Ozempic has largely been connected with stomach paralysis (gastroparesis) but additional research has connected the diabetes drug to other illnesses. Mounting scientific evidence supports a connection between serious gallbladder issues and Ozempic, a drug used to treat high blood sugar levels that accompany Type II diabetes. Some users also take Ozempic to lose weight. The scientific community has issued warnings that Ozempic, a brand name for Semaglutide, is more likely to cause damage when it is taken in large doses, for a prolonged period of time, or for weight loss purposes.
Despite growing concerns, the manufacturers of Ozempic, a Dutch company called Novo Nordisk, only added a warning label detailing the increased risk of issues like gallstones, gallbladder disease, and Cholecystitis in April 2022. Ozempic users who have experienced gallbladder issues are filing product liability lawsuits to secure compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, and other damages like pain and suffering. If you are considering pursuing compensation for damages in an Ozempic gallstone lawsuit, you should speak with a product liability lawyer as soon as possible to ensure that your rights are protected and your compensation is maximized.
Ozempic Helps Diabetics Manage Their Blood Sugar Levels
Ozempic, a drug used to help Type II diabetics manage their blood sugar levels, belongs to a class of drugs known as Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists, or GLP-1 RAs. Type II diabetics lack sufficient insulin to limit their blood sugar, which can lead to dangerous complications such as heart issues and stroke. GLP-1 drugs act in place of a hormone that encourages insulin secretion and tells the pancreas to restrict sugar output, therefore lowering a user’s blood sugar level.
However, numerous studies have shown that Ozempic’s benefits are not the full story. For over 5 years, scientists have reported a link between this type of drug and serious gallbladder or biliary issues. Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic, did not recognize this growing body of evidence until last year, when they finally updated their warning labels to reflect these issues. Ozempic users may be entitled to receive compensation for their injuries and subsequent damages based on Novo Nordisk’s failure to warn consumers of the risk of Ozempic.
Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials Raises Concerns About Ozempic
In 2017, a group of Italian researchers investigated safety concerns surrounding the use of GLP-1 drugs, such as Ozempic. The analysis focused on clinical trials longer than 11 weeks that enrolled Type II diabetics as participants. The criteria for the trials included in the study also dictated that a GLP-1 receptor agonist was compared to a placebo treatment or a non-GLP-1 receptor agonist.
Previous research had indicated the possibility that GLP-1 drugs increased the risk of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer in addition to gallbladder issues. Based on data collected from 113 clinical trials, the researchers determined that there was no discernable increase in the risk of damage to the pancreas, but there was a “significantly increased risk of cholelithiasis”, which is another name for gallstones. In 2020, some of the same researchers conducted an updated meta-analysis that supported their earlier findings.
Drugs Like Ozempic are Associated With Gallbladder Issues in Type II Diabetics
In a similar meta-analysis, Chinese researchers examined 76 clinical trials involving the comparison of a placebo or a non−GLP-1 RA drug against a GLP-1 receptor agonist. In total, this included data from 103,371 patients. Researchers determined that there was a relationship between participants who received GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and those who experienced gallbladder and biliary diseases.
They specifically mention an increased occurrence of cholelithiasis, or gallstones, cholecystitis, and biliary disease. Another 2022 study affirmed that GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic were likely responsible for gallstone blockages that caused serious inflammation, known as cholecystitis. When the gallbladder reaches this level of inflammation, it usually requires a surgery known as a cholecystectomy that removes the entire organ.
Study Warns of Bile Duct and Gallbladder Disease
Researchers conducted a cohort study of 71,369 Type II diabetics to determine if their hypothesis that GLP-1 RA drugs caused bile duct and gallbladder disease was supported. They found that 853 of the people included in the study were hospitalized for bile duct or gallbladder disease after taking the GLP-1 RA drug.
These findings are supported by other studies, including Novo Nordisk’s own clinical trials. Novo Nordisk’s clinical trials indicate that between 0.4% and 1.5% of participants who received Ozempic during the experiment suffered from gallbladder issues. Of that subset, 90% required hospitalization to have surgery to remove their gallbladder altogether.
Seeking Compensation for Damages in an Ozempic Gallstone Lawsuit
While some gallstones are small enough to be passed at home, large gallstones or blockages can require professional medical care. This may also entail taking time off from work for treatment and recovery. Ozempic users who have suffered from gallbladder issues may be able to recover compensation for their losses in the form of economic and non-economic damages in a product liability lawsuit.
Ozempic lawsuit plaintiffs seeking economic damages to compensate for financial losses can typically use receipts or pay stubs to prove the value of a given damage. Non-economic losses are by nature more subjective, as they compensate injured plaintiffs for emotional or intangible costs. They may need to rely on other forms of documentation, such as a pain journal, to validate their damages.
Examples of Damages in an Ozempic Gallstone Lawsuit:
- Medical bills
- Lab tests
- Imaging
- Surgery
- Medication
- Hospital stays
- Job-related losses
- Lost wages
- Missed promotions
- Pain and suffering
Contact an Experienced Ozempic Lawyer About Your Case
The best way to ensure that you receive the compensation you need from a negligent manufacturer like Novo Nordisk is to hire an Ozempic gallstone lawyer. They will be able to give you a detailed breakdown of the personal injury claims process, draft any statements, collect evidence to prove the value of your damages, create a negotiating strategy, and represent you as you pursue a fair settlement.
Potential plaintiffs in an Ozempic stomach paralysis lawsuit have a limited window of time during which they can file a product liability claim, so you should not delay in seeking out a product liability attorney who will be able to help you determine what your Ozempic claim is worth and negotiate to secure that amount.