{"id":353215,"date":"2016-04-04T10:46:59","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:46:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/injury\/product-liability\/byetta-side-effects-faqs.html"},"modified":"2025-09-23T13:45:00","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T18:45:00","slug":"byetta-side-effects-faqs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/product-liability\/byetta-side-effects-faqs.html","title":{"rendered":"Byetta: Side Effects and FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Byetta: Side Effects and FAQ<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Oni Harton, J.D.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

Byetta is a medication used to treat type-2 diabetes. Byetta is a glucagon-like peptide 1<\/a> (GLP-1) that acts on the brain to reduce appetite and regulate blood glucose levels. This drug comes in a prefilled pen. It is an injectable drug, with most patients using their Byetta pen twice daily.<\/p>\n

Byetta<\/a>\u00a0has worked to both control blood sugar levels and trigger weight loss. However, many patients have reported both mild and severe side effects. Studies have also linked the long-acting version of the drug to various forms of cancer, including thyroid cancer. As a result, thousands of patients have filed lawsuits against the drug’s manufacturer, AstraZeneca.<\/p>\n

This section answers common questions about Byetta and its side effects. If you have questions or concerns about Byetta, contact your healthcare provider.<\/p>\n

Drug manufacturers have a legal duty to ensure their medications carry adequate warnings and are safe to use. If you have been harmed by Byetta or another drug, you may have a legal claim. Contact a product liability attorney<\/a> near you to share your story and learn how to best pursue compensation for your injuries.<\/p>\n

What is Byetta?<\/h2>\n

Byetta (Exenatide) is a\u00a0diabetes drug<\/a>. Patients taking Byetta inject it twice daily to help their body metabolize blood sugar (glucose). High blood sugar is the main characteristic of diabetes, and medications such as Byetta promise to help patients manage their blood sugar levels.<\/p>\n

Byetta belongs to a class of similar diabetes drugs called incretin mimetics. AstraZeneca produced and sold Byetta from 2014 until it discontinued the drug<\/a> in October 2024 for business reasons.<\/p>\n

Many patients take Byetta and other medications like metformin to help control their diabetes.<\/p>\n

How does Byetta treat diabetes?<\/h2>\n

Most diabetics manage their blood sugar levels through diet, exercise, and insulin injections. When these measures prove insufficient, doctors may prescribe Byetta for patients with\u00a0type 2 diabetes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Byetta and other incretin mimetic drugs treat diabetes by focusing on the pancreas’s production of insulin and glucagon<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Byetta is a receptor agonist. This means it works on the brain to convince a person’s body that they aren’t hungry. It also makes the person feel fuller for longer and helps reduce their appetite and\u00a0their cravings for foods high in sugar.<\/p>\n

What should I know about Byetta?<\/h2>\n

Patients using Byetta<\/a> should know:<\/p>\n