Byetta, also known by its generic name exenatide, is a drug that reduces a person's blood sugar level. The drug is primarily used to treat type two diabetes and makes a person's pancreas produce insulin more efficiently.

Unfortunately, Byetta happens to have certain negative side effects. One should get emergency help if they have allergic reactions such as hives, swelling of the face, lips, throat, and tongue. If you have severe pain in your upper stomach, nausea, or a fast heart rate, you may be suffering from pancreatitis.

There has been a known association between Byetta and pancreatitis. In 2007, after discussions with the FDA, Amylin and Lilly (an alliance between two companies to help improve the lifestyles of people suffering from type two diabetes) listed pancreatitis as a precaution.

Recently, it has been reported that six patients have developed pancreatitis and died because of their use of Byetta. The FDA has said that two of these patients died from hemorrhagic pancreatitis. Hemorrhagic pancreatitis is when the pancreas is inflamed and bleeding, causing tissue death. This condition will eventually lead to the pancreas destroying itself.

Byetta works by controlling glucose in at least four different ways.

1. Byetta can control glucose by increasing insulin secretion in response to eating meals. The result of this will be the release of a higher amount of insulin that helps lower the level of blood sugar accumulated from eating.
2. Byetta can suppress the pancreatic release of glucagon in response to eating. This stops the liver from overproducing sugar when it is unneeded.
3. Byetta can also slow down gastric emptying. This in turn decreases the rate at which meal accumulated glucose will appear in the bloodstream.
4. Finally, Byetta has an effect to reduce appetite. Most people using Byetta slowly lose weight and will continue to lose weight for about two years.

If you or a loved one has suffered adverse effects from taking the diabetes drug Byetta, please call us now at the law office of Greenberg & Rudman LLP at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776). We have years of experience dealing with pharmaceutical and product liability lawsuits, and we can help you recover damages for your injuries.