Byetta, a drug marketed for
the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, has come under fire for potential problems
including a greater risk of thyroid cancer, pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.
The active ingredient in Byetta is exenatide, originally manufactured by Amylin
Pharmaceuticals. Exenatide is a synthetic version of a hormone found in the
saliva of the desert Gila monster. Byetta comes in a pre-filled pen which the
patient injects into the stomach, thigh or upper arm, within an hour prior to
breakfast and dinner. The synthetic hormone is also fifty percent identical to
a hormone known as GLP-1 which is found naturally in the human digestive tract.
GLP-1 increases insulin in the body to balance out blood sugar when it is
higher than it should be.
Potential Byetta Dangers
Byetta has also been found to
cause weight loss as it slows the rate at which the stomach empties although
patients are cautioned against using Byetta as a weight loss drug. Though
Byetta gained FDA approval in 2005, adverse reports soon began filtering in of
potential Byetta dangers. Thyroid cancer, pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer
all appear to occur more often among those taking exenatide than in those
taking certain other diabetic drugs. It has been found that people bitten by a
real Gila monster tend to be at a much higher risk of developing pancreatitis
as the hormone in the saliva of the reptile overstimulates the pancreas. This
overstimulation may result in pancreatitis and repeated bouts of pancreatitis
can set the stage for pancreatic cancer.
Information Regarding Byetta
Over 700,000 people have been
prescribed Byetta since its approval in 2005—in 2007 thirty post-marketing
reports of Byetta patients who developed acute pancreatitis were sent to the
FDA. While this may not seem like a huge number considering the amount of
people taking the drug, since that time many more reports have occurred. Of the
original 30, 22 showed immediate improvement of their pancreatitis symptoms
once Byetta was discontinued. In 2006 Diabetes
Care Journal reported a case of a 69-year old man taking Byetta who
developed pancreatitis symptoms within 24 hours of beginning the drug.
Risks of Byetta
Byetta patients may have as
much as a three-fold risk of developing pancreatic cancer and a six-fold risk
of developing acute pancreatitis. The risk of Byetta thyroid cancer appears to
be at least two times the rate of that for other diabetics according to a
recent study published in the Institute
for Safe Medication Practices. Although Byetta thyroid cancer is considered
much more treatable than pancreatic cancer, it is nevertheless a serious
disease. The American Gastroenterology Association reports in its official
newspaper that more studies are needed in order to determine the specific risks
associated with Byetta.
Other Potential Side Effects of Byetta
Aside from the potential risks
of Byetta pancreatitis, thyroid tumors and thyroid cancer and pancreatic
cancer, in some cases Byetta can cause a severe allergic reaction which causes
swelling of the face, lips, throat or tongue or severe shortness of breath. A
constant dull pain in the middle or lower back, severe pain in the upper
stomach, jaundice, confusions, unusual drowsiness, extreme mood changes or a
decrease in urination are other potential side effects of Byetta.
