Ozempic® Digestive Issues

Ozempic is a weekly injectable semaglutide medication approved by the FDA to treat Type 2 diabetes. Ozempic is a glucagon-like peptide receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA), a class of drugs that mimic a hormone the body produces naturally. Semaglutide is the active ingredient in Ozempic. 

Patients typically take 0.25 mg once weekly for four weeks. After four weeks, the dose increases to 0.5 mg. After another four weeks, the dose can be increased to 1 mg if needed.

Ozempic increases insulin production, slows the speed of stomach emptying and causes a feeling of fullness. These effects are important for treating Type 2 diabetes because Ozempic can help manage blood sugar levels. 

For non-diabetic patients, the appetite-suppressing effects of Ozempic can lead to weight loss. Because of this, Ozempic is commonly used off-label as a weight loss drug. Ozempic does not have FDA approval to treat obesity.

People taking the drug for Type 2 diabetes or weight loss can experience Ozempic side effects. Some common digestive issues, like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation, appear on Ozempic’s warning label. Severe Ozempic side effects like gastroparesis and intestinal blockages don’t appear on the label. Some patients are filing lawsuits against Ozempic because of this alleged oversight.

Ozempic can cause several digestive issues. Some of them are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and constipation. Ozempic treats Type 2 diabetes, a disorder of the pancreas. The pancreas is part of the digestive system. As a result, anything affecting the digestive system can affect the pancreas, and vice versa.

Some of these adverse reactions are listed on Ozempic’s labeling and package inserts, but not all. Ozempic’s manufacturer is Novo Nordisk. They allegedly didn’t warn customers about the risks of gastroparesis and intestinal obstructions, among others. 

Digestive issues listed on the Ozempic label

The Ozempic label lists the five most commonly reported adverse reactions. More than 5% of users had these reactions during clinical trials. They occurred more often in patients using Ozempic than in patients using placebos. 

This list shows the percentage of patients who reported one of these adverse reactions during clinical trials.

• Abdominal pain: 7.3% with 0.5 mg dose and 5.7% with 1 mg
• Constipation: 5% with 0.5 mg dose and 3.1% with 1 mg
• Diarrhea: 8.5% with 0.5 mg dose and 8.8% with 1 mg
• Nausea: 15.8% with 0.5 mg dose and 20.3% with 1 mg
• Vomiting: 5% with 0.5 mg dose and 9.2% with 1 mg

Patients reported some side effects less often. Those side effects included belching and burping, gastric reflux, heartburn and flatulence.

The commonly listed gastrointestinal symptoms may subside over time. But they may signal the onset of more serious conditions. For some, the effects are so serious they must stop using the medication. Contact a healthcare professional if you experience any stomach problems while taking Ozempic.

Serious stomach problems listed on the Ozempic label 

Ozempic’s label lists common digestive issues like nausea and vomiting. It also lists severe conditions that affect the stomach and digestive organs. 

Pancreatitis is a potentially life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is an organ lying above and behind the stomach and liver. It secretes enzymes into the stomach to aid digestion. It also makes the hormones insulin and glucagon. Pancreatitis can be caused by:

• A blocked pancreatic duct that can’t deliver enzymes into the stomach
• High levels of triglycerides (fat particles) in the blood
• Stomach surgery or injury

Pancreatitis is potentially life-threatening because it may cause long-term damage to the pancreas. Pancreatitis is listed as a warning on the Ozempic label. It’s there because some patients reported the condition during clinical trials. Ozempic has not researched the drug’s impacts on patients who have had pancreatitis. Symptoms of pancreatitis include: 

• Fever
• Nausea and vomiting (or inability to vomit)
• Rapid heart rate
• Severe stomach and upper abdominal pain radiating to the back, especially after eating
• Swelling or fluid buildup in the upper abdomen

Pancreatitis can feel like a heart attack. If this medical emergency happens, patients should tell their doctors about any medications they are taking, including diabetes or weight loss drugs. They should also tell doctors about heart medications they have taken.

