Byetta "Not Worth It"

Arizona City, AZPatients taking Byetta may be surprised to learn that their medication has been linked to several deaths. Stephen M. only learned about the risks associated with Byetta after he became severely ill. He says that he would rather go back to taking insulin than using Byetta again.

"The doctor prescribed Byetta on May 6, 2008," Stephen says. "I picked it up and started using it right away. It didn't destroy my energy or anything for about the first week. But then, after about a week, I started having a backache and pains around my stomach area. On May 27, I got a bladder infection. I had never had a bladder infection in my life.

"I went to the doctor and got off the Byetta because I had to take the medicine for the bladder infection. I wound up taking the bladder infection medication for 14 days, rather than the normal seven days, because my infection was so intense.

"After the infection cleared up, I got back on the Byetta again. I think it was around June 15. At first, I didn't have any back pain or pain in my stomach. By July 5, I had the back pains again. I initially thought I hurt my back walking at work, but then I started getting the stomach pains again and I was really tired. By the last week of July, I was coming home and I would sit down and fall asleep right there. I was really, really tired.

"On Sunday, August 10, I started passing blood and I had pain in my back. I didn't have any pain in my stomach, so I thought I would wait until Monday and then go see the doctor. I told my wife I was going to take a shower. I got in the shower and, as the water hit my stomach, I started vomiting blood. I collapsed out of the tub onto the bathroom floor.

"I went to the hospital, where I vomited again—300 CCs at first and then a half a bucket by the time I was finished. They took me into the emergency room and told me to get on the table, but I couldn't get on the table—I collapsed on the floor. I was in the ICU for three days, with tubes down my throat.

"Since I got out of the ICU, my sister called and told me that some of the problems I had with Byetta are showing up on the Internet. Some of what I have experienced has killed people. I'm getting better, but I still have tenderness around that area and in my thighs and back."

Since his ordeal, Stephen has had repeated doctor's appointments to try to figure out what happened and try to get his blood count back up. He was recently tested for pancreatitis but has not yet received the results of the test.

Stephen has not taken Byetta since August 9. Instead, he has gone back to using strictly insulin to control his diabetes.

"You take Byetta to cut down on the amount of insulin and pills you have to take, but it's not worth it," Stephen says. "It definitely is not worth it. It may only affect five or six people the way it did me in a period of ten years, but the problem is, those five or six can die."

If you or someone you love was harmed by the use of Byetta, contact a lawyer to discuss your legal options.