The personal injury attorneys at McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates are reviewing potential GLP-1 drug lawsuits following reports of serious gastrointestinal side effects including gastroparesis, pancreatitis, and ileus. Popular GLP-1 medications include Ozempic®, Wegovey®, and Trulicity®, among others. Users of Mounjaro®, a similar drug classed under a different category, may also be eligible to file a lawsuit.
Originally designed to help treat Type 2 Diabetes, GLP-1 drugs and GLP-1/GIP drugs have become popular even among those without diabetes. This is due to their most well-known side effect: weight loss. In fact, their extreme popularity for that reason has led to nationwide shortages of the medications at US pharmacies.
What are the brand names of GLP-1 drugs?
GLP-1 agonist medications currently available in the United States include the following, with the brand names in parentheses:
- Dulaglutide (Trulicity®)
- Exenatide (Byetta®)
- Exenatide extended-release (Bydureon®)
- Liraglutide (Victoza®)
- Lixisenatide (Adlyxin®)
- Semaglutide injection (Ozempic®)
- Semaglutide tablets (Rybelsus®)
There is a similar class of medications called dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists. Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) is currently the only type of drug in this category that is available in the US.
How do these drugs work?
GLP-1 drugs prompt the pancreas to produce insulin after eating and help control blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 Diabetes, while GLP-1/GIP drugs such as Mounjaro® mimic the effects of both insulin and glucagon.
The active substance in GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovey is semaglutide. The active substance in Mounjaro® is terzepatide.
GLP-1 drugs and GLP-1/GIP drugs, both of which are administered as injections, have also been shown to increase the amount of time it takes for food to leave the stomach, helping to reduce appetite and thereby promoting weight loss.
What are the dangers of these drugs?
At first glance, these drugs may seem like a magic solution for Type 2 Diabetes and obesity, but they come with serious risks.
Consumers of these drugs have alleged the following serious side effects:
- Gastroparesis – This debilitating condition causes delayed stomach emptying and other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, bloating, malnutrition, dehydration, and difficulty eating and absorbing nutrients.
- Gallbladder disease – This causes redness and swelling of the gallbladder, and occurs when bile gets trapped in the organ. A recent study reported a link between GLP-1 receptor agents and gallbladder disease.
- Ileus – This is a condition where the small intestine cannot push food and waste out of the body. The FDA added the risk of ileus to the drug label of Ozempic® in September 2023.
- Pancreatitis – This is inflammation of the pancreas. Symptoms include upper abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.
- Intestinal pseudo-obstruction – This occurs when there are symptoms of blockage of the intestine without any physical blockage.
- Thyroid tumors – Rodents involved in studies of Ozempic® experienced thyroid tumors after receiving the medication. The website of Ozempic® says the drug may cause “possible thyroid tumors, including cancer.”
Do you have a case?
If you have used Ozempic® or any other GLP-1 or GLP-1/GIP drug, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit if you match the following criteria:
- Are 75 years old or younger
- Received a diagnosis of gastroparesis, gastric obstruction, ileus, or intestinal pseudo-obstruction while taking these drugs or within 30 days of stopping use
- Required an emergency room visit or hospital admission
- Are no longer taking the medication
Injured by a GLP-1 or GLP-1/GIP drug?
If you’ve been injured by Ozempic®, Wegovey®, Trulicity®, Mounjaro®, or any other GLP-1 or GLP-1/GIP drug, you could be entitled to compensation for the following:
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Disability or permanent injury
- Lost wages/loss of earning capability
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Punitive damages
- Rehabilitation costs
- Wrongful death
The personal injury lawyers at McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates are highly experienced in product liability cases and would be happy to provide you with a free case evaluation. Our law firm has seven convenient offices across the Midlands of South Carolina, and we are reachable by phone at 803-702-8615. There is absolutely no obligation to hire us after speaking to us, so give us a call today. It won’t cost you anything to see if we can help.®
