Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) that works by mimicking a hormone that the body uses to signal that it’s full or satisfied. It was originally approved for treating type 2 diabetes (under the Ozempic brand name), but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration soon approved it to help patients lose weight (under the Wegovy brand name).

Ozempic and Wegovy have received considerable attention for various reasons, including their side effects. I’ve discussed some of these in earlier blog posts about gastroparesis and vision problems, like NAION. Unfortunately, additional serious side effects continue to be brought up, including complications from blood clots, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Let’s take a closer look at semaglutide and its connection to DVT.

What Is Deep Vein Thrombosis?

According to the Mayo Clinic, DVT is where a thrombus (blood clot) forms in a deep vein. Because some of the largest veins in the body are located in the legs, DVTs often form there. When they do, there are sometimes no noticeable symptoms, but DVTs are often characterized by pain and/or swelling in the leg.

A DVT can be dangerous because it can lead to a pulmonary embolism (PE). This is where the blood clot in the vein can break loose and travel to the lungs and get stuck in an artery.

Does Ozempic Increase the Risk of DVT?

Potentially. The primary basis for connecting Ozempic to deep vein thrombosis is a study from 2021 where researchers looked at patients who took semaglutide to treat type 2 diabetes. They found that it increased the risk of DVT by 266%.

Before jumping to any conclusions about whether Ozempic causes DVT, we need to recognize that some people who take Ozempic or Wegovy may already be at greater risk for DVTs. So the classic question becomes, “Does Ozempic cause DVTs or are those already at risk for DVTs more likely to take Ozempic?” The answer to this question isn’t 100% clear, but some of the risk factors for developing DVT include:

• Lack of movement of the legs (like sitting for hours at a time)
• Obesity
• Heart problems
• Cancer
• Smoking
• Birth control pills
• Advanced age

Diabetes also increases the risk of blood clots. One reason is that those with diabetes are at higher risk of plaque buildup in the arteries. Then there’s the fact that diabetics often have higher levels of fibrinogen, which makes the blood thicker and the red blood cells more likely to stick together. So someone who decides to take Ozempic to treat their diabetes is likely already at higher risk for developing DVTs, but it’s quite possible that Ozempic could further increase this risk.

How Ozempic May Cause Blood Clots

More research is probably needed to know for sure if Ozempic increases the risk of blood clots and if so, how much that increase is. But several factors support the conclusion that Ozempic may increase the risk of developing a DVT:

• It’s widely accepted that Ozempic affects the digestive system, with recognized side effects that include diarrhea. Diarrhea can lead to dehydration, which can increase the viscosity (thickness) of blood.
• Ozempic slows down digestion, which can result in slower blood circulation, which increases the risk of blood clots.
• GLP-1 RAs affect platelets, which play a key role in coagulation.
• Rapid weight loss could increase the risk of experiencing DVT.

Current Status of GLP-1 RA Litigation

The bulk of litigation relating to Ozempic and similar drugs seems to focus on gastrointestinal side effects, such as gastroparesis, and vision problems, like NAION. Many of these cases are part of the GLP-1 RA multidistrict litigation (MDL). However, attempts to add DVT and blood-clot-related lawsuits involving GLP-1 RAs to this MDL have been unsuccessful so far.

If you’ve taken Ozempic, Wegovy, or another GLP-1 RA medication and suffered from a DVT, PE or other complication from blood clots, this doesn’t mean you can’t sue. It only means that, for now, your case won’t get added to the current MDL. That being said, the litigation involving semaglutide and similar pharmaceuticals is fairly recent. Depending on how strong the connection between Ozempic and blood clots is, we could see many more DVT lawsuits getting filed in the future and perhaps a new MDL will be created to handle many of them.

The legal future of Ozempic is very fluid right now. As more and more people take the drug and research gets done, we’ll learn more about its risks. Whether you’re currently on Ozempic or stopped taking it, if you have any health concerns relating to that medication, please reach out to your primary care provider. If you want to learn more about your legal rights, I’m happy to help. You can reach me at (919) 830-5602 or use the online contact form to schedule an initial consultation. Good luck!

Many people have gotten off insulin and/or lost significant weight thanks to Ozempic. This is the brand name of a drug with semaglutide as the active ingredient and has been prescribed to many patients struggling with diabetes. Semaglutide is also the active ingredient in Wegovy. This is the brand name for a similar medication that’s essentially a higher-dose version of Ozempic and is intended primarily for individuals looking to lose weight.

