Drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have skyrocketed in popularity for their drastic weight-loss effects with celebrities and at-home users alike using the medications to shed weight. However, what is often excluded from descriptions of the semaglutide-based drugs is the possibility that their use may cause a side effect of stomach paralysis or other permanent gastrointestinal issues.

Why Are Lawsuits Being Filed Against Weight Loss Drug Manufacturers?

Although they were designed to treat type 2 diabetes, Ozempic and other similar semaglutide drugs on the market have also been FDA-approved for treating obesity and aiding in weight loss. However, it is alleged that the drugs’ manufacturer has provided inadequate or no warnings of the potential permanent gastrointestinal side effects from prolonged semaglutide use.

According to CNN, Ozempic and similar medications are type 2 diabetes treatment drugs that work by stimulating insulin production and slowing “the passage of food through the stomach, which helps people feel fuller longer,” leading to weight loss in many users. However, a study suggests that when these effects slow the body’s food processing too much, this causes the stomach not to process food nearly as quickly as it should for a healthy digestive system and may even result in the stomach becoming paralyzed. This, in turn, can cause users of the medication who experience stomach paralysis to be unable to eat and to suffer regular vomiting and nausea.

For people entering into elective surgery, there is added concern that these medications may cause medical complications. When under anesthesia, even if the patient has properly fasted but they are taking a digestion-slowing drug like Ozempic, the patient may have food and stomach acid entering the lungs when there is no room for it to stay in the stomach. These are some of the medical complications and side effects for which it is alleged the drug manufacturer fails to adequately warn prescribing medical professionals and patients about, and for which manufacturer liability lawsuits are being filed.

Which Weight Loss Drugs Are Involved in These Suits?

Stomach paralysis and other gastrointestinal issues have been linked to these weight loss medications; investigations are being conducted to potentially file suits to hold the manufacturer of Ozempic and similar medications accountable for failing to notify medical professionals and their patients of the potential risks and side effects these drugs may cause. Some of the semaglutide drugs on the market that are currently under investigation and that are the subject of potential gastrointestinal side effect lawsuits include:

• Ozempic
• Wegovy
• Saxenda
• Rybelsus
• Mounjaro

What Other Health Concerns Are There Surrounding Weight Loss Drugs?

When the human body is unable to digest food at a healthy pace, and it is therefore unable to take in any more food, this can result in dehydration and malnutrition. In addition to gastroparesis (stomach paralysis), cyclic vomiting syndrome has also been diagnosed in users of the weight loss drugs, as well as gallstones and gallbladder disease. With a lack of nutrients to sustain the body, fatigue is also possible. While tests and research are still ongoing, there is currently no known treatment for stomach paralysis, although stopping weight loss medications at the direction of your treating medical professional may help curb the symptoms.

What Are Common Indicators of Gastroparesis?

It is recommended that anyone with symptoms of medical issues seek appropriate professional medical help for official diagnosis and treatment. However, some common symptoms of stomach paralysis related to the use of weight loss drugs include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Belching with sulfur scent
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Heartburn
• Reduced or no appetite
• Feeling full soon after beginning to eat, or long after finished eating

How Do I Know if I Have a Weight Loss Drug Lawsuit?

If you were prescribed a semaglutide-based drug for weight loss and suffered gastrointestinal issues not adequately warned of after using the medication regularly, you may be entitled to compensation. The manufacturer of these semaglutide drugs may be held accountable for your injuries if they did not properly warn your prescribing medical professionals of the drugs’ side effects. In determining whether you have a case, it is advised that you speak with an experienced personal injury attorney who works on manufacturer liability cases and that you present them with as much information as you can about your symptoms and the timeline of your medication use and medical care.

Contact Us Today

If you took a semaglutide drug like Ozempic, Wegovy, or Rybelsus and were diagnosed with stomach paralysis, you may be entitled to compensation. For a free (no obligation) case evaluation, contact d’Oliveira & Associates by calling 508-252-8510 or by filling out an online contact form.