Patients Report Severe Health Issues

Hundreds of Americans have joined a multi-state lawsuit against Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, manufacturers of Ozempic and Mounjaro. The lawsuit claims these weight-loss medications caused life-altering injuries.

5 Key Points

  • Multi-state lawsuit targets Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly over Ozempic and Mounjaro side effects.
  • Plaintiffs report severe gastrointestinal issues, including gastroparesis.
  • Some patients experienced extreme weight loss and required hospitalization.
  • Studies link semaglutide use to increased risks of gastrointestinal problems.
  • Manufacturers deny allegations, stating risks are clearly labeled.

Patient Experiences

Dana Filmore, 55, who has diabetes, started using Ozempic to manage her type 2 diabetes. For about two years, the medicine lowered her blood sugar levels. In the last six months of use, she developed severe nausea, using vacation time to recover.

Filmore now needs help with solid foods. She told USA Today, “The solids are really difficult on me. My body just rejects it.” Diagnosed with gastroparesis, Filmore’s diet now consists mainly of protein shakes and Jell-O.

Her condition affects her 35-minute commute to work, where she manages a team of technicians at a mechanical company. Filmore said: “Halfway to work, I must stop into a restaurant or gas station. My stomach doesn’t give me that long to really decide where I’m going to go.”

Jacqueline Barber, 48, from Louisville, Kentucky, also developed gastroparesis after being prescribed Ozempic for type 2 diabetes in 2021. She spent over a year sleeping on the couch next to a garbage can due to uncontrollable vomiting.

Barber’s diet became limited to peanuts, peanut butter crackers, and peanut butter cookies. She lost 140 pounds, reaching a dangerous weight of 87 pounds. “I couldn’t tolerate anything,” Barber said, leading to her needing a feeding tube.

Bob Tuttle, 60, from Tennessee, worked on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. He required helicopter evacuation to the emergency room after four days of being unable to keep food down. Within a week, he was diagnosed with stomach paralysis linked to Ozempic, which he had been prescribed in 2018.

Tuttle, a safety and environmental advisor on the rig, was initially healthy and fit. The drug managed his A1C levels and diabetes. Over time, he experienced unintended weight loss, fatigue, and severe nausea.

Tuttle explained his condition: “Gastroparesis, in laymen’s terms, is just the inability of the stomach to process solids or liquids that one ingests.” He had to quit his job to deal with the illness.

Medical Research Findings

A University of British Columbia study analyzed health records from 2006 to 2020, comparing semaglutide to other diabetes medications. The findings showed:

  • Semaglutide users were 9.1 times more likely to develop pancreatitis
  • The risk of bowel obstruction was 4.22 times higher for semaglutide users
  • Gastroparesis risk increased by 3.67 times among semaglutide users

A separate study on GLP-1 agonists, including Ozempic and Wegovy, found that patients taking these medications were 66 percent more likely to be diagnosed with gastroparesis compared to non-users.

Regulatory Data and Manufacturer Statements

The FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System has recorded nearly 22,000 adverse reactions to Ozempic. Gastrointestinal conditions make up 43 percent of these reports.

Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly deny allegations that their medicines cause stomach paralysis. A Novo Nordisk spokesperson stated the claims are without merit and that semaglutide risks are clearly labeled. They said: “Novo Nordisk stands behind the safety and efficacy of all of our GLP-1 medicines when they are used as indicated and when they are taken under the care of a licensed healthcare professional.”

Ozempic’s FDA-approved warning label mentions “gastrointestinal adverse reactions” but does not explicitly list gastroparesis.

Legal Action and Future Outlook

The lawsuit against Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly claims the companies did not adequately warn consumers about severe gastrointestinal injury risks. As more long-term data becomes available, researchers and healthcare providers continue to evaluate the safety of semaglutide-based medications.