However, like most other prescription medications, Ozempic and Wegovy have their fair share of side effects and issues. One of the most publicized and unpleasant is gastroparesis, which has led to some legal action that I wrote about last year. Then in July 2024, a study published by JAMA Ophthalmology indicated a possible link between semaglutide and nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic nerve neuropathy. Let’s take a closer look at this study and what it could mean if you or someone you know is taking Ozempic or Wegovy.

What Is Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy?

Nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is a type of optic neuropathy, which is a condition where the optic nerve becomes damaged. The optic nerve is what transmits information from the eye to the brain. When the optic nerve doesn’t work properly, it can lead to vision problems, including blindness. NAION is a specific type of optic neuropathy where the damage results from a reduction or stoppage of blood flow to the optic nerve.

When this occurs, the cells in the optic nerve don’t receive the oxygen or nutrients necessary for healthy vision. This optic nerve damage can lead to a painless, yet sudden vision loss. With current medical technology, this damage usually can’t be repaired, so any vision loss stemming from optic nerve damage is typically permanent.

What’s the Connection Between Ozempic and NAION?

The authors of the JAMA Ophthalmology study examined more than 16,000 patients over three years. Of this group, 710 had type 2 diabetes and 979 were overweight or obese. The study focused on these two groups and separated them based on whether or not they took a medication with semaglutide.

Among the group with diabetes who received a NAION diagnosis, 8.9% of those took medication with semaglutide, while 1.8% took a different medication for their diabetes.

Among those who were overweight or obese and received a NAION diagnosis, 6.7% took a medication with semaglutide while 0.8% of individuals took different medications.

Does This Study Mean Ozempic or Wegovy Causes NAION?

The study doesn’t conclusively say that semaglutide medications cause NAION, only that there’s a connection between taking semaglutide and NAION. This is an important distinction because of the risk factors for NAION, some of which include:

• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Sleep apnea
• High blood pressure

It’s important to note that heart disease, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea have known connections to obesity. So it’s not yet clear if semaglutide medications cause NAION or if those who are already at risk for developing NAION are more likely to take a medication containing semaglutide. However, the increased incidence of NAION among those taking a semaglutide medication is troubling.

The study’s authors recognized that diabetes and being overweight didn’t fully explain the increase in risk for NAION. However, they also couldn’t conclude that the semaglutide was the primary reason for the increase in NAION risk. Therefore, the authors recommended further research to study this possible connection.

What Should I Do If I’m Taking Wegovy or Ozempic?

If you’re currently on a medication regimen that includes semaglutide, the American Academy of Ophthalmology does not recommend that you stop taking your semaglutide medication unless you have a loss of vision or your doctor tells you to stop taking that medication. What the American Academy of Ophthalmology does recommend is that you talk to your doctor about whether semaglutide is right for you given your unique health situation.

If you have been diagnosed with NAION or any other health problem you believe might be related to taking semaglutide, such as gastroparesis, you might have some legal options. Feel free to contact me by calling (919) 830-5602 (direct line) and I’ll see what I can do to help.

This post was written from online news sources. This post is not legal advice.

I recently wrote about the start of what may become a wave of lawsuits against the maker of Ozempic due to certain side effects from that medication. In particular, several users claim that Ozempic and related drugs caused their gastroparesis, or the slowing (or stopping) of food from the stomach to the small intestine. The primary argument is that the Ozempic label did not contain adequate warnings concerning potential side effects.

After this litigation began, Novo Nordisk (the maker of Ozempic) updated the Ozempic’s label. Could this have been in response to the existing litigation or fear of future litigation? We don’t know, but let’s take a look this recent product label change, including how it relates to earlier changes and the labels for similar drugs.

An Overview of Ozempic and Related Medications

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Ozempic in 2017 to help individuals deal with Type 2 diabetes. Over the next few years, the FDA approved similar drugs using the same active ingredient as Ozempic, such as Wegovy. This medication is essentially a higher-dose version of Ozempic aimed at helping individuals lose weight.

There was also Rybelsus, which is like Ozempic, but the medication gets taken orally with a pill. In contrast, Ozempic and Wegovy are injected through the skin.

