What is Ozempic?
Ozempic is an injectable medication used to treat Type 2 Diabetes. It has also been used for weight loss. It is a member of the glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist (GLP-1) class of medications which includes:
- Ozempic (semaglutide)
- Trulicity (dulaglutide)
- Mounjaro (tirzepatide)
- Wegovy (semaglutide)
- Saxenda (liraglutide)
- Victoza (liraglutide)
- Zepbound (tirzepatide)
How Does Ozempic Work?
Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications work by slowing stomach emptying into the small intestine and by stimulating insulin production and decreasing glucagon production. Slowing stomach emptying time increases feelings of fullness while stimulating insulin production and decreasing glucagon helps to process sugar more quickly from food consumption and prevent it from being stored as fat.
What Are the Side Effects of Taking Ozempic?
Ozempic may cause common side effects including:
- Abdominal pain
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
Other patients may experience more serious side effects including:
- Hypoglycemia
- Muscle loss
- Pancreatitis
- Allergic reaction
- Kidney complications
- Stomach paralysis
- Gall bladder disease
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Thyroid tumors
What Does Ozempic Treat?
Ozempic is approved to treat Type 2 diabetes in patients who can still produce insulin. It has also been used as an off-label weight loss medication. Off-label medication use is permitted by the FDA but indicates that the medication has not been studied for a particular use.
What Is Type 2 Diabetes?
Diabetes is a disorder that results in excessive blood glucose levels in the bloodstream due to the body’s inability to process sugar. Type 2 diabetes occurs in people whose cells have become resistant to insulin or who do not make enough insulin. It is often a complication of obesity.
What Are the Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes?
Symptoms of diabetes may include:
- Excessive urination
- Excessive thirst
- Fatigue or tiredness
- Yeast infections of groin/genital area, mouth (thrush), skin
- Poor wound healing
- Blurry vision
Who is Most at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes?
People who are older and those who are overweight are more at risk for Type 2 diabetes.
What Complications Can Occur from Type 2 Diabetes?
When untreated, a number of complications may occur from Type 2 diabetes including:
- Kidney disease
- Skin complications
- Neuropathy
- Diabetic retinopathy which may cause blindness
- Stroke
- Anxiety
- Diabetic ketosis
- Heart and blood vessel disease
- Limb loss due to amputation
What Are the Potential Complications of Ozempic?
Ozempic has recently been linked to complications which may be serious or deadly including:
- Gastroparesis or stomach paralysis
- Bowel obstruction
- Pancreatitis
- Pulmonary aspiration while under anesthesia
What is Gastroparesis?
Gastroparesis is also called “stomach paralysis”. It occurs when the stomach stops moving partially digested food into the small intestine where digestion may continue. Ozempic may increase the risk of gastroparesis by slowing gastric emptying.
What is Bowel Obstruction?
Bowel obstruction occurs when the intestines stop moving, resulting in too much water being absorbed from digesting food. This may result in dry, impacted partially digested food or fecal matter which can lead to serious complications including death of intestinal tissue and a need for surgery to remove portions of the intestines. Ozempic has been linked to bowel obstruction due to its affects on digestive processes.
What is Pancreatitis?
Pancreatitis occurs when the pancreas becomes inflamed. Pancreatitis may occur due to excessive alcohol consumption, infection or for other reasons including excessive stimulation of the cells of the pancreas which produce insulin and glucagon hormones. Ozempic has been linked to pancreatitis due to its effects on the pancreas.
What is Pulmonary Aspiration?
Pulmonary aspiration occurs when liquid is aspirated or inhaled into the lungs. When stomach contents are aspirated, it may result in serious lung damage from stomach acid. It may also result in the development of pneumonia. Ozempic has been linked to pulmonary aspiration, particularly when patients have undergone anesthesia due to the body’s inability to move gastric contents away from the stomach.
Is Ozempic Over-Prescribed?
While Ozempic may be a highly effective medication for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes and similar drugs have been approved for weight loss, the medication has not been approved for this indication. It has, however, been widely promoted amongst celebrities and on social media and is known to be frequently used for weight loss. It is so widely used that many people are noticing appearance changes known as “Ozempic face” and “Ozempic Butt”, where the skin sags due to fat and muscle loss in the face, legs, and buttocks.
Why Are People Filing Lawsuits?
People may be considering an Ozempic lawsuit due to serious injuries that may have been linked to use of the medication including:
- Stomach paralysis or gastroparesis
- Bowel obstruction
- Pancreatitis
- Pulmonary aspiration while undergoing anesthesia
Some of those who took Ozempic may have required surgery, hospitalization, or medical treatments, may have been permanently injured or may have died after Ozempic use.
Should I Consider an Ozempic Lawsuit?
People who took or used Ozempic and experienced gastroparesis, bowel obstruction, pancreatitis, or pulmonary aspiration during a surgical procedure may be eligible for compensation.
Notwithstanding claims relating to this product, the drug/medical device remains approved by the U.S. FDA.
