Ozempic lawsuits claim the drug can cause severe gastroparesis, ileus, intestinal blockage and even death, and that the drug’s manufacturers failed to warn of this risk. The first Ozempic stomach paralysis lawsuit was filed on Aug. 2, 2023. On Feb. 2, 2024, a federal panel combined at least 55 lawsuits into a multidistrict litigation.
If you developed severe gastroparesis, ileus or intestinal obstruction after taking Ozempic, you may be entitled to compensation. For a free case review, complete the form or call 866-898-3173.
Editors carefully fact-check all
Drugwatch.com
content for accuracy and quality.
Drugwatch.com
has a stringent fact-checking process. It starts with our strict sourcing guidelines.
We only gather information from credible sources. This includes peer-reviewed medical journals, reputable media outlets, government reports, court records and interviews with qualified experts.
Drugwatch.com has been empowering patients for more than a decade
Drugwatch.com has provided reliable, trusted information about medications, medical devices and general health since 2008. We’ve also connected thousands of people injured by drugs and medical devices with top-ranked national law firms to take action against negligent corporations.
Our team includes experienced medical writers, award-winning journalists, researchers and certified medical and legal experts. Drugwatch.com is HONCode (Health On the Net Foundation) certified. This means the high-quality information we provide comes from credible sources, such as peer-reviewed medical journals and expert interviews.
The information on Drugwatch.com has been medically and legally reviewed by more than 30 expert contributors, including doctors, pharmacists, lawyers, patient advocates and other health care professionals. Our writers are members of professional associations, including American Medical Writers Association, American Bar Association, The Alliance of Professional Health Advocates and International Society for Medical Publication Professionals.
About Drugwatch.com
Assisting patients and their families since 2008.
Helped more than 12,000 people find legal help.
A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
5-star reviewed medical and legal information site.
"Drugwatch opened my eyes to the realities of big pharmacy. Having a family member with major depression and anxiety, I was looking for information on her medications. I found information that was very helpful, that her psychiatrist never told her."
Latest Ozempic Lawsuit Updates
As of April 2024, there are 74 personal injury lawsuits for gastroparesis, ileus and intestinal blockage or obstruction in MDL 3094 before Judge Gene E.K. Pratter in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Ozempic Lawsuit Timeline
March 2024:
Litigation is still in the early stages. Attorneys for defendants Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly filed their notices of appearance and more plaintiffs continue to transfer into the MDL.
February 2024:
At least 55 lawsuits claiming Ozempic and other GLP-1 RAS class drugs caused severe gastrointestinal injuries were combined into a federal multidistrict litigation in the Eastern District of Pensylvania. Plaintiff's lawyers expected the number could grow to as many as 10,000.
January 2024:
The FDA said it was evaluating reports of hair loss, suicidal thoughts and aspiration under sedation and anesthesia among people taking Ozempic and similar diabetes and weight loss medications. The move followed multiple reports of the possible side effects received in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System database.
December 2023:
Judge James Cain, Jr. denied Novo Nordisk's attempt to dismiss Jaclyn Bjorklund's case. He did dismiss the express warranty claims. All other claims, including failure to warn, are clear to proceed. Plaintiff lawyers filed a motion to consolidate Ozempic cases in Louisiana District Court.
November 2023:
Canadians filed a proposed class action lawsuit in B.C. Supreme Court alleging Novo Nordisk failed to adequately warn prospective patients about potential complications, specifically gastroparesis, linked to Ozempic. This lawsuit mirrors similar legal actions elsewhere.
September 2023:
FDA added intestinal blockage/obstruction and ileus to Ozempic's warning label.
August 2023:
Jaclyn Bjorklund, 2:23-cv-01020-JDC-KK, became one of the first people to file an Ozempic and Mounjaro gastroparesis lawsuit. Summonses to Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly were issued on Aug. 3. Three months later, on Nov. 3, 2023, Novo Nordisk filed a motion to dismiss Bjorklund's lawsuit in Louisiana federal court.
July 2023:
ASHP, the largest association of pharmacy professionals in the U.S., advised that Novo Nordisk was running short of Ozempic and Wegovy, another semaglutide, because of increased demand.
August 2022:
Judges centralized seven Novo Nordisk lawsuits in multidistrict litigation in Delaware against generic drug makers for patent infringement. Defendants had filed U.S. Food and Drug Administration applications for approval to make generic versions of Ozempic. Also in August, after scientists published a research letter in JAMA Internal Medicine linking Ozempic to a higher risk of gallbladder disease and gallstones, lawyers began accepting Ozempic gallbladder lawsuits.
Ozempic is a brand name for semaglutide and is manufactured by Novo Nordisk. Jaclyn Bjorklund was the first to file an Ozempic lawsuit and included the drug Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Eli Lilly, its manufacturer, as a defendant. Ozempic lawsuits are still in the early stages, and there have been no global settlements or jury trials.
Why Are People Filing Ozempic Lawsuits?
People filed the most recent Ozempic lawsuits because they took the drug and later suffered from gastroparesis. This severe disorder causes food to move too slowly through the stomach to the small intestine. In some cases, food may stop moving through the intestine altogether.
Gastroparesis may cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating, abdominal pain, severe dehydration, acid reflux, malnutrition and weight loss. Undigested food may remain in the stomach and harden.
“During this frightening obsession with semaglutide usage, particularly its off-label, higher dosage use for weight loss, I’ve been extremely concerned about the fallout of use of this class of drugs,” said JJ, a former Certified Pharmacy Technician who is using initials to protect her privacy.
“They have black box warning labels, yet all my friends are using them without a thought,” JJ told Drugwatch. “[They] have reported bouts of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation, which sound to me like evidence of gastroparesis — which can kill you.”
Ozempic, also known as semaglutide, belongs to a class of drugs called GLP-1 agonists, and lawyers are also investigating gastroparesis, ileus and intestinal blockage claims for other drugs in the same class.
Other GLP-1 agonists being named in claims like Ozempic lawsuits include:
In September 2023, the FDA added an Ozempic warning for intestinal blockage, intestinal obstruction and ileus. Ileus is a condition that causes the intestines to stop working properly. Lawyers are also accepting these claims.
According to Ozempic lawsuits, since the FDA approved Ozempic in 2017, Novo Nordisk has not included gastroparesis warnings in its prescription information until September 2023. The company warned about other Ozempic side effects but didn’t warn the public of the risk of severe gastroparesis.
There is no cure for gastroparesis, and plaintiffs are seeking compensation for loss of quality of life, past and future medical bills and other damages.
Injuries Named in Ozempic Lawsuits
The main injury claimed in the most recent Ozempic lawsuits is gastroparesis, or a paralyzed stomach. This causes severe vomiting that can last for four weeks or more. Gastroparesis may also occur with gastroenteritis, or stomach inflammation.
In addition to gastroparesis, lawyers are investigating cases of ileus, intestinal blockage and intestinal obstruction. Persistent vomiting is one of the main signs of gastroparesis, and many people who filed lawsuits vomited for several months after taking Ozempic.
It’s important to note that not everyone who takes semaglutide will develop severe side effects such as gastroparesis.
“The most common side effects would be GI side effects. Nausea, vomiting, a feeling of fullness. Maybe some reflux, like regurgitation, like you taste your food a little bit after you eat,” said Dr. Sue Decotiis, a medical weight loss physician who often prescribes semaglutide and tirzepatide on her medically supervised program.
People Who Filed Ozempic Lawsuits
According to Jaclyn Bjorklund’s complaint, which combines an Ozempic lawsuit and a Mounjaro lawsuit, she had gastrointestinal problems after she used Ozempic and Mounjaro. She took Ozempic for more than a year before she stopped using it in July 2023 and switched to Mounjaro. She experienced gastroparesis that caused severe vomiting, which led to her teeth falling out.
Bjorklund was forced to visit the emergency room several times and was hospitalized with symptoms that included stomach pain, gastrointestinal burning and throwing up whole food only hours after eating. She now takes additional medications for excessive vomiting.
Laura Marrero filed her Ozempic lawsuit in December 2023 after she had been taking Ozempic from May 2023 to October 2023 and suffered persistent vomiting the entire time she took the drug. In August 2023, Marrero ended up in the hospital with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, difficulty swallowing and rectal bleeding.
Her nurse practitioner told her to stop taking Ozempic in October 2023 because of severe side effects, including persistent vomiting.
