Ozempic lawsuits claim the drug severely slows digestion, leading to stomach paralysis (gastroparesis). This makes food stay in the stomach too long, causing nausea and chronic vomiting. Lawsuits claim the manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, failed to warn users of these side effects.
Want to file an Ozempic lawsuit? Request a free case evaluation todayWhy Are People Filing Ozempic Lawsuits?
Ozempic is a prescription drug approved to treat type 2 diabetes. Doctors may also prescribe it to help manage weight. People are claiming companies failed to warn of side effects associated with weight loss drugs like Ozempic. They allege that, as a result of this failure to warn, they experienced gastrointestinal injuries. The lawsuits seek compensation from Novo Nordisk and others.
Weight Loss Drug Overview
Ozempic and similar drugs are a class of medicines called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several of these drugs to help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar. But these drugs can also help people lose weight and may be prescribed for this purpose.
GLP-1 is a hormone that tells us when we're full. The active ingredients in drugs like Ozempic mimic GLP-1. As a result, people who take Ozempic may feel full for longer.
Several GPA-1 RAs with active ingredients like semaglutide exist and include:
- Ozempic (semaglutide)
- Rybelsus (semaglutide)
- Saxenda (liraglutide)
- Victoza (liraglutide)
- Wegovy (semaglutide)
The number of patients receiving GLP-1 RA prescriptions has increased significantly since 2017. Today, millions of people in the United States are being treated with these medications.
Weight Loss Drug Side Effects
Ozempic and similar drugs are associated with a number of side effects. Common reactions include nausea, vomiting and constipation. In the lawsuits involving these drugs, people say the side effects they experienced were more serious than expected. They claim drug manufacturers failed to adequately warn patients about these reactions.
Reported Side Effects of GLP-1 RA Weight Loss Drugs
- Chronic vomiting: Chronic vomiting episodes may last for hours or even days and may alternate with periods without any vomiting.
- Gallbladder disease: Gallbladder disease is an umbrella term for conditions affecting the health of the gallbladder. Signs of gallbladder disease include abdominal pain, abrupt drop in blood pressure after a meal and jaundice.
- Gastroparesis: Gastroparesis is paralysis of the stomach. Signs you may have a paralyzed stomach include indigestion, feeling full quickly or for a long time and vomiting undigested food.
- Ileus: Ileus is a condition where normal muscle contractions in the intestines do not occur. As a result, the intestine cannot push waste out of the body. Signs of ileus include constipation, cramps and bloating.
- Intestinal obstruction: Intestinal obstruction is a blockage of your large or small intestine. Signs of an intestinal obstruction include severe constipation, abdominal pain and dehydration.
- Intestinal pseudo-obstruction: A pseudo-obstruction happens when a person experiences the symptoms of an intestinal obstruction without a blockage.
- Pancreatitis: Pancreatitis is swelling and inflammation of the pancreas. Signs of pancreatitis include tenderness of the stomach area, fever and rapid pulse.
People experiencing signs of severe weight-loss drug side effects can speak to their doctors. These signs may be indicators of a serious gastrointestinal condition. Seeking medical assistance early might help reduce any long-term effects.
Was your illness caused by Ozempic or another weight loss drug? Review your legal options nowWho Can File an Ozempic Lawsuit?
People who experience severe side effects from weight loss drugs like Ozempic may be eligible to file lawsuits. An experienced lawyer can determine if an individual has a viable case. In general, people can reach out to a lawyer if they experienced any of the following side effects after taking a weight loss drug:
- Chronic vomiting lasting 4 weeks or more
- Gallbladder problems requiring surgical removal
- Gastroparesis (paralyzed stomach)
- Intestinal/bowel obstruction or pseudo-obstruction
- Pancreatitis or pancreatic issues involving surgery
A lawyer can determine eligibility to file. If you decide to move forward with your case, your lawyer can also file on your behalf and handle litigation matters.
Ozempic Lawsuits
Late 2023 saw an uptick in the number of weight loss drug lawsuits. People are suing pharmaceutical companies like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly for failure to warn of serious gastrointestinal side effects. They were prescribed Ozempic and other GLP-1 receptor agonists for type 2 diabetes or weight loss.
Failure to warn is a type of marketing defect for which companies may be held liable. Successful cases show a manufacturer's inadequate warning or instructions led to personal injury.
Jaclyn Bjorklund filed one of the earliest GLP-1 RA cases in August 2023. She took Ozempic for a year to help manage her type 2 diabetes. She then switched to another GLP-1 RA called Mounjaro® (tirzepatide), manufactured by Eli Lilly. In her lawsuit, she alleges both drugs caused severe vomiting and pain, resulting in a hospital stay and loss of teeth.
Since August 2023, more people have filed lawsuits alleging gastrointestinal issues caused by Ozempic and other GLP-1 RAs. Litigation is in its early stages. Currently, experienced law firms are reviewing thousands of potential claims.
Ozempic Multidistrict Litigation
In February 2023, a federal judicial panel consolidated 55 weight loss drug lawsuits into MDL 3094. MDL stands for multidistrict litigation. It is a method of combining similar civil lawsuits for pretrial matters.
MDL 3094 has jurisdiction over federal cases involving patients who experienced gastrointestinal injuries after taking Ozempic or Mounjaro. Any such case filed in federal court may be transferred to the MDL forum. The MDL is designed to streamline pretrial matters. Once these matters are completed, each case can proceed individually to trial.
Ozempic Class Action Lawsuits
Class action lawsuits are another way of combining legal claims. Unlike MDLs, one or more people represent a larger group of victims instead of having people file individually before consolidation. Also unlike MDL, the case is combined for the entire lawsuit, including trial.
Currently, there are no class action lawsuits for personal injuries caused by Ozempic or any other weight loss drugs.
Ozempic Lawsuit Compensation Amounts
Litigation involving Ozempic and other weight loss drugs is still in its early stages. None of the lawsuits filed have reached the trial stage. Any settlement information is not publicly available. Compensation from these lawsuits may be similar to awards from other failure to warn actions. A lawyer can estimate an individual's potential claim value based on similar cases.
Compensation from failure to warn cases may include different types of damages, including economic and non-economic. Damages are any monies or other remedies requested by the party filing the lawsuit. Ozempic lawsuit damages may include:
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of income
- Loss of intangible benefits of a relationship (loss of consortium)
- Medical costs
- Pain and suffering
A jury may also award punitive damages to punish manufacturers for particularly harmful behavior. Juries may award these in addition to any economic or non-economic damages sought by victims.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ozempic Lawsuits
Are There Dangers Associated With Taking Ozempic?
Taking Ozempic can result in side effects. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain and constipation. Patients have reported other, more severe reactions like pancreatitis, gallbladder disease and stomach paralysis. The connection between these and Ozempic is still unclear.
Is Ozempic Being Discontinued?
Novo Nordisk has not discontinued Ozempic. It is still FDA-approved to treat adults with type 2 diabetes and may be prescribed to help manage obesity. The company did discontinue certain low dosages of the drug, although this may be temporary. Other dosages are still available.
Is Ozempic the Same as Mounjaro?
Ozempic and Mounjaro are similar but not the same. Both are GLP-1 receptor agonists approved to treat type 2 diabetes. They may also be prescribed for weight loss. But they have different active ingredients. As such, dosages, administration and side effects may vary.
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