Hypoglycemia happens when a person’s blood glucose level falls below a specific level. Blood glucose level is the amount of sugar in the bloodstream. Individuals with diabetes often experience mild hypoglycemia. It can be caused by taking too much medication or not eating enough food. Early symptoms of hypoglycemia include sweating, headache, anxiety and hunger pains. Later symptoms include dizziness, lightheadedness, confusion and unconsciousness.

Untreated hypoglycemia can cause heart arrhythmia, which can lead to seizures and death. Symptomatic hypoglycemia happened to 17.3% of patients who were taking a 0.5 mg dose. That percentage of patients went up to 24.4% when the dose increased to 1 mg.

Acute kidney injuries have been reported by Ozempic users. Novo Nordisk suggests these injuries are most common in people who already have kidney disease. Most reports of acute kidney injury were from people who had other side effects like nausea, vomiting or dehydration. The most common kidney injury associated with Ozempic is renal failure with a need for dialysis. 

Patients with diabetes often also have kidney disease. They should speak with their doctor about known renal issues before using Ozempic.

Ozempic digestive problems not listed on the label

Some Ozempic risks are not listed on the warning label. Two of these involve the digestive system. They are potentially life-threatening if not recognized and treated immediately.

Gastroparesis is the medical term for “paralysis of the stomach.” In layperson’s terms, the stomach stops moving, and everything in the stomach and small intestine stays there. With time, the food forms a hardened mass called a bezoar. A bezoar can eventually block the stomach completely.

Gastroparesis can causea number of unpleasant symptoms, including: 

• Abdominal pain
• Belching
• Heartburn
• Lack of appetite 
• Nausea 
• Vomiting

Ozempic acts by delaying “gastric emptying,” which slows the exit of digested food from the stomach and small intestine. The package insert mentions a “delay of gastric emptying” in relation to oral medications. But it doesn’t mention the potential for preventing gastric emptying. 

Ozempic patients experiencing this severe digestive issue are filing gastroparesis lawsuits. 

Bowel obstructions or intestinal blockages can occur in the large or small intestines. When this injury occurs, food and liquid are unable to pass through the intestines. Bowel obstructions can also be known as ileus. In this condition, a bowel obstruction happens without a physical blockage. Some Ozempic patients claim the drug causes ileus through stomach paralysis. 

Bowel obstructions cause constipation and abdominal pain. If the obstruction does not pass by itself, it must be removed surgically. These obstructions can lead to a higher risk of infection. The obstruction irritates and eventually inflames the bowel wall. “Gastrointestinal: ileus” was added to the Postmarketing Experience section of Ozempic’s label in September 2023. But ileus is still not listed as a warning. 

Ozempic has been on the market since 2017. Questions about digestive issues with Ozempic have been frequent ever since. Some of the most frequently asked questions about Ozempic digestive problems are answered below.

Does Ozempic cause stomach problems?

Stomach problems are common among Ozempic users. The most frequent are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation. Less common are severe issues like pancreatitis, gastroparesis and gallbladder disease.

What does Ozempic do to your gut?

Ozempic affects the gut (stomach) by delaying gastric emptying. This keeps food in your stomach longer, slows down digestion and can make you feel bloated. This delayed gastric emptying may also cause nausea, vomiting and gastric reflux.

Does Ozempic cause permanent gastroparesis?

Research shows that Ozempic may cause gastroparesis and lead to other chronic health issues. Gastroparesis is considered a permanent condition because it has no known cure. 

Motley Rice attorneys Jonathan Orent and Sara Couch are court-appointed leads in the multidistrict litigation (MDL). The MDL is captioned In re: Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist (GLP-1 RAS) Products Liability Litigation. This MDL includes lawsuits against Ozempic®, Wegovy®, Rybelsus®, Mounjaro® and Trulicity®, among other drugs.

Our team also has extensive experience litigating prescription and over-the-counter drug cases. We know the legal and scientific aspects of medical litigation, and we have experience in cases that claim aggressive marketing practices were involved in bringing drugs to market. 

If you think Ozempic or another medication has hurt you, we have the resources to investigate your claim.

Read more on our medical drug litigation experience.

Do not stop taking a prescribed medication without first consulting with your doctor. Discontinuing a prescribed medication without your doctor's advice can result in injury or death. Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, Mounjaro and Trulicity are still approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.