If you are one of the 29 million Americans who have diabetes, you may have taken Byetta® injections to help control the disease. The benefits of Byetta®, however, may be substantially outweighed by the health risks caused by the drug, including deadly pancreatic cancer. If you have taken Byetta® and have been diagnosed with pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer, you may be able to receive compensation for the pain and suffering you experienced.
What is Byetta®?
Byetta® is an injectable diabetes medication that helps to keep blood sugar normal. When you eat a meal and your blood sugar increases, Byetta® works by imitating a hormone called incretin, which causes your pancreas to release insulin of its own. Byetta® also works to prevent the hormone in your body that produces sugar when your body doesn’t need it.
Byetta® is considered a part of the incretin mimetic class of drugs, which also include other brands such as:
- Victoza
- Januvia
- Janumet
- Tradjenta
In 2013, the FDA released a Drug Safety Communication stating that the department was evaluating findings of a potential increased risk of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer following Byetta® usage.
What is Pancreatitis?
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, which is the gland that helps your body process sugar. Pancreatitis can be acute, which only lasts a few days and causes pain, nausea, and vomiting. Chronic pancreatitis, however, can last for years and can permanently damage the pancreas. As a result, it can hinder the pancreas’ ability to digest food and create the hormones needed to process sugar.
What is Pancreatic Cancer?
Studies have also been conducted and found a possible link to pancreatic cancer. The most common form of pancreatic cancer occurs in the exocrine cells of the pancreas, which release enzymes that digest food. Since exocrine tumors do not usually show signs or symptoms until it is too late, pancreatic cancer is hard to diagnose early, and has a very low survival rate. Only 14% of people with stage I exocrine pancreatic cancer live for longer than five years after being diagnosed. The survival rate lowers to just one percent when the person is diagnosed with state IV exocrine pancreatic cancer.
What Other Side Effects Can I Experience?
Other side effects that you may experience while taking Byetta® can include:
- Weight gain
- Trouble urinating
- Drowsiness
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Severe stomach pain
- Vomiting
- Confusion
- Loss of appetite
If you have been prescribed Byetta® or any other incretin mimetic drug and have experienced side effects such as pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer, you might be eligible to file a lawsuit against the manufacturers of these drugs and receive compensation for your illness. A lawyer at Hughes & Coleman can determine if you have a strong foundation on which to build a personal injury case for the drug’s side effects. Fill out a case evaluation form today to speak with one of our team members—it’s absolutely free.
If you have been diagnosed with pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, or any of the above symptoms after taking Byetta®, you might be awarded damages for:
- Medical expenses, including future medical expenses which will add up as a result of your diagnosis;
- Lost wages, including a loss of earning potential as a result of not being able to work because of your injury;
- Rehabilitation and therapy needed to recover from your injury;
- Pain and suffering that you experienced as a result of your diagnosis; and
- Punitive damages, which are meant to punish the drug manufacturer and discourage similar conduct in the future.
If you suffered pancreatitis or even pancreatic cancer following Byetta® usage and a fear of not being able to pay attorney fees has kept you from filing a claim, wait no longer. The experienced attorneys at Hughes & Coleman are paid on a contingency basis. This means that your lawyer will only get paid if you are awarded compensation. If you lose your case, you will never owe your lawyer anything—it’s that simple. Don’t let concern of how to pay your attorney keep you from obtaining representation and fighting to receive the compensation that you deserve.
Call Hughes & Coleman Today
If you are experiencing negative side effects after being prescribed Byetta®, don’t wait any longer to find representation for your case. The attorneys at Hughes & Coleman are here to fight your case so that you can focus on recovering from your experience, and are prepared to go up against the large pharmaceutical companies to win you the compensation you deserve. Talk to one of our team members about your case today. It’s completely free to discuss your case. Just fill out a case evaluation form and one of our team members will contact you about your situation. Don’t feel like you have to fight this battle by yourself. Let us help you every step of the way.
Do not stop taking a prescribed medication without first consulting your doctor. Discontinuing a prescribed medication without your doctor’s advice can result in injury or death.