People who have experienced serious Ozempic reactions are filing lawsuits. These side effects were not listed or adequately listed by the manufacturer of Ozempic, Novo Nordisk.
Vision loss
A July 3, 2024 study linked Ozempic and Wegovy use to an increased risk of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) for diabetic or overweight patients. NAION occurs when blood flow to the optic nerve is disturbed or cut off. This can lead to vision loss in the eye.
Breaking down the condition’s name helps to understand what is happening:
- Non-arteritic: Reduced blood flow without inflammation
- Anterior: Reduced blood flow happening at the front of the nerve, where it meets the eye
- Ischemic: Reduced blood flow
- Optic neuropathy: Injury to the optic nerve inhibits visual information being sent to the brain.
The study’s senior author, Dr. Joseph Rizzo, called NAION “in effect, a stroke of the optic nerve.” Rizzo is the director of neuro-ophthalmology at Mass Eye and Ear in Boston.
The July study analyzed:
- 710 Type 2 Diabetes patients, 194 of whom were prescribed semaglutide. Nearly 9% of the diabetic patients taking semaglutide had NAOIN, compared to only 1.8% of patients who were not taking semaglutide.
- 979 overweight or obese patients, 361 of whom were prescribed semaglutide. Nearly 7% of the overweight or obese patients taking semaglutide had NAOIN, compared to only 0.8% of patients who were not taking semaglutide.
The researchers concluded that “this study’s findings suggest an association between semaglutide and NAION.” Please contact Motley Rice Ozempic and Wegovy lawyers if you have suffered vision loss or blindness after taking Ozempic, Wegovy or semaglutide.
Blood clots, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE)
Studies are starting to link semaglutide drugs to other serious health issues, including blood clots that can cause deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism.
- Blood clots are semi-solid lumps of blood cells stuck together. They help stop bleeding in wounds, but, they can be dangerous inside the body, where they may cut off blood flow. The medical term for a blood clot is thrombus.
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that forms deep in the body, most often in the legs. Some patients may experience leg pain or swelling, others may not have any symptoms. DVTs can be dangerous when they break off and head toward essential organs, like the lungs. A DVT in the lungs can cause pulmonary embolism.
- Pulmonary embolism is a blood clot that restricts blood flow to the lungs. DVTs are one of the main causes of PE. This type of blood clot can be life-threatening.
A 2021 analysis of semaglutide clinical trials found an increased risk of DVTs in patients who took the drug. The analysis found semaglutide drugs like Ozempic increased the risk of DVT by 266%. Blood clots, DVT and PE are very serious side effects. Patients should discuss these risks with their doctor before beginning a semaglutide drug.
Learn more about Ozempic, blood clots and related conditions.
Gallbladder diseases
Gallbladder disease was added to semaglutide warning labels in March 2022. In August, the FDA published an investigation into reported cases of acute cholecystitis (AC). AC is a gallbladder disease that occurs when the organ is inflamed.
The FDA investigation into AC and GLP-1 RA drugs reported:
- The median age for people who developed AC was 55 years old
- Of the people who developed AC, 53% were female
- After starting the drug, 47% of patients developed AC within 90 days
Cholelithiasis, or gallstones, was also added to the approval label. The Ozempic warning label reports:
- 1.5% of patients taking 0.5mg Ozempic developed cholelithiasis
- 0.4% of patients taking 1mg Ozempic developed cholelithiasis
The updated label urges anyone who develops abdominal pain, jaundice, fever or clay-colored stools to seek a healthcare provider’s help right away.
Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis is not on Ozempic’s warning label. However, the FDA has received dozens of reports of gastroenteritis from people taking semaglutide drugs.
Gastroenteritis can be caused by viruses, medications or chemicals. This condition is an inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Viral gastroenteritis may be known more commonly as the stomach flu and has similar symptoms to medication-caused gastroenteritis.
