According to new research, those who are taking the newest class of diabetic drugs in order to control blood sugar are more likely to become hospitalized with pancreatitis.
Scientists say that the glucagon-like peptide-1-based therapies (GLP-1) of the new drugs is the culprit for the increased risk of hospitalization for acute pancreatitis. Sitagliptin (brand named Janivia) and Extenatide (brand named Byetta) are suggested to contribute to the formation of lesions within the pancreas and the introductions of ducts in the organ. This causes an increased amount of inflammation.
Both regulators and physicians are informed that pancreatitis could be a side effect of GLP-1 therapies. This risk developed in animal studies and reports to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The John Hopkins investigators suggest that their study is the first to accurately measure the strength of this risk in analyses that accounted for other pancreatitis risk factors like gallstones, heavy alcohol use and obesity.
Study leader Sonal Singh, M.D., M.P.H., an assistant professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine said, “These agents are used by millions of Americans with diabetes. These new diabetes drugs are very effective in lowering blood glucose. However, important safety findings may not have been fully explored and some side effects such as acute pancreatitis don’t appear until widespread use after approval.”
Pancreatitis symptoms are vomiting that doesn’t stop, nausea, and abdominal pain. Anyone who has these symptoms is urged to seek immediate medical treatment.
