A popular type 2 diabetes medicine, Ozempic, has recently been tied to a number of severe gastrointestinal issues. Now that Ozempic has been found to cause weight loss as a result of controlling type 2 diabetes, doctors have been prescribing it to treat obesity.
What Is Gastroparesis?
Gastroparesis is a medical condition that affects the muscles’ regular movement (motility) in the stomach. In a normal gastrointestinal system, these muscles work to move food through the digestive tract.
Gastroparesis affects your stomach’s motility by slowing it down or stopping it completely. It prevents or inhibits the emptying of the contents of the stomach, which can lead to stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. There currently is no cure or set treatment for gastroparesis.
How Does Ozempic Lead to Gastroparesis?
Both Ozempic and its sister medication, Wegovy, which is used for weight management, utilize the same active ingredient: semaglutide. GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and other drugs that include tirzepatide and liraglutide mimic a naturally occurring hormone in the body, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).
GLP-1 agonist medications are designed to level blood sugar levels and cause delayed stomach emptying so people will lose weight because they are not hungry or still full from a previous meal.
Patients Take Ozempic or Wegovy for Weight Loss
Patients began taking Ozempic to treat diabetes 2. However, it was soon found to be a catalyst for weight loss, along with Wegovy, which was created to promote weight loss. There is a chemical reason why people are losing weight when they take this medicine.
Ozempic Slows Stomach Movement of Food
One of the things that the hormone GLP-1 is responsible for is slowing down the passage of food through the gastrointestinal tract, which creates the feeling of being full. Ozempic and Wegovy mimic this hormone and, therefore, also produce a feeling of satiety (being satisfied).
Patients Experience Stomach Paralysis
When the passage of food becomes too slow, gastroparesis or stomach paralysis begins to develop.
Slowing down the movement of the muscles prevents food from moving from the stomach into and through the intestines, which can cause blockages and bowel obstructions in the large and small intestines.
Stomach Paralysis Leads to Delayed Gastric Emptying
GLP-1 medications purposely slow down the movement of the stomach muscles so that a person can feel fuller for a longer amount of time in order to lose weight. The GLP-1 receptor agonists cause the muscles to slow down, which leads to delayed gastric emptying.
Basically, these GLP-1 medications purposely cause stomach paralysis in order to make a person feel full so they will not feel the need to eat for a longer amount of time.
Is Ozempic the Only Cause of Gastroparesis?
Ozempic is a cause of gastroparesis, but it is not the only cause. Another reason gastroparesis can develop is diabetes, which is why most people have been prescribed Ozempic in the first place. There is the possibility that the cause of a person’s gastroparesis will remain unknown.
If you have never had symptoms of or been diagnosed with gastroparesis but developed the condition after you started taking Ozempic, you may be eligible to file an Ozempic lawsuit. Contact the law offices of Florin|Roebig today for a free case review to discuss your options.
What Is the Risk of Gastroparesis with Ozempic?
There is an increased risk of developing gastroparesis when taking the type 2 diabetes medication Ozempic.
According to a study examining the potentially severe effects of taking Ozempic, the risk of developing gastroparesis is 3.67 times higher than someone not taking it.
How Many People Experience Gastroparesis with Ozempic?
While these adverse events are rare, with the number of people taking Ozmepic around the world, the number of people affected by gastroparesis and other stomach problems will rise. It is critical that people understand the risks of taking this type of medication.
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Complications of Gastroparesis
Gastroparesis is an incredibly painful and difficult condition to live with and can cause many moderate to severe symptoms for those experiencing the condition.
Symptoms of gastroparesis include the following:
- Nausea
- Bloating
- Abdominal pain
- Feeling full after eating only a few bites
- Vomiting undigested food that was eaten hours earlier
- Changes in blood sugar levels
- Acid reflux
- Reduced or nonexistent appetite
- Malnutrition
- Weight loss
How Long Does Gastroparesis Last?
Unfortunately, gastroparesis does not have a cure or a set treatment method. Generally, gastroparesis that is caused by diabetes or by taking medication is a life-long condition that the person experiencing will have to learn to live with.
Changing your diet to a low-fat and low-fiber diet and avoiding carbonated drinks, alcohol, and tobacco are a few of the ways that a person can manage their gastroparesis.
