A recent study shows that the type 2 diabetes drug Byetta may help severely overweight teens lose weight.
But a story in U.S. News and Word Report notes that the weight losses were modest and subjects experienced side effects including nausea and vomiting. The drug is also expensive, at $350 or more for a months’ supply.
In addition, Byetta has been linked to pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer and thyroid cancer. Another diabetes drug called Januvia has been linked to pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer as well.
The story says researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School and Amplatz Children’s Hospital assigned 26 subjects between ages of 12 to 19 to injections of either Byetta or a placebo twice a day.
After three months, those who got the drug had a nearly 3 percent greater reduction in their body mass index, a measure of height versus weight, compared to those who received the placebo.
The story says Byetta, which works by helping to reduce blood sugar levels after meals, is thought to help reduce weight by acting on receptors in the brain that control appetite and by increasing feelings of fullness after eating.
Because the study ended at six months, researchers don’t know if the teens kept off the weight long-term.
You should consult with a doctor if you have any ongoing symptoms or health concerns, and before making any changes in medication. You should also consult with a Lopez McHugh attorney if you or a loved one was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer after taking Januvia or Byetta.
See the story here:
