Ozempic, the popular drug originally developed for diabetes, is at the center of multiple lawsuits after a growing number of patients have reported severe side effects, including paralysis, blindness, and teeth loss.
The lawsuits, which are against the drug’s makers, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, claim that the companies failed to adequately disclose the potential risks of the drug, the Daily Mail reported.
Monica Church, 55, from Michigan, was prescribed Ozempic in October 2023 to manage her diabetes. However, by Christmas, she was hospitalized due to debilitating stomach issues, including vomiting and stomach paralysis. Church was unaware of these potential side effects before starting the medication, and she now struggles to eat regular foods. Her case is one of many as more individuals join lawsuits against the pharmaceutical giants.
Attorney Robert King, representing hundreds of patients, highlighted that gastrointestinal problems were the most common complaint, but other issues like blood clots, vision loss, and paralysis have also been reported. He emphasized that many of his clients wish they had known about the risks before starting the drug, noting that blindness is a life-altering effect no one would expect from a weight-loss medication.
Among the plaintiffs is Jacqueline Barber from Louisville, Kentucky, who lost 140 pounds while taking the drug but also experienced severe health problems. Her teeth began crumbling due to stomach acid, and she became so weak that she had to use a walker. For about a year, Barber had to sleep on the couch with a garbage can beside her due to constant vomiting.
Ozempic, along with similar medications like Mounjaro and Wegovy, belongs to a class of drugs called GLP-1 agonists. Initially developed to treat diabetes, these drugs became widely prescribed for weight loss after showing effectiveness in helping patients shed pounds. A recent poll revealed that approximately one in eight adults in the U.S. are using GLP-1 agonists, translating to millions of people potentially at risk.
As the number of lawsuits grows, those affected continue to seek justice, with many claiming the companies failed to fully disclose the drug’s risks.
Written with the assistance of artificial intelligence.