byetta

Important safety information

Acute Pancreatitis : Has been observed in patients treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists, including BYETTA. Discontinue if pancreatitis is suspected. ( 5.1 ) • Never share a BYETTA pen between patients, even if the needle is changed. ( 5.2 ) • Hypoglycemia with Concomitant Use of Insulin Secretagogues or Insulin: Patients taking an insulin secretagogue or insulin may have an increased risk of hypoglycemia, including severe hypoglycemia. Reduction in the dose of insulin secretagogues or insulin may be necessary. ( 5.3 ) • Acute Kidney Injury Due to Volume Depletion : Monitor renal function in patients reporting adverse reactions that could lead to volume depletion ( 5.4 ) • Severe Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions : Use has been associated with gastrointestinal adverse reactions, sometimes severe. BYETTA is not recommended in patients with severe gastroparesis. ( 5.5 ) • Immunogenicity: Patients may develop antibodies to exenatide. If there is worsening glycemic control or failure to achieve target glycemic control, consider alternative antidiabetic therapy. ( 5.6 ) • Hypersensitivity: Serious hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., anaphylaxis and angioedema) have been reported. Discontinue BYETTA and promptly seek medical advice. ( 5.7 ) • Drug-induced Immune-mediated Thrombocytopenia: Serious bleeding which may be fatal has been reported. Discontinue BYETTA promptly and avoid re-exposure to exenatide. ( 5.8 ) • Acute Gallbladder Disease: If cholelithiasis or cholecystitis are suspected, gallbladder studies are indicated. ( 5.9 ) • Pulmonary Aspiration During General Anesthesia or Deep Sedation: Has been reported in patients receiving GLP-1 receptor agonists undergoing elective surgeries or procedures. Instruct patients to inform healthcare providers of any planned surgeries or procedures. ( 5.10 ) 5.1 Acute Pancreatitis Acute pancreatitis, including fatal and non-fatal hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis, has been observed in patients treated with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, including BYETTA [see Adverse Reactions (6.2) ] . After initiation of BYETTA, observe patients carefully for signs and symptoms of pancreatitis (including persistent severe abdominal pain, sometimes radiating to the back and which may or may not be accompanied by vomiting). If pancreatitis is suspected, discontinue BYETTA and initiate appropriate management. 5.2 Never Share a BYETTA Pen Between Patients BYETTA pens must never be shared between patients, even if the needle is changed. Pen-sharing poses a risk for transmission of blood-borne pathogens. 5.3 Hypoglycemia with Concomitant Use of Insulin Secretagogues or Insulin Patients receiving BYETTA in combination with an insulin secretagogue (e.g., sulfonylurea) or insulin may have an increased risk of hypoglycemia including severe hypoglycemia [see Adverse Reactions (6) and Drug Interactions (7) ] . The risk of hypoglycemia may be lowered by a reduction in the dose of sulfonylurea (or other concomitantly administered insulin secretagogue) or insulin. Inform patients using these concomitant medications of the risk of hypoglycemia and educate them on the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia. 5.4 Acute Kidney Injury Due to Volume Depletion There have been postmarketing reports of acute kidney injury, in some cases requiring hemodialysis, in patients treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists, BYETTA [see Adverse Reactions (6.2) ] . The majority of the reported events occurred in patients who experienced gastrointestinal reactions leading to dehydration such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea [see Adverse Reactions (6) ] . Monitor renal function in patients reporting adverse reactions to BYETTA that could lead to volume depletion, especially during dosage initiation and escalation of BYETTA. BYETTA is not recommended in patients with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance <30 mL/min) or end-stage renal disease and should be used with caution in patients with renal transplantation [see Use in Specific Populations (8.6) ] . 5.5 Severe Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions Use of GLP-1 receptor agonists, including BYETTA, has been associated with gastrointestinal adverse reactions, sometimes severe [see Adverse Reactions (6) ] . BYETTA is not recommended in patients with severe gastroparesis. 5.6 Immunogenicity Patients may develop antibodies to exenatide following treatment with BYETTA. Antibody levels were measured in 90% of subjects in the 30-week, 24-week, and 16-week placebo-controlled studies and the 30-week comparator-controlled study of BYETTA. In 3%, 4%, 1%, and 1% of these patients, respectively, antibody formation was associated with an attenuated glycemic response. If there is worsening glycemic control or failure to achieve targeted glycemic control, alternative antidiabetic therapy should be considered [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) ] . 5.7 Hypersensitivity There have been postmarketing reports of serious hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., anaphylaxis and angioedema) in patients treated with BYETTA. If a hypersensitivity reaction occurs, the patient should discontinue BYETTA and other suspect medications and promptly seek medical advice. Inform and closely monitor patients with a history of anaphylaxis or angioedema with another GLP-1 receptor agonist for allergic reactions, because it is unknown whether such patients will be predisposed to anaphylaxis with BYETTA [see Adverse Reactions (6.2) ] . 5.8 Drug-Induced Thrombocytopenia Serious bleeding, which may be fatal, from drug-induced immune-mediated thrombocytopenia has been reported in the postmarketing setting with exenatide use. Drug-induced thrombocytopenia is an immune-mediated reaction, with exenatide-dependent anti-platelet antibodies. In the presence of exenatide, these antibodies cause platelet destruction. If drug-induced thrombocytopenia is suspected, discontinue BYETTA immediately and do not re-expose the patient to exenatide [see Adverse Reactions (6.2) ] . 5.9 Acute Gallbladder Disease Acute events of gallbladder disease such as cholelithiasis or cholecystitis have been reported in GLP-1 receptor agonist trials and postmarketing. In a clinical study with exenatide, 1.9% of exenatide-treated patients and 1.4% of placebo-treated patients reported an acute event of gallbladder disease, such as cholelithiasis or cholecystitis. If cholelithiasis is suspected, gallbladder studies and appropriate clinical follow-up are indicated. 5.10 Pulmonary Aspiration During General Anesthesia or Deep Sedation BYETTA delays gastric emptying [ see Clinical Pharmacology (12.2) ]. There have been rare postmarketing reports of pulmonary aspiration in patients receiving GLP-1 receptor agonists undergoing elective surgeries or procedures requiring general anesthesia or deep sedation who had residual gastric contents despite reported adherence to preoperative fasting recommendations. Available data are insufficient to inform recommendations to mitigate the risk of pulmonary aspiration during general anesthesia or deep sedation in patients taking BYETTA, including whether modifying preoperative fasting recommendations or temporarily discontinuing BYETTA could reduce the incidence of retained gastric contents. Instruct patients to inform healthcare providers prior to any planned surgeries or procedures if they are taking BYETTA. 5.1 Acute Pancreatitis Acute pancreatitis, including fatal and non-fatal hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis, has been observed in patients treated with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, including BYETTA [see Adverse Reactions (6.2) ] . After initiation of BYETTA, observe patients carefully for signs and symptoms of pancreatitis (including persistent severe abdominal pain, sometimes radiating to the back and which may or may not be accompanied by vomiting). If pancreatitis is suspected, discontinue BYETTA and initiate appropriate management. 5.2 Never Share a BYETTA Pen Between Patients BYETTA pens must never be shared…