By Amber Roman
08 Nov 2024, 17:58 PM EST
A growing group of patients are suing Novo Nordisk, the company behind Ozempic, and Eli Lilly, for allegedly failing to adequately warn about the risks of this drug on its labeling.
According to attorney Robert King, who represents more than 400 plaintiffs in New York, the majority of his clients’ complaints are related to stomach problems. However, King also represents people who, after taking the drug, have experienced blood clots, vision loss, tooth loss, and even paralysis. These lawsuits, which began in the fall of 2023, have increasingly gained traction, and testimonies from affected patients continue to accumulate.
Among the cases that stand out is that of Cecily King, 43, of Kentucky, who began taking GLP-1 agonists, such as Ozempic, in September 2021. Over time, she developed gastroparesis, a condition in which the stomach loses mobility, which caused intense vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and other complications that took her to the emergency room repeatedly. The situation has lastingly impacted his gastrointestinal health, and the symptoms persist to this day.
GLP-1 agonists, which mimic a hormone to regulate feelings of satiety and the movement of food in the digestive tract, were originally developed as a treatment for diabetes. However, doctors began prescribing them for weight loss as well, as patients experienced significant weight loss. A survey conducted in May 2024 revealed that one in eight adults in the United States currently uses these medications, which could represent nearly 30 million people. For Cecily King, the medication resulted in harm she did not anticipate, leaving her with a permanent impact on her quality of life.
Vascular problems have also been reported
Roderick Shirley, an 83-year-old man from Florida, began experiencing chest pain after a year of using Ozempic, and doctors found a life-threatening blood clot that had traveled to his lungs. Shirley needed emergency surgery and faced three cardiac arrests during the operation, as well as a lengthy hospital stay. In her lawsuit, Shirley alleges that her life changed dramatically because of the medication, and her case is one of many in which Ozempic is accused of causing severe vascular complications.
A study from Shenzhen Longhua District Central Hospital in China has found a link between these LPG drugs and blood clots, although the evidence remains limited. Other studies, on the other hand, indicate that the drug could reduce clot formation and improve cardiovascular health. In the face of mounting legal pressure, Novo Nordisk has strongly denied the allegations.
In a statement to DailyMail, a company spokesperson said that the product labels include warnings about gastrointestinal side effects and that the medication is safe and effective when used as directed and under the supervision of a licensed health professional. However, the plaintiffs, like Jacqueline Barber, are not seeking to remove Ozempic from the market, but rather to increase public awareness about the risks some patients face. “I just want people to have the information that I didn’t have,” Barber said, emphasizing that education and proper warning could help others make informed decisions about their health.
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