Ozempic Manufacturer Sued Over Stomach Paralysis Risk
A woman from Louisiana has filed a lawsuit against the makers of Ozempic (Novo Nordisk) and Mounjaro (Eli Lilly), another medication in the same class as Ozempic, alleging that the companies failed to warn about the risk of severe stomach problems with the drugs.
The Plaintiff, 44-year-old Jaclyn Bjorklund, claims that Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly “downplayed the severity of gastrointestinal events caused by Ozempic and Mounjaro, never, for example, warning of the risk of gastroparesis (“paralyzed stomach”) or gastroenteritis.”
Bjorklund says she took Ozempic for over 1 year before switching to Mounjaro in July 2023 per her doctor’s recommendation, after which she was “severely injured as a result” of using both medicines, according to the lawsuit.
The complaint further alleges that Novo and Lilly “knew of the association between the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists and the risk of developing severe gastrointestinal issues, including gastroparesis and gastroenteritis,” and that their “failure to disclose information that they possessed regarding the association between the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists and the risk of developing severe gastrointestinal issues, including gastroparesis and gastroenteritis, rendered the warnings for this medication inadequate.”
Bjorklund additionally claims she experienced injuries including “severe gastrointestinal events, which resulted in, for example, severe vomiting, stomach pain, gastrointestinal burning,” as well as being hospitalized multiple times for stomach problems after taking the drugs.
The suit further claimed that Bjorklund’s teeth started “falling out due to excessive vomiting, requiring additional medications to alleviate her excessive vomiting” and that she would throw up “whole food hours after eating.”
Finally, the lawsuit seeks “very significant” but unspecified compensation from both Novo and Lilly.
What is Ozempic?
Ozempic was approved in 2017 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in adults with type 2 diabetes. The medication is a weekly injection that helps lower blood sugar by helping the pancreas make more insulin. It is not approved for weight loss, but some physicians prescribe it off-label for weight loss in obese individuals.
How Does it Work?
Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, which works by inducing satiety. The feeling of being satisfied or having a “full” stomach, suppresses appetite, which is why it works for weight loss.
Semaglutide also stimulates the pancreas to produce insulin, which is how the drug helps to manage type 2 diabetes. The body needs insulin to move the glucose (or blood sugar) it gets from food inside cells, so it can be used as energy.
Semaglutide works by mimicking the role of GLP-1 (glucagon like peptide-1), which is a naturally-occurring hormone that is produced in response to detecting nutrients when we eat. GLP-1 is part of the signalling pathway that tells your body you have eaten, and prepare it to use the energy that comes from your food.
What is Stomach Paralysis?
Stomach paralysis, or gastroparesis, is a gastrointestinal condition in which food passes through the stomach slower than it should. This is a common disorder which is most often linked to the development of type 2 diabetes. However, in more than half of cases, a variety of other factors may play a role.
Symptoms of Gastroparesis
Signs and symptoms of stomach paralysis may include:
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Abdominal bloating
- Abdominal pain
- A feeling of fullness after eating just a few bites
- Vomiting undigested food eaten a few hours earlier
- Acid reflux
- Changes in blood sugar levels
- Lack of appetite
- Weight loss/malnutrition
Ozempic vs Wegovy
Both Ozempic and Wegovy are GLP-1 agonists and contain semaglutide as their active ingredient. Since the 2 medications are in the same class and have the same active ingredient, it is fair to ask: is Ozempic the same as Wegovy?
The answer is yes and no. The main difference is the amount of semaglutide in each pen, and what they’ve been approved for. Semaglutide was first approved as Ozempic in 2017 to treat diabetes. In 2021, the FDA approved the drug under the brand name Wegovy as a treatment for weight-loss.
Do I Have an Ozempic Stomach Paralysis Class Action Lawsuit?
The Class Action Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Ozempic Lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new stomach paralysis cases in all 50 states.
If you or a loved one suffered from stomach paralysis or another injury after taking Ozempic or another weight loss medication, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to a settlement by filing an Ozempic Stomach Paralysis Class Action Lawsuit and our lawyers can help.