Ozempic has gained popularity in recent years due to celebrities and TikTok influencers endorsing the use of the drug for weight loss. However, this was not the intended use of Ozempic.
Ozempic was manufactured to treat type 2 diabetes and was approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in 2017.
Since then, lawsuits against Ozempic manufacturers have alleged that the drug causes gastroparesis, or stomach paralysis.
What is Ozempic?
Manufactured by Novo Nordisk, Ozempic is a prescription drug delivered via injection, similar to an EpiPen, to treat type 2 diabetes by lowering blood sugar levels in adults.
Ozempic contains semaglutide, which is used to treat type 2 diabetes in correspondence with diet and exercise to control blood sugar.
There are no approved generic versions of Ozempic.
Wegovy
Ozempic is often compared with a similar drug called Wegovy. Wegovy is a weekly injection for chronic weight management. Ozempic and Wegovy are manufactured by the same company, and both contain semaglutide.
Wegovy has a higher dose of semaglutide, and it is designed for weight loss while Ozempic is geared towards treating type 2 diabetes.
Some celebrities and TikTok influencers endorsing Wegovy have incited consumers to acquire the drug for themselves.
However, due to recent shortages of Wegovy, consumers have since turned to Ozempic to treat weight loss.
More information about semaglutide is available on Mayo Clinic’s website and the FDA website.
Ozempic & Gastroparesis (Stomach Paralysis)
While Ozempic is meant to help people with type 2 diabetes manage their weight by making them feel fuller and stifle food cravings, Ozempic has been alleged to cause gastroparesis.
Gastroparesis is a serious stomach condition in which food moves too slowly from the stomach to the small intestine. In more severe cases, food may stop moving through the intestine at all. Food that remains undigested in the body may stay in the stomach and harden.
Symptoms of gastroparesis include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Bloating
- Abdominal pain
- Severe dehydration
- Acid reflux
- Malnutrition
- Weight loss
While the manufacturers of Ozempic warned patients of the numerous side effects associated with the drug, there are no warnings of gastroparesis.
Gastroparesis Diagnosis & Treatment
As of now, there is no cure for gastroparesis. Doctors conduct several tests to diagnose stomach paralysis such as:
- Gastric emptying tests (tests how fast the stomach empties)
- Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (examination of stomach via a tiny camera on a tube)
- Ultrasound
After identifying gastroparesis, doctors work with their patients on the best course of action to treat the condition. Such changes include changing the patient’s diet to maintain adequate nutrition, medication to stimulate stomach muscles or to control nausea and vomiting, surgery to place a feeding tube, or electrical stimulation in the stomach to move food.
Researchers are still investigating new medications and methods to treat gastroparesis.
Ozempic & Ileus
While Ozempic is meant to help people manage their weight by making them feel fuller and reduce food cravings, Ozempic has been alleged to cause Ileus and small bowel obstructions.
Ileus is a condition where your intestine can’t push food and waste out of your body. It is much like a traffic jam where there is congestion, but not a physical blockage.
Symptoms of Ileus and small bowel obstructions include:
- Bloating
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Stomach cramps
- Watery stools
- Dehydration
- Abdominal pain
While the manufacturers of Ozempic warned patients of numerous side effects associated with the drug, there were no warnings for ileus prior to 2023.
Ileus Diagnosis & Treatment
Doctors conduct several tests to diagnose ileus such as:
- Blood tests to measure electrolyte and mineral levels
- Imaging tests such as X-rays and CT scans
- Barium enema to check for abnormalities
- Barium “milkshake” to follow the path of the drink as it goes through your small/upper intestine
Treatment for ileus and small bowel obstruction often starts with giving your intestines time to rest by avoiding food and drink for 1–3 days. Doctors may adjust medications that could be contributing to the issue, like strong painkillers. Other treatments can include IV fluids to prevent dehydration, medications to help restart intestinal movement (prokinetics), or using a tube through the nose or rectum to relieve pressure from gas and fluid buildup. In some cases, electrical stimulation or simply sitting upright can help. If these steps don’t work, surgery might be needed, including procedures like inserting a stent, removing the affected section, or creating an ostomy.
Ozempic & NAION (Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy)
Non-arteritic anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION) refers to the loss of blood flow to the optic nerve. This is the “cable” that connects the eye to the brain. This condition often causes sudden vision loss in one eye. It is common for a patient to notice this upon waking in the morning. NAION is linked to diabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea. It’s diagnosed through an eye exam and tests to rule out other causes. There’s no proven treatment—steroids have shown unclear results—and glasses don’t help. It rarely returns in the same eye but may affect the other in about 30% of cases. Managing health conditions and avoiding nighttime blood pressure meds may lower risk.
Ozempic Lawsuit
As of September 2023, lawsuits against the Ozempic manufacturer are in the early stages. The main allegation for an Ozempic lawsuit is patient suffering from gastroparesis, or paralyzed stomach following the use of the drug. These symptoms can last for four weeks or longer.
Gastroparesis can diminish the patient’s quality of life and increase medical bills and costs.
The first lawsuit filed against the manufacturers Ozempic and Mounjaro, a similar weight loss drug, for gastroparesis was filed in early August 2023.
Other Stomach Paralysis Lawsuits
- Wegovy Lawsuit
- Mounjaro Lawsuit
- Rybelsus Lawsuit
- Trulicity Lawsuit
- Zepbound Lawsuit
Questions About an Ozempic Stomach Paralysis Lawsuit? Contact a Johnson//Becker Lawyer for a Free Case Review.
If you or a loved one took Ozempic and suffered from stomach paralysis, ileus, or NAION, you may want to speak with the lawyers at Johnson//Becker. We are currently accepting new Ozempic lawsuits across the country, and you may be entitled to financial compensation.
We offer a Free Case Evaluation. Please contact us using the form below or by calling us at (800) 279-6386.
We would be honored to speak with you and respond promptly to every inquiry we receive.
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