worked wonderful until aug of 08 when i developed severe pain and was taken to a local hospital where they transferred me to a bigger hospital. I am still having pain of and on and have to take morphine when it is severe.
Jennifer
I began taking Byetta in December of 2007, and continued to take it until April of 2008. Though it worked wonders at lowering my blood sugar levels in combination with my Glipizide, it made me sick to my stomach with serious abdominal pain. In August of this year my pills completely stopped working, causing my sugar levels to soar into the 500’s on nearly a daily basis, and I was informed that my pancreas had completely stopped working, and there are threats of dialysis in the very near future. I am going to have additional tests run this week, but I need to know if anyone else has had issues like this after taking this drug?
Concerns About Byetta Deaths Require Amylin to Cut Work Force : AboutLawsuits.com
[…] which has recently been associated with 6 deaths caused by severe cases of pancreatitis.   Byetta (exenatide) is a synthetic incretin mimetic, which is sold in a pre-filled pen by Amylin […]
FDA Requires Additional Byetta Safety Data Before Considering Long-Acting Version : AboutLawsuits.com
[…] Byetta (exenatide) is a synthetic hormone sold in a pre-filled pen by Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Eli Lilly & Co. The type 2 diabetes drug, which is currently administered twice a day as a subcutaneous injection, lowers blood glucose levels by stimulating insulin secretion from pancreatitis cells. […]
Linda
I being for the last five months having chest pains and my EKG test has being unnormal. I being recommed to go too a heart doctor. I’m 43 years of age and, I have never had problems, before taken Byetta.
Brigitte
In 2006-2007 I was on Byetta. At first it really helped my blood sugar and I ate less. But I was always sick with abdominal pain which I thought it would pass but never did. I still have GI problems to this day.
Linda
around october 2003 my dr. put me on byetta. In February 2005 I had to have my right kidney removed andon May 27, 2007 i had to go on dialysis.
Sonji
I started Byetta in May 2008. I thought this was a wonder drug. My blood sugars were normal for a change. However, in June 2008, I developed severe abdominal pain and was hospitalized. I was dx with a small bowel obstruction and pancreatitis. The hospitalist stopped my byetta because of the reports he had heard regarding the use of Byetta and pancreatitis. Four month later, I still have GI problems and have been told this is probaly due to the Byetta.
Byetta Lawsuit Filed For Pancreatitis : AboutLawsuits.com
[…] PagesFDA Warns of Additional Byetta Pancreatitis Reports Byetta LawsuitsRapamune (sirolimus) Lawsuits Filed Under: News Tags: Byetta • Diabetes • […]
FDA Warns of Additional Byetta Pancreatitis Reports : AboutLawsuits.com
[…] PagesByetta Lawsuits Filed Under: News Tags: Byetta • […]
1 2 3

Share Your Story With Our Community

This field is hidden when viewing the form
I authorize the above comments be posted on this page
Post Comment
Weekly Digest Opt-In

Want your comments reviewed by a lawyer?

To have an attorney review your comments and contact you about a potential case, provide your contact information below. This will not be published.

NOTE: Providing information for review by an attorney does not form an attorney-client relationship.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

MORE TOP STORIES

Neurosurgeons-and-Lawyers-Weigh-In-On-Depo-Provera-Brain-Tumor-Risks
A neurosurgeon and a personal injury lawyer weigh in on new evidence linking Depo-Provera to brain tumors, as lawsuits mount against Pfizer over failure to warn about meningioma risks.
A federal judge is calling for all unfiled AFFF lawsuits to be submitted by September 5, promising a number of advantages over those claims that are not.
Nitrous Oxide Nerve Damage Lawsuits
Researchers have found that repeated nitrous oxide inhalation causes B12 deficiency and permanent nerve damage, prompting a wave of lawsuits against whippet manufacturers in recent months.