Used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, Byetta is the trade name for exenatide according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Byetta mimics the function of the hormone incretin, which can help insulin to work more effectively in the body, states the Mayo Clinic. The medication is synthesized from the venom of the Gila monster and is produced by Amylin and Eli Lilly, according to MediLexicon. Side effects are associated with the use of Byetta.
Nausea and Vomiting
Byetta is known to cause nausea and vomiting, the most common side effects of the medication, according to the Mayo Clinic. These symptoms are said to improve as use continues; however, according to the FDA, even patients who have been taking the medication on a long-term basis may continue to experience these symptoms.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea may accompany the long-term usage of Byetta, according to MediLexicon. The Mayo Clinic notes that Byetta works by delaying the passage of food from the stomach to the small intestine, which can change overall digestive function.
Hypoglycemia
According to MediLexicon, Byetta has been linked with hypoglycemia due to its occurrence in three medical trials of the drug. Cases of hypoglycemia were mostly moderate or mild for patients and could be resolved with the consumption of carbohydrates.
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is a rare but fatal side effect of Byetta use over time, according to News Inferno and the Mayo Clinic. It can be recognized as severe and persistent abdominal pain. Within two years of the medication's approval, 30 people had developed acute pancreatitis as a result of the medication. Reports by the FDA indicated that in 22 of the patients, the symptoms diminished with the cessation of the Byetta treatment.
Altered Kidney Function
Between its approval in 2005 and 2008, the FDA received 78 reports of altered kidney function linked to Byetta use. While 6.6 million prescriptions for Byetta were written in this same time period, making the rate of incidence small, the occurrence of acute renal failure in 62 cases raised red flags. This caused the FDA to revise the warnings and guidelines for Byetta and to recommend that those taking Byetta be monitored over time to catch early signs of altered kidney function.
