Byetta (exenatide) can cause acute pancreatitis

In October 2007, FDA warned healthcare professionals about reports of acute pancreatitis in patients taking the antidiabetic drug Byetta (exenatide). Since then, FDA has received reports of six cases of hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis in patients taking Byetta. Two were fatal.

Byetta and other suspect drugs should be promptly discontinued if pancreatitis is suspected. There are no known patient characteristics that can determine whether a case of pancreatitis associated with Byetta will develop into the hemorrhagic or necrotizing forms. If pancreatitis is confirmed, it should be treated without delay and the patient should be carefully monitored until recovery. Byetta should not be restarted. Physicians should consider antidiabetic therapies other than Byetta in patients who have a history of pancreatitis.

Additional Information:

FDA MedWatch Safety Alert. Byetta (exenatide). August 18, 2008.
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2007/safety07.htm#Byetta