The labels for all of these drugs have undergone revisions over the past few years since their initial approval. The most recent update to Ozempic’s warning label concerns a condition called ileus.

What Is Ileus?

Ileus is a medical condition where the bowel does not work properly. This can lead to an intestinal blockage which can be a serious health issue and require immediate medical attention.

The connection between Ozempic and Ileus is not definite. The FDA notes that one reason for the labeling change is the result of voluntary reports about potential problems with the medication.

Many of these reports come from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), which is open to the public. This means consumers, doctors, pharmaceutical companies and other health professionals can submit information to this system.

Seeing adverse reactions to Ozempic on FAERS doesn’t automatically mean Ozempic was the cause nor does it establish how often these problems could occur. That being said, as of September 30, 2023, there were 16,854 adverse reaction cases involving Ozempic on FAERS. Of these cases, 34 are claimed to involve ileus.

However, if Ozempic causes ileus, the number of cases reported to FAERS will probably rise. And there’s research data to support this link.

A study published in 2023 looked at rats given exenatide for one month. Exenatide is similar to semaglutide, which is the active ingredient in Ozempic. The results showed that the length of the rats’ small intestines increased by 9% and the weight of the small intestines increased by 31%. This enlarging of the small intestine could lead to intestinal obstructions.

The study also noted that the risk of intestinal obstruction goes up over time while taking exenatide. So the longer someone takes Ozempic, they could be increasing their risk of developing ileus.

Label History of Ozempic

The label for Ozempic has received multiple updates, and not just for ileus. Since it was introduced, Ozempic has gone through five label changes:

• First label change: Came in 2020 and added language mentioning that Ozempic could be used to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke or death in diabetic patients with heart disease.
• Second label change: Came in 2021, with notable changes relating to the risk of hypoglycemia and serious allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis.
• Third label change: Came in March 2022, with most of the additions relating to potential risk of acute gallbladder disease.
• Fourth label change: Came in October 2022 and discussed pregnancy risks when taking Ozempic.
• Fifth label change: This is the most recent update and it came in September 2023. Significant updates involve the risk of severe hypoglycemia and ileus was added as an adverse reaction.

What About Gastroparesis?

What’s interesting about the Ozempic label updates is that none of them mentions gastroparesis as an adverse reaction. However, the updates have included additional information about delays with gastric emptying, but only within the context of drug interactions.

In contrast, Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro label includes more impactful wording when it comes to gastroparesis. Specifically, it states that patients with a history of severe gastroparesis should not take Mounjaro as the medication has not been studied in patients with severe gastrointestinal disease.

Mounjaro’s label has also gone through fewer label updates, with the sole update coming in July 2023. In this update, major changes include risk of severe allergic reactions, pancreatitis and thyroid C-cell tumors. There was also mention of ileus as an adverse reaction.

If you think you’ve suffered a side effect from taking Ozempic and you believe it caused ileus, gastroparesis or any other notable health concern, be sure to mention it to your primary care provider. If these adverse reactions have been severe, it might be worth talking to a lawyer about your legal options. Feel free to contact my office or call me at (919) 830-5602.

You’ve probably heard about the blockbuster drug, Ozempic. Maybe you’re already taking it or perhaps you were just watching the Oscars earlier this year. Either way, it’s hard to not know about Ozempic and its growing popularity to not just treat type 2 diabetes, but also weight loss.

As helpful as Ozempic is to lower blood sugar and/or weight, it’s also known for some unpleasant side effects. One possible side effect is gastroparesis, which has led to one of the first lawsuits linked to Ozempic.

What Is Ozempic?

The active ingredient in Ozempic is semaglutide, which is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor antagonist. GLP-1 is a hormone that affects how much insulin the body produces in response to eating food. GLP-1 also affects appetite.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Ozempic in 2017 to treat type 2 diabetes. A few years later, the FDA approved Wegovy. Wegovy is basically a higher-dose version of Ozempic and is primarily used to help patients lose weight. There’s also FDA-approved Rybelsus, which is semaglutide in pill form (Ozempic is taken through an injection). These drugs are made by Novo Nordisk, which is enjoying massive profits from the sale of these medications.

