May 24, 2006 11:52 pm US/Eastern
Diabetes Drug Working Weight Loss Wonders
Problem Is Byetta Wasn’t Designed For Non-Diabetics
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Dr. David Marks, M.D.
Reporting
(CBS) NEW YORK Some doctors are now helping their patients lose weight, with a diabetes drug. But it’s not without some controversy.
Mary Worzalla lost 18 pounds.
“I’ll sit down to eat something and once I start, I really don’t want it,” Mary said.
Lynn Cole lost about 20 pounds.
“Right away, I wasn’t hungry,” Lynn said.
They’re both taking the drug Byetta. The problem is it’s only FDA approved for diabetics. Mary and Lynn are taking the drug off-label or not as it is intended to be prescribed.
“My doctor brought it up, I had never heard of it,” said Lynn.
Byetta is derived from the saliva of the reptile, a Gila Monster.(eww!) Injected twice a day,(*double eww!) it effectively decreases the appetites of diabetics. The result? Weight loss that many diabetics like Allan Sidrinsky said is a welcome contrast to the vicious cycle of weight gain caused by other diabetes drugs, like insulin. Allan lost 22 pounds on Byetta.
http://wcbstv.com/seenat11/local_story_144212138.html
* I spent my whole pregnancy injecting myself with a blood thinner twice a day. I feel for anyone that has to live it as part of their lifestyle.