Symptoms include:
- Diarrhea (typically watery but not bloody)
- Low-grade fever
- Nausea
- Occasional muscle aches or headache
- Stomach cramps and pain
- Vomiting
The vomiting and diarrhea are the largest concerns, as patients can quickly become dehydrated. Dehydration can have serious effects on the human body.
Gastroparesis/stomach paralysis
Doctors have also reported patients experiencing stomach paralysis, also called gastroparesis or delayed gastric emptying. Stomach paralysis prevents the stomach’s nerves and muscles from working properly. This results in food sitting too long in the stomach. Some patients may experience mild discomfort, while others may need hospitalization, surgery and feeding tubes to manage the condition. Common symptoms of gastroparesis include:
- Abdominal bloating
- Abdominal pain
- Acid reflux
- Blood sugar fluctuation
- Constipation
- Feeling full very quickly
| - Indigestion
- Loss of appetite
- Malnutrition
- Nausea
- Upper abdominal pain
- Vomiting
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Any patients taking Ozempic (or any other GLP-1 RA) should speak with their doctor immediately if these symptoms arise.
Gastroparesis is not included on the Ozempic warning label as a risk or side effect. It is briefly mentioned in the “Drug Interactions” section to say the drug “causes a delay of gastric emptying, and thereby has the potential to impact the absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications.” It is also briefly mentioned in the “Pharmacodynamics” section, which describes how the drug works.
Neither of these mentions adequately discloses the severe risks of gastroparesis. They do not quantify how many patients might experience stomach paralysis or how impactful it can be on a person’s daily life. People are filing gastroparesis lawsuits after taking GLP-1 drugs that led to hospitalization for stomach paralysis.
Learn more about Ozempic and stomach paralysis.
Ileus and intestinal obstruction
Ileus and intestinal obstruction were not included on Ozempic’s warning label for many years. Intestinal obstructions may also be referred to as bowel obstructions.
A May 2023 letter to the editor in the research journal Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B (APSB) discussed these issues. The letter authors urged clinicians to be aware of the adverse effects of drugs like Ozempic on the small intestine.
According to the letter, the effects have so far been insufficiently studied in clinical settings because the trials do not last long enough.
The authors found that the high occurrences of intestinal obstruction emerge 1.6 years after GLP-1 RA treatments, but that most GLP-1 RA clinical trials have not lasted for more than a year. They also cited a study of more than 25,000 subjects that found a 3.5-fold increase in intestinal obstruction rates for people who took GLP-1 RA drugs.
Other studies have also linked Ozempic to intestinal blockages. Intestinal blockage signs and symptoms may include:
Intestinal obstruction may be caused by ileus. Ileus is a condition where the intestines do not work properly. Similar to stomach paralysis, ileus occurs when the intestines stop being able to move food through the body.
In September 2023, the warning label was updated to mention ileus in the “Postmarketing Experience” section. The warning reads:
“The following adverse reactions have been reported during post-approval use of semaglutide, the active ingredient of OZEMPIC.
Gastrointestinal Disorders: Ileus”
-Ozempic warning label, as of April 2024
The warning label still does not mention the potential harms of ileus, like blockages and obstruction. Patients with intestinal blockages may need surgery to fix the problem.
Learn more about Ozempic and intestinal obstructions.
Intraoperative pulmonary aspiration
Intraoperative pulmonary aspiration occurs when patients under anesthesia choke, typically on regurgitated food. The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) published a press release on the risk of aspiration to people taking Ozempic.
The press releases noted an increased risk of aspiration because semaglutide delays gastric emptying, making food sit in the stomach longer.
“We’ve received anecdotal reports that the delay in stomach emptying could be associated with an increased risk of regurgitation and aspiration of food into the airways and lungs during general anesthesia and deep sedation.”
- ASA President Michael W. Champeau, M.D., FAAP, FASA.
The Ozempic warning label does not mention this risk or include a warning to healthcare providers. The ASA recommends patients hold off on the weekly dose of Ozempic before undergoing surgery and disclosing their GLP-1 status to their surgeon and anesthesiologist.