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 influences endorsing Wegovy have incited consumers to acquire the drug for themselves. Elon Musk was asked on Twitter what his secret to looking “awesome, fit, ripped & healthy,” in which he responded that he takes Wegovy.
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 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
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, you may want to speak with the lawyers at Johnson//Becker. We are currently accepting new stomach paralysis 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.
Free Case Evaluation
To contact us for a free review of your potential case, please fill out the form below or call us toll free 24 hrs/day by dialing: (800) 279-6386.