Ozempic Risks

Ozempic: What it is and how it's approved to be used

Ozempic is a prescription medicine that may be prescribed to help adults with Type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels. Its active ingredient, semaglutide, makes the body produce insulin by mimicking the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) hormone. This makes Ozempic a GLP-1 receptor agonist (RA).

The drug is injected weekly and is intended to be supplemented with changes to diet and exercise to maximize results. For adults with both Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, proper use of Ozempic may reduce the chances of heart attack, stroke and death.

Off-label use of Ozempic for weight loss

On top of acting as a GLP-1RA, Ozempic can also suppress a person’s appetite. However, Ozempic has not been approved by the FDA to help patients manage their weight. The FDA has, however, approved Wegovy® to help with weight loss. Wegovy is another semaglutide product made by Ozempic’s manufacturer, Novo Nordisk.

Doctors may still prescribe Ozempic for weight loss. When a doctor does this, it’s called an off-label use. The FDA has not vetted a medicine’s safety and efficacy for off-label use.

Alleged risks of Ozempic beyond its warning label

All medicines have some risk of side effects. While many drugs list these on the drug’s warning label, not all potential reactions are always recorded there. Sometimes, manufacturers may not warn consumers about all the potential adverse events, or how severe those adverse events can be.

Research and individual reports point to the following alleged Ozempic health risks:

• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)/Pulmonary Embolism (PE) (not on warning label)
• Gastroenteritis (not on warning label)
• Gastroparesis (Stomach Paralysis) (not on warning label)
• Gallbladder disease (added to warning label in March 2022)
• Ileus (Intestinal Obstruction) (added to warning label in September 2023)
• Intraoperative pulmonary aspiration (not on warning label)
• Pancreatic Cancer (not on warning label)

Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis is a health condition that includes inflammation of the intestines. While it is typically triggered by a virus, some medications may also cause it. Symptoms of gastroenteritis may include:

• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Vomiting

Symptoms of gastroenteritis can be mild. However, for some, the complications can be life-threatening.

According to the FDA Adverse Events Reporting Systems (FAERS), several people have been hospitalized with gastroenteritis after taking Ozempic.

Gastroparesis

Also known as delayed gastric emptying or stomach paralysis, gastroparesis is a disorder that makes it difficult for food to enter your small intestines from your stomach. The following symptoms may be a sign that a person is experiencing gastroparesis:

• Feeling full right after starting or long after eating a meal
• Frequent belching or bloating
• Heartburn
• Lack of appetite
• Nausea
• Upper abdomen pain
• Vomiting

A woman is suing Novo Nordisk after being hospitalized with gastroparesis within months of taking Wegovy. Wegovy uses the same active ingredient as Ozempic, indicating it’s possible people using these products may experience similar complications.

Read more here about how Motley Rice is helping her.

Intestinal obstruction

When food or stool is unable to pass through the intestines, people may be suffering from a condition called intestinal or bowel obstruction. A person with intestinal obstruction may also experience:

• Bloating
• Constipation
• Inability to pass gas
• Severe abdominal pain or cramping
• Swelling of the abdomen
• Vomiting

Recent research indicates that GLP-1RA drugs like Ozempic may cause intestinal obstructions in people with Type 2 diabetes.

Contact an Ozempic lawyer today

If you or a loved one experienced an adverse side effect after taking Ozempic, you may be eligible to file a claim against Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Wegovy and Ozempic.

Call 1.800.768.4026 to contact attorney Sara Couch for more information or to discuss a potential Ozempic claim.

Connect with an Ozempic attorney today.

FAQs about Ozempic risks

What is Ozempic’s cancer risk?

Ozempic may increase the likelihood of some types of thyroid growths, including thyroid cancer.

Rats developed several types of thyroid growths during clinical trials of semaglutide, Ozempic’s active ingredient. Because of this, Ozempic comes with a boxed warning about the potential for an increased risk of thyroid cancer for human patients.

A boxed warning on a medicine is the strongest warning the FDA issues for consumer safety.

What to do about the potential risks of Ozempic

If you’re concerned about the potential risks of Ozempic, you may speak with your doctor about it and how to transition off of it. Because Ozempic is a prescription drug, you should not stop using it without first talking to your healthcare provider. You may experience other complications from discontinuing Ozempic improperly.

What to do if you’ve experienced an adverse event from Ozempic

Adverse complications can be severe and life-altering. If you’ve experienced any of the above problems or any others you believe may be caused by Ozempic, seek treatment immediately.

You may also be eligible to file an Ozempic lawsuit. An Ozempic lawsuit may allow you to pursue justice from the manufacturer and seek compensation for things such as:

• Pain and suffering
• Healthcare expenses
• Lost wages

Speaking with a lawyer with experience litigating against medical manufacturers can help you understand your legal options.

Our medical drug litigation experience

Our medical attorneys have represented thousands of patients seriously hurt by dangerous prescription and over-the-counter drugs. We understand that as a patient or family member, your knowledge of your or a loved one’s medications may be limited.

If you believe a medicine made you sick or hurt you, our attorneys have the resources needed to investigate thoroughly and:

• Identify potentially harmful medicines
• Investigate if the medicine hurt you
• Review the medicine manufacturer’s compliance with FDA regulations
• Review the adequacy of the manufacturer’s warning to you about potential side effects
• Recognize other issues that could affect your potential claim

Learn more about our medical drug experience here.