Ozempic Litigation
South Carlina Ozempic “Frozen Stomach” Attorneys
Lawfirms are now is holding big pharmaceutical companies responsible for the harms and risks their drugs have caused.
Ozempic is a brand name for the drug semaglutide. This drug was approved for treatment of type 2 diabetes but has also been used as a weight loss solution. Patients taking semaglutide have developed a series of stomach health issues such as gastroparesis (also known as stomach paralysis or frozen stomach), ileus, and intestinal blockages.
Patients were not warned of these risks when agreeing to take Ozempic or other forms of semaglutide.
Who Qualifies for the Ozempic Lawsuits?
- Patients who were given a valid prescription for Ozempic or other semaglutide drug
- And who suffered any severe stomach issues directly related to taking the drug
- And who were not warned by their doctor, pharmacist, or medication label of possible side effects such as ileus, and intestinal blockages.
Side Effects & Health Impacts
Ozempic was a commonly prescribed medication for type 2 diabetes that arrived on the market in 2017. Later, it was also discovered that semaglutide, the active drug in Ozempic, could also aid in weight loss.
The drug was widely prescribed, but as the number of patients rose, so did the number of reports about severe stomach issues. Some patients experienced severe, chronic pain, nausea, and diarrhea.
Many patients were never warned of these potentially serious side effects and suffered extensive and painful injuries, including intestinal infections.
What is “Frozen Stomach”?
Frozen stomach or stomach paralysis is the common name for the medical condition known as gastroparesis. Gastroparesis is a chronic condition where the nerves and muscles in the stomach are weakened over time. This weakening causes the stomach to not properly transfer food to the small intestines. Because the partially digest food remains in the stomach or trapped between the stomach and the small intestine, patients can experience severe nausea, and diarrhea.
Frozen stomach can also lead to patients being unable to eat or get the proper nutrition because their body is not fully digesting the food.
What Other Health Issues Are Common with Ozempic?
Gastroparesis is only one of the common stomach issues believed to be caused by Ozempic. Two other common conditions include ileus, and intestinal blockages.
Ileus is a malfunction in the intestines normal ability to move its contents through to the bowels. This can be caused by an obstruction or by a failure of the muscles along the intestines to properly contract and release. Ileus often leads to painful abdominal cramps, nausea, diarrhea, and an inability to pass gas.
In extreme cases, ileus can lead to hospitalization and even surgery.
Intestinal blockages are when something obstructs the normal path of the intestines. It can be the result of gastroparesis, ileus, or other stomach conditions. A severe intestinal blockage can result in permanent damage to the intestines, and may require surgery to correct.
About Ozempic
Ozempic is the brand name of semaglutide and is manufactured by the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. It first came on the market in 2017. The primary purpose of Ozempic is to help people with type 2 diabetes by increasing insulin production and reducing glucose production. This helps to stimulate the pancreas to better regulate blood sugar.
In 2021, Ozempic was approved as a treatment for obesity and long-term weight management.
Why is Stomach Paralysis Dangerous?
Gastroparesis or stomach paralysis as well as ileus and intestinal blockages are more than just slight inconveniences. Because Ozempic can create long-term weakening of the stomach nerves and muscles, it can greatly increase the risk that patients will need surgery to restore proper function of the digestive system.
In extreme cases, patients may face permanent damage to their digestive systems. When food is not properly digested and moved through the digestive tract, it can cause extreme pain, nausea, and diarrhea. Left untreated, it can lead to malnutrition, dehydration, and other issues.
Understanding the Risks of Ozempic
The fundamental issue at the center of the Ozempic lawsuits is that Novo Nordisk failed to properly warn patients of all the risks, even though they knew that semaglutide could increase the chances of gastroparesis, ileus, and intestinal blockages.
By failing to give proper notice of these side effects, Novo Nordisk did not allow patients to knowingly consent to taking Ozempic despite risk of serious side effects. This failure put the health of thousands of patients at risk.
Is Ozempic Still on the Market?
Ozempic is still available in the United States. It does now contain extensive warnings to patients about gastroparesis, ileus, and intestinal blockages, and most prescribing physicians are more proactive about monitoring patients for signs of stomach issues and side effects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies
You may qualify to be a part of the Ozempic lawsuit if you can prove you were prescribed Ozempic and you suffered stomach issues that were caused by taking Ozempic such as gastroparesis, ileus, or intestinal blockages.
To know for sure if you qualify, we need to evaluate your case. The first step is to complete our online form, with your full name, email, and phone number so we can contact you to complete a more thorough free case evaluation.
Who am I suing?
Ozempic lawsuits are being filed against the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic. However, there are other lawsuits against other pharmaceutical companies who manufacture drugs that use semaglutide. This includes pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Mounjaro.
Where is my case being filed?
The Ozempic lawsuits have been filed in the federal district courts that had jurisdiction over where the plaintiffs lived. Because there were so many lawsuits, they have all been consolidated into a multi-district litigation (MDL) in Eastern District of Pennsylvania. This means the lawsuits filed in several different locations are consolidated and moved through the court system together to ensure fair treatment and consistent results for all involved.
For example, if your case was originally filed in Georgia, it’s now being handled in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and any additional cases will be filed there.
What is a multi-district litigation? How is it different from a class action?
Multi-district litigation (MDL) and class actions are both ways that large cases with lots of plaintiffs filed against a single or common set of defendants are handled to make the process more efficient and consistent.
The key differences are:
MDLs are only used in federal court cases, while class actions take place in both state and federal court
MDLs are typically for groups of people who have all suffered a similar type of injury, but whose injuries vary in terms of their severity. Class actions are typically used in cases where all the defendants suffered the same legal injury.
Class actions are procedurally different because a class representative or representatives go through the entire process, while in a MDL, the individual and consolidated cases al go through the process together. There is no class representative.
Can surviving family members file?
Family members may be able to file claims. The cases of surviving family members will need to be evaluated by going through our firm’s process. You can get started by completing the form on our website above.
How much compensation could I receive?
The compensation plaintiffs will receive will depend on how severe the injuries were and if the injuries were caused by taking Ozempic.
Every case is unique. As part of the MDL, each case will still be evaluated on the individual facts of the case.