Ozempic Lawsuit

Lawsuits over semaglutide are being brought against Novo Nordisk, a Danish multinational pharmaceutical company that manufactures Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus. Mounjaro (tripeptide), another medication commonly used off-label for weight loss that has been implicated in lawsuits, is manufactured by Eli Lilly & Co.

Without insurance coverage, Ozempic and Wegovy can cost from $1,000 to $1,700 per month.

The real cost, however, is the significant side effects that some people continue to feel after they stop taking Ozempic. Emily Wright, a schoolteacher in Toronto, took Ozempic for over a year and lost 80 pounds. But according to Wright, she now vomits so frequently that she was forced to take a leave of absence from her job. “I’ve almost been off Ozempic for a year, but I’m still not back to my normal,” she said.

A growing body of medical research has connected Ozempic to side effects that can lead to severe and distressing injuries. Novo Nordisk lists the most common Ozempic side effects as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, and constipation. Other reported side effects include pancreatitis, changes in vision, low blood sugar, kidney problems, serious allergic reactions, and gallbladder problems.

Ozempic lawsuits against Novo Nordisk allege the following side effects:

Gastroparesis: Commonly known as stomach paralysis, gastroparesis is a condition characterized by abnormal stomach muscle function, resulting in impaired contraction, and grinding of food. This dysfunction hinders the stomach's ability to efficiently empty its contents.

Gastroenteritis: Inflammation of the stomach and intestines. While viral gastroenteritis is also known as stomach flu, gastroenteritis may also be caused by ingesting certain medication, including Ozempic. Gastroenteritis symptoms include vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramps, muscle aches, headaches, and fever. Vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration, the main complication of gastroenteritis, which can lead to death.

While the delayed gastric emptying caused by Ozempic may aid weight loss, long-term usage may lead to a chronic condition. Indeed, the plaintiff in an Ozempic lawsuit alleges her teeth fell out due to the excessive vomiting caused by the medication.

What Is Stomach Paralysis?

Stomach paralysis, also known as gastroparesis, is a condition where muscles of the stomach don't work properly, leading to delayed emptying of food into the small intestine. This can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, bloating, and feeling full quickly when eating.

Can Ozempic Cause Permanent Gastroparesis?

There have been reports of Ozempic (semaglutide) being associated with gastrointestinal side effects, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, but there is limited evidence suggesting a link to permanent gastroparesis.

While current research does not indicate that individuals are likely to experience continued gastroparesis after stopping the medication, research does show that cases of post-Ozempic gastroparesis can be severe enough to warrant gastric bypass surgery.

Does Ozempic Cause Liver Damage?

There is limited evidence that Ozempic causes liver damage. In fact, a 2024 study from Sweden found that Ozempic and other GLP1 agonists are associated with a reduced risk of developing cirrhosis and liver cancer in people with type 2 diabetes and chronic liver disease. Liver damage is currently not a qualifying health condition for the Ozempic lawsuit.

The compensation you could recover in an Ozempic lawsuit depends on your claims for damages, whether the case resolves in a settlement, and other variables. Generally, an Ozempic settlement may cover several types of damages, including (but not limited to):

• Medical Care (past and future): Covers a variety of medical expenses, including hospitals stays, medications, and more.
• Lost Income and Wages (past and future): If your injuries rendered you incapable of carrying out your professional duties or required you to miss a significant amount of time off work.
• Pain and Suffering (past and future): Compensation for the physical and emotional anguish endured as a result of Ozempic side effects.
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life (past and future): If your injuries impede your ability to participate in activities that previously brought you joy and fulfillment.
• Punitive Damages: Also known as exemplary damages, punitive damages are designed to punish negligent corporations for committing willful, malicious, and intentional acts, and to deter others from similar wrongdoing. While they are not always awarded, punitive damages can be substantial.

No. Ozempic lawsuits have been consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL), which is similar to a class action but notably different in important ways. An Ozempic class action would likely aim to secure medical monitoring for individuals who may face future risks after using these diet drugs or seek compensation from the drug manufacturers for insufficiently disclosing the serious risks associated with their medications.

However, it is important to note that individual personal injury lawsuits stemming from gastroparesis or gastroenteritis will involve distinct damages for each plaintiff and will not be consolidated into a class action lawsuit involving Ozempic, Wegovy, or Rybelsus users.

Given that over 1 in 10 Americans have reportedly used Ozempic for weight loss purposes at some point, it is anticipated that thousands of lawsuits against Ozempic will be filed in the coming years.

The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) consolidated Ozempic side effect lawsuits in Pennsylvania in 2024. An MDL (or a state court version of an MDL) streamlines discovery and pretrial proceedings and functions similarly to a class action but the individual cases are tried separately. However, it should be emphasized that if the drug manufacturer fails to reach a global Ozempic settlement agreement or any other resolution during an MDL, individual claims may subsequently be remanded to courts where they were filed, paving the way for separate trials in the future.

Ozempic (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) are both prescription medications commonly used in conjunction with diet and exercise to regulate blood sugar levels in adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Both medications are:

• In a class of drugs known as incretin mimetics.
• Administered through subcutaneous injections on a weekly basis.
• Costly if you are paying for them out-of-pocket.
• Widely used for weight loss even though neither is FDA-approved specifically for this purpose.
• Implicated in lawsuits alleging gastroparesis, gastroenteritis, and other side effects.

Manufactured by Eli Lilly, Mounjaro (tirzepatide) functions as a dual-acting agonist for GIP and GLP-1 receptors. GIP and GLP-1 are natural incretin hormones. Mounjaro aids in reducing fasting and postprandial glucose levels, curbs food intake, and can lead to weight reduction in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Ozempic (semaglutide), manufactured by Novo Nordisk, acts exclusively as a GLP-1 receptor agonist. By binding to GLP-1 receptors, it stimulates insulin release from the pancreas when necessary and slows down the rate at which food moves through the digestive system. This mechanism can contribute to a feeling of satiety, reduced food consumption, and subsequent weight loss.

According to Dr. Akshaya Srikanth Bhagavathula, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Arkansas who has studied tirzepatide, Mounjaro may cause more severe side effects when compared to Ozempic.

Rybelsus and Ozempic are not the same medication. Although both contain the active ingredient semaglutide, Rybelsus is an oral formulation of semaglutide used to treat type 2 diabetes, while Ozempic is an injectable formulation of semaglutide used for the same purpose. Both medications are manufactured by Novo Nordisk.

Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4 mg) and Ozempic (semaglutide 1 mg) are similar medications manufactured by Novo Nordisk. They contain the same active ingredient. However, they are used for different purposes. Ozempic is approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, while Wegovy is approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight who have at least one weight-related comorbidity.