A recent study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that patients taking the drugs Ozempic (semaglutide) and Wegovy (liraglutide) for weight loss were more than three-times more likely to be diagnosed with gastroparesis than patients who received another weight loss treatment.
The JAMA study also found that Ozempic or Wegovy weight loss patients were more than four-times more likely to be diagnosed with a bowel obstruction.
Study Finds Ozempic, Wegovy May Increase Gastroparesis, Bowel Obstruction Risks
Researchers at the University of British Colombia involved in the JAMA Ozempic and Wegovy study analyzed the insurance records of more than 16 million people from between 2006 and 2020. The scientists focused on the records of patients who had been prescribed either Ozempic or Wegovy for weight loss, and compared them with patients who were treated with another weight loss drug, bupropion-naltrexone.
The study found that Ozempic and Wegovy users were 3.67-times more likely to develop gastroparesis – also known as stomach paralysis or “frozen stomach” – compared to patients who received the other weight loss treatment.
Gastroparesis is a chronic health condition in which the weakening of the nerves and muscles in the stomach causes patients to have trouble transferring food to their small intestines. Patients with gastroparesis caused by Ozempic or other medications may experience nausea, diarrhea, or other side effects.
The JAMA researchers also found that patients who were prescribed Ozempic or Wegovy for weight loss were 4.22-times more likely to develop bowel obstructions – the partial or complete blockage of the body’s small or large intestines.
In some cases, a bowel obstruction may lead to serious infection, hospitalization, or even death.
FDA Links Ozempic, Similar Weight Loss-Diabetes Drugs to At Least 162 Deaths
Both Ozempic and Wegovy are part of a class of medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which were originally developed to treat patients with type 2 diabetes.
After doctors realized that these medications could also help with weight loss, many began prescribing Ozempic and similar medications off-label to patients who wanted to lose weight. Today, an estimated 9 million Americans are taking GLP-1 receptor agonists, including Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro (tirzepatide), and Zepbound.
According to data from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), at least 162 patients have died after taking weight loss and diabetes drugs such as Ozempic since 2018.
The FDA also received more than 60,000 reports of side effects linked to GLP-1 receptor agonists, including about 10,000 cases in which patients were hospitalized or experienced life-threatening complications from side effects linked to these drugs.
Ozempic Users With Gastroparesis or Other Side Effects May Qualify to File a Lawsuit
Hundreds of patients who were prescribed Ozempic or similar medications such as Mounjaro, Rybelsus (semiglutide), Saxenda (liraglutide) and Trulicity (dulaglutide) for weight loss or diabetes have filed lawsuits against the makers of these drugs after experiencing gastrointestinal side effects.
Patients who were treated with one of these medications and were diagnosed with serious stomach problems – including gastroparesis (“frozen stomach”), ileus, or bowel obstructions – may be eligible to file a lawsuit and receive compensation for their illness.
The first step in taking legal action is to contact a law firm with experience in handling pharmaceutical liability lawsuits involving side effects caused by dangerous drugs.
An experienced lawyer can help patients with gastrointestinal symptoms that may be linked to drugs such as Ozempic, Trulicity, and Wegovy to determine whether they qualify to take legal action. For patients who qualify, an attorney can also help them to start the process of filing a claim to receive the compensation they are entitled to under the law.
