How Ozempic/Wegovy/Rybelsus can cause injuries
Semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic/Wegovy/Rybelsus) imitates a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 that is naturally produced when food is consumed. Semaglutide helps regulate appetite and reduce cravings. It prompts the stomach to empty more slowly. As a result, many people who struggle with obesity have lost weight while using these drugs, which have semaglutide as the active ingredient:
- Ozempic is a once-weekly semaglutide injection approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2017 to treat type 2 diabetes in adults. While it is not approved for weight loss, some doctors prescribe it for this purpose. The drug keeps gaining attention, especially on social media, as celebrities and TikTok influencers have been using it to lose weight in short time frames.
- Wegovy is a once-weekly semaglutide injection. The Food and Drug Administration approved this medication in 2021 for weight loss in adults and teens. It has a higher dose of semaglutide than Ozempic.
- Rybelsus, a once-daily oral pill - is prescribed for adults to manage their type 2 diabetes, and it is not approved for weight loss.
According to the American College of Gastroenterology, a medication that delays stomach emptying may also cause stomach paralysis. The most severe side effect of these drugs is gastroparesis, the paralysis of the stomach. Stomach paralysis is a severe disorder in which the movement of food is significantly slowed down or stopped from the stomach to the small intestine. A significant fact is that there is no known cure for gastroparesis. Another injury semaglutide may cause is bowel obstruction.
Eligibility for Ozempic/Wegovy/Rybelsus claims
If you were not diagnosed with stomach paralysis or bowel obstruction before using Ozempic, Wegovy, or Rybelsus, your condition was most likely caused by these drugs. However, only a gastroenterologist can determine whether the drugs are the culprit behind your condition. Both stomach paralysis and bowel obstruction are severe health conditions; therefore, if you experience any symptoms, you should seek immediate medical attention and get an accurate diagnosis. When you have a diagnosis, do not hesitate to contact our law firm, as you might be eligible to file an Ozempic/ Wegovy/ Rybelsus claim and obtain rightful financial compensation, which can cover your medical expenses.
Our team of experts is ready to thoroughly and carefully review your case to determine whether you are eligible to file a claim. If you are ready to file a claim against the liable manufacturers, you need to meet the following criteria:
- no gastroparesis or bowel obstruction diagnoses beforeusing Ozempic, Wegovy, or Rybelsus
- must have been diagnosed with gastroparesis or bowel obstruction after using Ozempic, Wegovy, or Rybelsus
- must have been hospitalized or visited the ER
- must be 75 of age or younger
Patients on GLP-1 agonist drugs have a higher risk of gastrointestinal disorders
A recent study published by researchers from the University of British Columbia shows that compared to bupropion-naltrexone, patients on GLP-1 agonist drugs have:
This is the first epidemiological study that links the weight loss drugs Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus to severe gastrointestinal conditions.
According to medical researchers and gastroenterologists, the most common side effect of Ozempic is nausea, which occurs in approximately 15% to 20% of patients. These side effects occurred at rates higher than those in the placebo-treated groups, and more patients using Ozempic (0.5 mg—3.1% and 1 mg—3.8%) stopped the treatment due to gastrointestinal side effects than patients receiving the inactive treatment (0.4%).
Ozempic/Wegovy/Rybelsus claims, settlements, and litigation
Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus are manufactured by Novo Nordisk, a Danish multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Bagsværd, Denmark, with production facilities in 9 countries and affiliates or offices in 5 countries. The first lawsuit was filed against Novo Nordisk by Jaclyn Bjorklund, a 44-year-old woman from Louisiana who was diagnosed with gastroparesis after using Ozempic on August 2, 2023. The woman used the drug for over a year; she sued the manufacturer for failing to warn of the risk of gastrointestinal conditions that could be caused by using the medication. Law firms are investigating over 500 other inquiries from clients struggling with Ozempic side effects across 45 states.
While the compensation you can obtain depends on factors such as how long you have been using the medication and the severity of your stomach paralysis/bowel abstruction, an Ozempic/ Wegovy/ Rybelsus claim could have a settlement value range of $400,000 to $700,000.
