Pending Litigation for Ozempic Complications and What it Could Mean for You
Since its 2017 debut, Ozempic, a diabetes and weight loss drug, has attracted millions of innocent users. The semaglutide injectable is a prescription drug for Type 2 diabetics, but weight loss seekers also use the drug to regulate their sugar levels and manage their diets, though it is not FDA-approved for weight loss. Doctors prescribe the medication to help stabilize Type 2 diabetes. They also prescribe it “off label” to patients struggling with obesity. While Ozempic is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for weight loss treatment, a similar but stronger drug called Wegovy, has been approved by the FDA for weight management for certain eligible individuals.
For both Ozempic and Wegovy, reported side effects of these medications for users seeking diabetes, heart disease or stroke risk management, or weight loss, have led to a flurry of lawsuits and many who question what they can do to hold pharmaceutical companies liable for the side effects of these drugs. For those who suffered harm due to Ozempic use, there is a lot to unpack as it relates to the drug, the reported potential complications, legal options for pursuing compensation, and what taking part in this litigation could mean. Here, our accomplished attorneys delve into these concerns and more. Feel free to contact us to discuss your specific Ozempic case with an attorney today.
How Ozempic Works
Ozempic is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA), which means it lowers glucose levels in the blood of Type 2 diabetics by increasing insulin, the hormone that lowers blood sugar. It also slows your food metabolism to prevent blood sugar spikes and stem the sugar flow released into the blood. The drug also helps prevent heart attacks and other heart risks in diabetes and heart disease patients.
Spectrum of Ozempic-Related Complications
Unfortunately, the drug has been reportedly connected to side effects ranging from annoying to potentially life-threatening.
Mild Side Effects
Some Ozempic users have reported experiencing nausea, vomiting, headaches, stomach aches, constipation, and diarrhea. The drug has also allegedly caused gastroenterological conditions, such as indigestion, reflux, infection, gassiness, fatigue, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), dizziness, allergic reactions, and bloating.
Severe Complications
Furthermore, Ozempic allegedly causes problems for the pancreas, kidneys, and eyes. Some of these conditions can cause other serious injuries to the intestinal walls, stomach lining, or esophagus. For example, gastroparesis occurs when the stomach retains food for too long and does not empty quickly enough to prevent solid food masses called bezoars. The stomach muscles affected by the drug fail to push food out of the stomach quickly enough or at all. While that full feeling may help with weight loss, it can come with a cost.
The blockages typically cause bloating, nausea, stomach pain, and vomiting. They also prevent food from entering the small intestine, a potentially life-threatening condition. Obstructed intestines can cause buildup that tears the bowel, infection, and gangrene, a condition characterized by dead tissue due to blood flow loss or infection.
Other Serious Health Conditions
Another serious health threat that some Ozempic users have allegedly experienced is gallbladder disease and gallstones. A 2022 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine connected GLP-1 RAs to gallstones, which are small, hard, crystalline formations in the gallbladder that can block the bile ducts and cause excruciating pain. However, biliary and gallbladder diseases are not uncommon, as the gallbladder aids in digestion.
What is the Prognosis for Ozempic-Induced Gastroparesis?
The good news is that most patients can recover from Ozempic-induced gastroparesis once they stop using the medication. However, some severe cases continue even after the patient ceases its use, requiring gastric bypass surgery to repair the digestive system. Some also have lingering side effects, like nausea, long after quitting the drug.
Lawsuits Have Been Filed for Ozempic Complications
As you can imagine, the link to gallbladder diseases in a published medical journal and the many complications reported by some individuals taking Ozempic have spurred lawsuits founded in the contention that the medication plays a role in injuring users. However, as it stands, the side effects and lawsuits have not caused the company to recall the drug, despite the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s adding blocked intestines to the list of warnings on Ozempic labels.
The sheer number of lawsuits against Ozempic’s manufacturers have coalesced into multidistrict litigation. Earlier this year, in February 2024, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation joined all 55 federal court Ozempic lawsuits into a single multidistrict litigation, allowing for the resolution of each claim. The common factors include plaintiffs with bowel obstruction, ileus (intestinal obstruction), and gastroparesis after using the drug and the failure of the company to warn about the severe injuries that could result from using the drug.
Novo Nordisk claims that the side effects are temporary and mild and that the warning labels adequately warn users of possible gastrointestinal issues. They maintain that the product is safe. As cases are resolved, judges may determine the warning label’s adequacy. However, each case is unique as to injuries and damages.
How can an Ozempic Attorney Help with my Case?
If you took Ozempic and suffered stomach paralysis, intestinal issues, or other damaging side effects, it is highly advisable to consult with an Ozempic lawyer to explore your options about filing a product liability lawsuit. Your initial consultation with one of our seasoned product liability attorneys at Fronzuto Law Group will be a fruitful discussion of your specific case, including your use of the drug, symptoms, doctor visits, medical conditions, and financial losses due to treatment, surgeries, and illnesses. We can educate you about what happens in this type of lawsuit, who else might be involved, the progress of ongoing lawsuits against the company for Ozempic-related damages, and the timeline and responsibilities you might have regarding the lawsuit.
With vast experience handling pharmaceutical and medical device failure to warn cases, our legal team will do our part in the investigation and updates on ongoing litigation involving other plaintiffs. The last part of the product liability equation is proving the actual financial, physical, and psychological damages of the plaintiff in an Ozempic lawsuit. Proving the special and general damages requires collecting and presenting the documents evidencing financial and other losses. We can assist with obtaining your medical records, employment records, and other pertinent documents to show the extent of damages that you suffered and continue to suffer due to Ozempic use.
Consult a New Jersey Ozempic Claim Lawyer Today
Speak to a product liability attorney at Fronzuto Law Group today for further information and guidance if you suffered debilitating injuries from taking Ozempic. Our lawyers can thoroughly review your case and explore your legal options for obtaining the compensation you need to cover past and ongoing medical care, future medical and rehabilitative needs, lost income, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. Call 973-435-4551 or contact us today for a free initial consultation.
