Health
FDA issues new precautions on diabetes drug Byetta
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Sept. 8, 2008
The Food and Drug Administration has received six additional reports of hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis in patients taking Byetta, a medication given by subcutaneous injection to help treat adults with type 2 diabetes.
The agency had issued a prior alert for the drug last October after reviewing 30 postmarketing reports of acute pancreatitis in patients taking Byetta.
The drug was approved for sale in April 2005.
The FDA asked physicians and other health care professionals to instruct patients taking the drug that they should seek prompt medical care if they experience unexplained persistent severe abdominal pain, which may or may not be accompanied by vomiting.
If pancreatitis is suspected, Byetta should be discontinued, and if the diagnosis is confirmed, Byetta should not be restarted unless another cause is identified.
The manufacturer is updating the drug's label information to reflect this new information.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/09/08/hlbf0908.htm.