Ozempic Lawsuits

Ozempic manufacturer Novo Nordisk faces multiple lawsuits alleging patients developed serious side effects. These include gastroparesis, severe vomiting and intestinal blockages after taking the drug.

In February 2024, a federal panel consolidated 55 Ozempic and related lawsuits into multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. A multi-district litigation groups similar cases under one court, which helps expedite the legal process. The Ozempic lawsuits include other drugs in the GLP-1 receptor agonist class.

As of March 2025, 1,521 cases were pending in the MDL.

Patients are filing against Ozempic’s manufacturer, Novo Nordisk. Subsequently, Nordisk filed 12 suits against spas, weight loss clinics and compounding pharmacies. The company says it acted to protect patients from illegal semaglutide sales for uses that are not FDA-approved.

People who took Ozempic for weight loss or Type 2 diabetes are filing lawsuits after experiencing adverse reactions, such as gastroparesis, severe vomiting or ileus, while taking Ozempic or shortly after stopping the drug.

The multidistrict litigation primarily involves severe gastrointestinal issues, especially gastroparesis. This condition causes delayed gastric emptying and significant symptoms.

Additionally, some claim serious injuries such as vision loss, including NAION, and risks of blood clots like deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). Some plaintiffs have experienced suicidal thoughts related to the medications.

Plaintiffs claim the manufacturer failed to warn doctors and patients about these severe risks and side effects.

Lawsuits Claim Ozempic Side Effects Included Gastroparesis and Ileus

Gastroparesis is when the stomach fails to empty because the muscles either slow down or stop working altogether. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, bloating, abdominal pain, acid reflux, weight loss and loss of appetite. Currently, there is no cure for stomach paralysis, but treatments offer temporary benefits.

Similar to gastroparesis, ileus affects a person’s ability to digest food. Symptoms include bloating, abdominal cramps, nausea, constipation, vomiting, difficulty passing gas and difficulty tolerating a regular diet.

Lawyers Investigating Ozempic Vision Loss Lawsuits

A 2024 study published in JAMA Ophthalmology found an association between semaglutide and nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a condition that causes vision loss. It typically affects only one eye, though around 15% of people with NAION will eventually develop the condition in their other eye, too. It may cause vision loss severe enough to classify as legally blind.

Lawyers began investigating potential Ozempic vision loss and blindness claims.

Compared with patients not on a GLP-1 agonist, those with obesity who took semaglutide for weight loss had over a sevenfold higher risk of developing NAION. People with Type 2 diabetes who take semaglutide have a fourfold higher risk.

NAION occurs when blood flow to the optic nerve stops, and there is no cure. Researchers think that GLP-1 drugs could affect the optic nerve, leading to the development of the eye condition.

Patients may qualify to file an Ozempic lawsuit if they have experienced stomach paralysis or severe vomiting for four weeks or more, suffered an intestinal blockage or received a diagnosis of ileus after taking Ozempic.

Generally, lawyers do not take cases for people who had gastric bypass, gastric banding or gastric sleeve surgery. If you are being treated for cancer, you may not qualify. Only a licensed Ozempic lawyer can tell you if you are eligible, so contact an attorney to see if you have a case.

Expert legal counsel can help you determine if pursuing a lawsuit is right for you. Lawsuits can help people receive compensation to help cover medical expenses and lost wages.

To file an Ozempic lawsuit, first, contact an experienced product liability attorney. It’s important to choose one who specializes in pharmaceutical cases. A skilled attorney can guide you through filing and litigating your case.

For example, Consumer Notice works with the national award-winning law firm Morgan & Morgan. The firm filed the first Ozempic lawsuit on behalf of Jaclyn Bjorklund. Bjorklund suffered from severe vomiting and gastroparesis after taking Ozempic. The vomiting caused her teeth to fall out and led to several hospitalizations.

Finding the best representation for you can significantly impact your litigation experience. Your potential compensation from a settlement or verdict depends on the details of your case. Your lawyer will work to get you the maximum compensation possible.

Editor Lindsay Donaldson contributed to this article.