If you’ve taken Ozempic®, Wegovy®, or Rybelsus® and visited the ER or were hospitalized for gastroparesis (stomach paralysis) or gastric obstruction, you could be owed a settlement from the manufacturer. Read on to learn more about Ozempic®, how it and drugs like it can have gastrointestinal effects, and who can join the Ozempic® lawsuit.
What is Ozempic® and who takes it?
Ozempic® is a prescription drug that the FDA has approved for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. It has received much attention in the past year as a diet fad, particularly in Hollywood. Some users of Ozempic® and similar products have reported experiencing serious side effects and, in some cases, have taken legal action.
Ozempic® is a popular name brand for semaglutide injections, which is a Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA). While there are other semaglutide drugs out there, Ozempic®, Rybelsus®, and Wegovy® are the only three to receive FDA approval, as of May 2023.
Ozempic® and Rybelsus® are both FDA-approved for diabetes treatment, while Wegovy® injections have been approved for use for weight loss.
Ozempic® has been the most widely-marketed product of its kind. It has been prescribed and used off-label as an appetite suppressant. It is currently at the forefront of the conversation about semaglutide lawsuits. According to Ozempic®’s website, the drug is meant to be paired with a healthy diet and exercise routine to improve blood sugar levels (called A1C) in people with diabetes. Ozempic® is also said to reduce the risk of stroke and heart attacks among diabetics.
What is gastroparesis and gastric obstruction?
Gastroparesis, also known as stomach paralysis, is a condition that affects muscle movement and function in the stomach. While a normal stomach’s muscles contract properly to move food along the digestive tract, a person with gastroparesis has stomach muscles that contract slowly or not at all. This disrupts normal digestion and can cause vomiting, nausea, bloating, loss of appetite, issues with blood sugar levels, abdominal pain, and more.
Gastric obstruction refers to any disease or issue that disrupts “gastric emptying,” including but not limited to gastroparesis. Obstruction may occur in the stomach, intestines, bowels, and more. These conditions can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, and loss of appetite, among other symptoms.
Can Ozempic® cause gastroparesis and gastric obstruction?
Drugs like Ozempic®, Wegovy®, and Rybelsus® work by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone that slows food’s passage through the digestive tract and regulates appetite and insulin production, which is why the drug was originally designed for diabetics. However, increasing this hormone’s presence in the body can also make the user feel fuller for longer, which can in turn lead to weight loss.
Slowing this process too much can cause harmful effects.
An October 2023 study reported that use of GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic® increased the risk of “adverse gastrointestinal events,” including bowel obstruction and gastroparesis, and multiple individuals have come forward to report similar complications.
One Louisiana woman, Jaclyn Bjorklund, has sued Novo Nordisk, claiming Ozempic® and another diabetes drug manufactured by Eli Lilly caused her stomach paralysis. Bjorklund’s Ozempic® lawsuit claims the manufacturers knew of the risks of gastroparesis, but failed to properly disclose the side effect.
The suit claims Bjorklund has had to make multiple ER visits due to the medications and lost teeth due to vomiting, among other issues.
Other Ozempic® and Wegovy® users, including Joanie Knight, Brenda Allen, and Emily Wright, claim their gastroparesis and gastric issues were caused by the drug as well.
Referring to Ozempic®, Knight stated, “I wish I never touched it. I wish I’d never heard of it in my life. This medicine made my life hell. So much hell. It has cost me money. It cost me a lot of stress; it cost me days and nights and trips with my family. It’s cost me a lot, and it’s not worth it. The price is too high.”
Ozempic® lawsuit for gastrointestinal problems
Individuals like Bjorklund have begun seeking representation and filing lawsuits for gastrointestinal problems that may be linked to GLP-1 agonists. Law firms are working to investigate and build cases for individuals who were prescribed Ozempic®, Wegovy®, or Rybelsus® for extended periods of time and ended up experiencing serious gastrointestinal issues.
The legal issue at hand is whether Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic®, Wegovy®, and Rybelsus®, knew of the risks of these gastrointestinal complications based on the results of their clinical trials but failed to adequately warn doctors and users of these risks.
If you were prescribed Wegovy®, Rybelsus®, or Ozempic® and experienced gastroparesis (stomach paralysis) or gastric obstruction that required an ER visit or admission into a hospital while taking these drugs or within 30 days of stopping use, you may have a case.
Settlement amounts will likely be based on the type and severity of your condition.
Joining the Ozempic® lawsuit
If you meet the above criteria, you may be able to join the Ozempic® lawsuit. You could be owed compensation from Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of these semaglutide products, for failing to adequately warn users of the risks of serious or even life-threatening gastrointestinal issues.
Fill out the form below or call today to contact the team at Woods & Woods for a free case evaluation.
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Ozempic®, Rybelsus®, and Wegovy® are registered trademarks of Novo Nordisk. The trademarks listed are used here only for the purpose of identifying the products in question. Woods & Woods, LLC is not affiliated with, sponsored by or associated with Novo Nordisk or Eli Lilly. Never stop taking a medication without first asking your doctor.