“As a direct result of Ms. Marrero’s use of Ozempic, she suffered and continues to suffer from complications causing her damage, including but not limited to pain, suffering, mental anguish, depression, loss of enjoyment of life, medical expenses and other out-of-pocket losses, and loss of income.”
Who Qualifies To File an Ozempic Lawsuit?
You may qualify to file an Ozempic lawsuit if you took Ozempic for weight loss or any other indication and experienced gastroparesis. At this time, lawyers are accepting cases from people who suffered severe gastroparesis resulting in vomiting for four weeks or more.
Currently, you may not qualify if you had gastric bypass surgery, gastric banding or gastric sleeve surgery before taking Ozempic. Additionally, lawyers are not taking Ozempic cases for those being treated for cancer.
These criteria are guidelines, and only an Ozempic lawyer can tell you if you qualify to file a lawsuit. Make sure you contact a lawyer right away for a free case review and preserve your right to file a lawsuit for potential compensation. Depending on the state you live in, you may only have a limited time to file.
Q&A with Jonathan SedghMass torts and product liability attorney
Mass torts and product liability attorney Jonathan Sedgh answers important questions about Ozempic lawsuits.
Why are you filing lawsuits against the makers of Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs?
We’re filing lawsuits against these drugmakers for failing to properly warn people of the risk of gastroparesis, ileus and intestinal blockages.
What type of science is there that links these drugs to these side effects?
There are some publicly available clinical trials, observational studies and case reports showing an association between gastroparesis or persistent vomiting and Ozempic and these types of drugs.
What kind of warnings are currently on these drug labels?
At the time we first started pursuing this litigation, Mounjaro was probably the only label that listed something related to gastroparesis, but it is in no way adequate. The rest of the medications do not mention anything in the Warning section about vomiting, gastroparesis, stomach being frozen or stomach paralysis. We believe that they should have at least told the FDA or suggested to the FDA that there should be some sort of warning there. It wasn’t until September 2023 that the FDA required a warning for ileus and intestinal blockage for these drugs.
If people believe they were injured by Ozempic or another one of these drugs, how do they know if they qualify for a lawsuit?
If you’ve been vomiting for more than a few weeks, it’s worth giving us a call. We could hear your story just to see what the facts are in your case. Sometimes there are nuances, so if somebody has a few ER visits but was only vomiting for two or three weeks, that’s something we would look at.
Drugwatch partners with trusted law firms to help you take legal action. After submitting the form, one of Drugwatch's partners will contact you for a free case review.
Choosing an Ozempic Lawyer
When choosing an Ozempic lawyer, be sure to check the law firm’s experience and track record of obtaining settlements and favorable jury verdicts in pharmaceutical lawsuits. Drugwatch works with Morgan & Morgan, one of the largest national law firms in the country.
The firm has recovered $15 billion in settlements and verdicts for clients. It is currently investigating more than 500 Ozempic gastroparesis lawsuits for clients in 45 states.
“Ms. Bjorklund put her trust in Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly and Company, and we believe that as a result she has gone through a hell that no one should have to endure.”
“Ms. Bjorklund put her trust in Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly and Company, and we believe that as a result she has gone through a hell that no one should have to endure,” Morgan & Morgan partner Paul Pennock said in a statement. “Ms. Bjorklund, as well as the over 500 clients across 45 states whose claims we continue to investigate, have suffered ongoing gastrointestinal problems that in many cases are severe, debilitating and disabling. Some of the injuries may be permanent.”
For many people injured through no fault of their own after taking Ozempic, filing a lawsuit can hold companies accountable for their alleged failure to warn patients about these serious side effects, Pennock added.
We appreciate your feedback. One of our content team members will be in touch with you soon.
We appreciate your feedback. One of our content team members will be in touch with you soon.
Who Am I Calling?
Calling this number connects you with a Drugwatch.com representative. We will direct you to one of our trusted legal partners for a free case review.
Drugwatch.com's trusted legal partners support the organization's mission to keep people safe from dangerous drugs and medical devices. For more information, visit our partners page.
“Ms. Bjorklund put her trust in Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly and Company, and we believe that as a result she has gone through a hell that no one should have to endure.”