As popular as Ozempic has been to treat diabetes and lose weight, it has its fair share of adverse reactions. Many of these relate to digestion. According to Novo Nordisk, some of these side effects include:

• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Constipation

While not listed as an official side effect, Novo Nordisk notes that Ozempic may slow down how quickly food leaves the stomach. Novo Nordisk mentions this because it could reduce the effectiveness of an oral medication a person is taking.

One of the ways Ozempic works is by having food take longer to leave the stomach. As a result, someone eating will feel fuller faster, and for a longer period of time. The problem is when the stomach completely stops (or dramatically slows down) the movement of food from the stomach. This can sometimes lead to gastroparesis.

What Is Gastroparesis?

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases defines gastroparesis as “a disorder that slows or stops the movement of food from your stomach to your small intestine, even though there is no blockage in the stomach or intestines.” The stomach digests food and moves it to the small intestine through its muscles, so that’s why gastroparesis is sometimes referred to as stomach paralysis.

After you eat food, your stomach’s muscles work to start the digestion process and pass the food to your small intestine. Depending on your health, what you eat and how much you eat, it takes anywhere from a few hours to eight hours for food to go from your stomach to your small intestine. But with gastroparesis, food might stay in the stomach for much longer, up to a few days. Here are some of the most common symptoms of gastroparesis:

• Feeling full even though it’s been several hours after eating or immediately after you start eating
• Vomiting
• Heartburn
• Abdominal pain
• Excessive burping
• Diminished appetite
• Feeling bloated
• Nausea

For many people, there’s no known cause for their gastroparesis. However, when there is a known cause, it’s often diabetes. High blood sugar over time can damage nerves that control stomach muscles. This can result in the stomach muscles becoming weak or not working at all.

Does Ozempic Cause Gastroparesis?

The exact link between gastroparesis and Ozempic is not yet clear. Recall from the above section that one of the biggest causes for gastroparesis is diabetes. So there’s the question of whether Ozempic causes gastroparesis or worsens it in patients who already have it, but don’t know it.

It should be noted that Ozempic’s label provides no warning for gastroparesis as a side effect. However, Prevention.com mentions that during the clinical trials, none of the test subjects reported having gastroparesis.

Is There an Ozempic Lawsuit Relating to Gastroparesis?

Yes. In August, Jaclyn Bjorklund sued Novo Nordisk, as well as Eli Lilly, the makers of Mounjaro. Mounjaro is the brand name for tirzepatide, which is similar semaglutide in how it works. Bjorklund claims that she took both Ozempic and Mounjaro and that they both led to her physical injuries.

In her legal complaint, Bjorklund alleges that because she took these two medications, she suffered from gastroparesis and other gastrointestinal problems, such as gastroenteritis. Bjorklund states that her vomiting from taking these medications was so severe, she lost some of her teeth.

The crux of Borklund’s case is that Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk failed to properly warn of the risk of gastroparesis and gastroenteritis. While Ozempic came with important safety information that mentioned that food might stay in the stomach longer, Bjorklund asserts that this wasn’t done to warn prospective Ozempic users of the drug’s side effects. Instead, it was mentioned within the context of drug interactions when taking another medication orally.

Will There Be More Lawsuits Relating to GLP-1 Drugs?

Most likely. If there really is a link between gastrointestinal problems (like gastroparesis) and GLP-1 medications, then Bjorklund’s case is probably the first of many.

What Happens Next with the Ozempic Litigation?

There will likely be more lawsuits and more studies further clarifying the connection between GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and gastrointestinal issues. Based on the available information (so far) and Bjorklund’s lawsuit, it doesn’t seem like Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus are inherently bad drugs that must be removed from the market. Instead, patients and their doctors might need more information before deciding on medications.

Collective litigation is also a possibility, although it’s more likely going to come in the form of multidistrict litigation rather than a class-action lawsuit. This is because personal injury lawsuits tend to have enough differences in the various plaintiffs’ legal and factual claims that a class action lawsuit isn’t possible.

If you’ve taken a GLP-1 medication like Ozempic and suffer from serious stomach and/or intestinal issues like gastroparesis or gastroenteritis, it’s possible you could take legal action. To learn more about your rights, it’s best to talk to an attorney, especially one that focuses on product liability personal injury cases. If you know one already, get in touch with them. Or you can call me at (919) 830-5602 and I’ll see how I can help.