In severe gastroparesis cases, doctors may need to resort to surgery or feeding tubes in order to get nutrients into the body.
Damages Caused by Ozempic-Induced Gastroparesis
The amount of pain and suffering caused by Ozempic-induced gastroparesis can be difficult to put a number on. There are many monetary and non-monetary types of damages that can be claimed by those who are affected by gastroparesis.
Some of the damages that can lead to financial compensation include:
- Lost wages due to missing work
- Loss of time with family
- Prolonged illness
- Medical expenses from visiting doctors, gastroenterology experts, and ER visits
- Pain and suffering
- Living expenses, such as past-due bills, due to not being able to work
Other Side Effects of Ozempic
Although gastroparesis is one of the most serious potential side effects of using Ozempic, there are other side effects that pose a serious problem for patient safety. One woman in Louisiana has also developed a difficult condition known as “cyclical vomiting.”
More side effects caused by taking the diabetes drug Ozempic include the following:
- Hypoglycemia
- Other types of stomach conditions
- Gallbladder problems
- Gallstones
- Increased risk of pancreas disease
- Higher risk of pancreatitis
- Higher risk of biliary disease
- Ileus
- Allergic reactions
- Inability to pass gas
The American Society of Anesthesiologists would also like healthcare professionals to warn patients to quit taking this medication at least a week before they go in for surgery.
The ASA admits they are not sure how long patients need to fast from this medicine to prevent aspiration during surgery.
Why Do Ozempic Manufacturers Fail to Warn of Gastroparesis Risks?
While Novo Nordisk may be making medicine in an attempt to help people manage their type 2 diabetes or manage their weight, they are still a business. Businesses need to make money to grow and thrive, and when negativity surrounds a product, they do not always act on it.
While developing gastroparesis may be a serious problem for some consumers, it may not be a big enough reason to warn an entire pool of potential customers. According to the FDA, the benefits still far outweigh the risks for some of the people who take the medication.
Can You Sue for Gastroparesis Caused by Ozempic?
Yes, people who have taken Ozempic and are now dealing with gastroparesis are allowed to file individual lawsuits against the manufacturers of the medication.
Understanding who you will need to direct your lawsuit toward is important, and a lawyer can help you through this process.
If you have taken Wegovy or Ozempic and would like to file a suit against the manufacturer, you will be dealing with Novo Nordisk. On the other hand, if you have had an adverse incident with Mounjaro, your lawsuit will be against Eli Lilly and Company.
Gastroparesis and Ozempic Lawsuits
Lawsuits have started being filed against Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly for damages caused to people who were taking Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro. People are seeking compensation to cover the cost of living with this painful gastrointestinal condition.
Ozempic has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a weight loss drug. However, after clinical trials sponsored by Novo Nordisk, Wegovy was approved for weight loss.
People have had medical expenses pile up because they cannot afford their medical bills due to being so severely ill they cannot go to work or function like an average person. In order to pay for their medical bills, people are filing lawsuits against diabetes drug makers.
There are currently no class action lawsuits being filed, but if enough people who are filing lawsuits are willing to group together, a mass tort can be filed. Individual lawsuits are also being accepted at this time.
For those considering filing an Ozempic lawsuit, there are a few steps you need to take:
- Schedule a free case consultation and evaluation with the law offices of Florin|Roebig. During this meeting, you will find out what options are available to you.
- Collect as much evidence as possible to prove that your current medical condition was caused by taking Ozempic, such as lab tests, prescriptions, and a timeline of your symptoms.
- File your Ozempic lawsuit with the courts. Your Florin|Roebig Ozempic attorney will complete all the necessary paperwork to get your lawsuit started and handle all the communication with Novo Nordisk’s legal representation on your behalf.
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Take Legal Action for Gastroparesis Caused by Ozempic
Gastroparesis is a difficult and painful stomach condition that people have begun to develop. If you have been diagnosed with gastroparesis after being prescribed Ozempic for type 2 diabetes or Wegovy for weight loss and obesity, you may want to seek compensation.
If you are interested in filing a lawsuit against Novo Nordisk, you will need an Ozempic lawyer that you can trust and who has had experience going head-to-head with pharmaceutical companies. Contact the law offices of Florin|Roebig today for a free consultation and case evaluation.
