Over the course of the past several years, glucagon-like 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist (RA) medications such as Ozempic have skyrocketed in popularity. While their ability to treat diabetes and assist with weight loss have been lauded, there is a great deal of concern regarding side effects Ozempic can cause such as gastroparesis, otherwise known as stomach paralysis.
Most recently, a publication from the JAMA Network corroborates earlier but less rigorous clinical research by establishing a connection between semaglutide (Ozempic and/or Wegovy) use for weight management and a heightened risk of gastroparesis (stomach paralysis).
As Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozepmic and Wegovy, prepares to face additional legal trouble for its failure to warn users of the risks they incurred from GLP-1 RA consumption, the October study only further threatens to reverse the tremendous business progress and success the international pharmaceutical company has enjoyed.
Researchers Detect High-Risk of Gastroparesis in Semaglutide Users
With the heightened scrutiny surrounding the safety and efficacy of GLP-1 RA medications, researchers around the world have undertaken a concerted effort to determine the precise correlation between the use of popular antidiabetic drugs and severe gastrointestinal side effects. The most recent study to establish a definitive link comes from a group of physicians in an October edition of JAMA Network, a peer-reviewed medical journal in operation since 1883.
Relying on data from the PharMetrics Plus database, which contains the prescription records of tens of millions of patients, the researchers selected, at random, 16 million subjects from 2006 to 2020. After refining the selection criteria to exclude semaglutide and liraglutide users who also have diabetes or underlying medical conditions which could increase an individual’s risk factor for developing severe biliary or gastrointestinal diseases, the researchers then proceeded to track the rate of incidence of alarming complications.
The JAMA study concluded that users of semaglutide for weight management were at a heightened risk of developing “pancreatitis, gastroparesis, and bowel obstruction”. Considering that the intention of the study was to fill the gaps in antecedent clinical research on the correlation of semaglutide and liraglutide use and gastrointestinal complications, it ultimately recommends that the results of the study “be considered by patients who are contemplating using the drugs for weight loss”.
Side Effects of Gastroparesis from Semaglutide Use
Gastroparesis (stomach paralysis) is a severe medical complication that a mounting and formidable body of clinical research is beginning to connect to the use of popular GLP-1 RA medications, particularly Ozempic and Wegovy. It is characterized by dangerously slow rates of gastric emptying or the rate at which the stomach empties its contents.
In more severe cases, gastroparesis has been known to prevent individuals from ingesting food after a few bites, thereby seriously inhibiting the natural digestion process. Although the severity of the symptoms connected with gastroparesis caused by the use of Ozempic and Wegovy manifests on a spectrum, common telltale signs of the condition include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal bloating and pain
- Heighted satiety
- Acid reflux
- Fluctuations in blood sugar levels
Although there is little evidence to suggest that Ozempic-induced gastroparesis outlasts discontinuation, some diagnoses are so severe as to require surgical intervention in the form of gastric bypass to restore, however partially, bodily equilibrium.
The Science Behind GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Drugs Like Ozempic
Although the most recent study from JAMA Network is likely to prove consequential in the formulation of judgments by physicians and patients alike, it also provides crucial evidence for a common suspicion that they have long held about the safety of GLP-1 RA medications. The drugs, which were originally designed for the treatment of Type II diabetes, have found themselves used for weight management.
The primary reason for this peculiar but unsurprising turn of events is the science behind GLP-1 RAs. As receptor agonists, they mimic the effects of naturally occurring GLP-1 produced in the lower intestine.
A tremendously important hormone, GLP-1, amongst other things, helps the body to:
- Produce insulin
- Control blood sugar levels
- Increase satiety
- Slow gastric emptying
Given the paramount importance of regulating blood sugar levels, the GLP-1 RAs enjoyed great success upon their introduction to the international drug market. Nevertheless, even the most stringent of FDA approval requirements could not predict the long-term effects of the drugs, and the administration has had to rely upon post-marketing reviews and reports to determine their safety and efficacy.
Exposé Reporting Reveals the Gastrointestinal Side Effects of Ozempic, Wegovy
Exposé reporting from CNN this summer cast a light on the serious but undisclosed side effects of Ozempic and Wegovy use amongst American and Canadian users. Several interviewees described horrifying incidents of pervasive vomiting and stomach paralysis so severe that they required hiatuses from work or surgical intervention.
Taken alongside the recent slew of clinical research and an unnerving letter from the American Society of Anesthesiologists warning about the potential GLP-1 RA use has to complicate surgical procedures, the CNN reporting has served to expose a formerly hidden ulterior world in which the once-acclaimed drugs have become nightmare-inducing medications.
Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly and Co. Confronted by Louisiana Ozempic Lawsuit
Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly and Company, the manufacturer of Mounjaro (tirzepatide), were faced with a product liability lawsuit from the state of Louisiana. The plaintiff alleges that, after taking Ozempic for one year and, subsequently, Mounjaro, she developed severe gastrointestinal complications which resulted in the loss of teeth from profuse vomiting.
The 44-year old has received a definitive diagnosis of stomach paralysis and struggles with an undiagnosed vomiting condition which required a temporary hospitalization to treat dehydration. Although Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly and Co. deny any wrongdoing, the new Ozempic lawsuit describes their conduct as amounting to a “failure to warn” users of the risks they incur from the consumption of GLP-1 RA medications.
Common Damages in Ozempic Litigation
The ongoing Ozempic litigation from Louisiana is still in a preliminary phase, which means that precise settlement figures are difficult to calculate precisely. Nevertheless, in personal injury law, damages tend to be divided into three overarching categories – economic, non-economic, and punitive.
Economic damages are designed to reimburse plaintiffs for the financial losses they have sustained on account of an injury caused by a negligent party, and commonly address:
- Lost wages and income
- Medical expenses – past, present, and future
- Transportation costs
Non-economic damages are more subjective in nature, but provide compensation to individuals who have suffered a severe injury for their:
- Pain and suffering
- Decreased quality of life
- Mental anguish
Punitive damages are awarded at the discretion of the court in instances of uniquely egregious intentional or negligent misconduct. Given the severity of the illnesses caused by Ozempic and Wegovy, the economic and non-economic damages which current and potential plaintiffs seek in the defective drug lawsuit will likely be considerable.
If you were prescribed Ozempic or other semaglutide medications and subsequently developed the symptoms of gastroparesis or other affiliated diagnoses, consider speaking with an experienced product liability attorney today.
Contact a Qualified Ozempic Stomach Paralysis Lawyer Today
In recent months, Novo Nordisk has become the most valuable company on the continent of Europe. With a stranglehold on the GLP-1 RA markets in the States and ambitious plans to expand worldwide, it has enjoyed incredible success.
Unfortunately, the speed with which NOVOb.CO rose to such preeminence parallels the hastiness with which it designed, manufactured, and sold its drugs – all with seeming disregard for the long-term consequences and health complications they could cause. We believe that forthrightness from pharmaceutical companies is a cornerstone for well-informed and healthy consumership.
That is why our team of experienced Ozempic lawyers is on standby to get you the compensation you deserve and hold Novo Nordisk accountable for its irresponsible business practices. Offering free consultations for prospective clients, we can assist you in determining the viability of your claims and the strength of the evidence.
For more information about your eligibility to file an Ozempic lawsuit and get justice for severe injuries you sustained from Novo Nordisk’s powerhouse drug, consider contacting us today.