wrong medicine could damage your pancreas

A popular drug used to treat Type 2 diabetes likely potential to cause side effects such as disruption of pancreatic (pancreas), low levels for some patients. But if the drug is often consumed for a long time, the user at risk of pancreatic cancer.

According to the result of a team of researchers from the University of California (UCLA), United States, as contained in pages ScienceDaily, May 1, 2009. According to the research team, which referred to the diabetes drug sitagliptin, which is sold in pill form with the name Januvia, marketed by Merck & Co.. Inc.

That Drugs cause disturbances in the pancreas. In addition, one of the important organs in the body's digestive system can become inflamed. For the long term, the most severe effect is pancreatic cancer. Sitagliptin is a member of a new class of drugs that can improve the performance of the gut hormone known as glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1). The hormone was shown to be effective in lowering blood sugar levels for people with Type 2 diabetes.

"Type 2 Diabetes is a lifelong disease. The patient was taking the same drugs for years, it is feared could lead to the emergence of side effects with the risk of pancreatic cancer," said dr. Peter Butler, director of the center Hillblom and concurrent chairman of the research team.

"The problem now is the effects of unwanted medicines for the pancreas that can not be detected by human beings except the pancreas are removed from the body and investigated," continued Butler.

Researchers are also studying the link between Byetta - a drug that is also used for Type 2 diabetes associated with Hanuvia - and inflammation of the pancreas. Therefore Oversight Office at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued warning letters to Amylin Corp., which manufactures Byetta, although there is no certain results about the drug connection with disorders of the pancreas.

To be sure, the UCLA team considered that there may be links between drugs that enhance the action of GLP-1 with inflammation of the pancreas.

However, Butler admitted his team just apply to the rat experiment. Thus, there may be effects found in mice does not occur in humans. "So, while waiting for other data, it is good enough if this temporary use of GLP-1 class of drugs with metformin," said Butler.