Ozempic has helped many patients manage type 2 diabetes and lose weight, but for some, the drug has caused serious side effects. One is a severe and potentially permanent digestive condition known as gastroparesis. If you took Ozempic and subsequently developed gastroparesis, you may have grounds to pursue a legal claim against Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic based in Denmark, for failing to adequately warn you of the risks.
At Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., we have spent over 40 years fighting for seriously injured clients throughout Illinois and have recovered more than $3.5 billion in verdicts and settlements on their behalf. A qualified Ozempic lawsuit lawyer from our firm can review your situation and help you understand whether you may have a claim. Contact us today for a free initial consultation to discuss your case.
Recognizing Gastroparesis Symptoms Related to Ozempic
Ozempic slows the movement of food through the stomach as part of its intended function, but for some patients, gastric emptying is not just delayed. It stops entirely. The resulting stomach paralysis is known as “gastroparesis.” Many patients who developed gastroparesis after taking Ozempic have reported a recognizable pattern of symptoms. If you have experienced any of the following since taking Ozempic, that information could serve as proof of gastroparesis for an Ozempic lawsuit:
- Persistent Nausea: Unlike the mild, temporary nausea that many Ozempic users experience early in treatment, gastroparesis-related nausea tends to be chronic and unrelenting. It does not resolve as the body adjusts to the medication, and it often intensifies after meals, sometimes to a degree that makes eating feel impossible.
- Severe Vomiting, Including Vomiting of Undigested Food: One of the hallmark signs of gastroparesis is the regurgitation of food that was consumed hours earlier, still largely undigested. This occurs in some patients when the stomach muscles lose the ability to push food into the small intestine at a normal rate, so food sits undigested rather than moving through the digestive tract.
- Early Satiety: Patients with gastroparesis often feel full after consuming only a few bites of food, well before they have eaten a nutritionally adequate amount. Over time, this symptom can lead to significant unintended weight loss and malnutrition, as the body is unable to absorb enough calories and nutrients to sustain normal, healthy function.
- Abdominal Pain and Bloating: A heavy, distended feeling in the abdomen is a common complaint among gastroparesis patients. This symptom is frequently accompanied by cramping or a dull, persistent ache in the upper stomach area, which often worsens after eating.
- Acid Reflux and Heartburn: When food remains in the stomach longer than it should, stomach acid has more opportunity to move upward into the esophagus. Patients with Ozempic-related gastroparesis have reported a significant worsening of acid reflux symptoms, including burning in the chest and throat that is difficult to control even with standard over-the-counter remedies.
- Fluctuating Blood Sugar Levels: For patients who originally took Ozempic to manage type 2 diabetes, gastroparesis can introduce a dangerous complication: because food digests unpredictably, blood sugar levels become erratic and difficult to control. This symptom can directly undermine the very reason the patient was initially prescribed the medication.
- Symptoms That Persist After Stopping the Medication: A number of plaintiffs in active Ozempic litigation have reported chronic digestive symptoms that did not resolve after they discontinued the drug. For these patients, gastroparesis appears to have become chronic and may require ongoing medical management and, in severe cases, hospitalization or surgery.
How Ozempic Can Lead to Gastroparesis
Ozempic belongs to a class of medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. These diabetes drugs work by mimicking a naturally occurring hormone that, among other functions, slows the movement of food through the stomach. This mechanism, known as slowing gastric emptying or delayed stomach emptying, is part of how prescribed Ozempic helps to control blood sugar and reduce appetite. By increasing insulin production and lowering blood glucose levels, Ozempic and similar medications are intended to help diabetic patients manage their condition, control blood sugar, and reduce appetite.
For many patients, that process works as intended. For others, however, the stomach stops functioning properly altogether. Instead of a controlled delay in digestion, the stomach muscles weaken to the point that they can no longer move food into the small intestine. That condition is known as gastroparesis, and it is a recognized risk associated with GLP-1 receptor agonists.
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that patients who took GLP-1 drugs had a significantly greater risk of developing gastroparesis than patients taking other weight-loss medications. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received adverse event reports linking Ozempic to stomach emptying problems, prompting concerns about the drug’s safety profile regarding gastroparesis. Gastroparesis is one of the most frequently alleged injuries in lawsuits against Ozempic, with claims focusing on delayed gastric emptying and severe gastrointestinal complications. Many patients allege that Novo Nordisk failed to provide adequate warnings about gastroparesis as a distinct and potentially permanent condition despite the elevated risk. That alleged failure is now at the center of the current litigation.
How Do I Prove Ozempic Caused My Gastroparesis?
You must show two key things to prove that Ozempic caused your gastroparesis: a confirmed medical diagnosis and a clear evidentiary link between that diagnosis and your use of the drug.
On the diagnostic side, objective medical testing is essential. A federal court overseeing the consolidated Ozempic GI injury litigation has ruled that plaintiffs alleging gastroparesis must have had a gastric emptying study performed at the time of their diagnosis. This could include gastric scintigraphy, a wireless motility capsule test, or a breath test – a procedure where you consume a special meal and provide breath samples over several hours to measure the rate of stomach emptying. If you have not yet undergone that testing, it is a good idea to consult both a physician and a personal injury attorney from Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. as soon as possible.
It is often more complex to establish a direct link between Ozempic and your gastroparesis. To prove this legal element, you and your lawyer will need to demonstrate that:
- Your gastroparesis developed during or after your use of Ozempic.
- You had no prior history of the condition.
- The timeline of your symptoms is consistent with the drug’s known effects on gastric function.
Medical records documenting your digestive health before and after you began taking Ozempic are particularly valuable to establish this evidentiary link. Detailed treatment records that show the progression of your condition over time can be, too. A qualified medical expert will typically also play a central role in connecting these facts into a coherent causation argument that can hold up in court.
What Medical Records and Documentation Are Needed to Support My Ozempic Injury Claim?
In any product liability lawsuit, the burden falls on you (the plaintiff) to establish that the product caused your injuries. In an Ozempic gastroparesis case, that means assembling a body of documentation that connects the medication to your diagnosis and demonstrates the full scope of the harm you suffered. The following categories of documentation are typically central to an Ozempic gastroparesis lawsuit:
- Prescription and Pharmacy Records: Prescription records and pharmacy fill histories can establish when you began taking Ozempic, the dosage you received, and how long you remained on the medication. These records form the chronological backbone of your claim.
- Gastric Emptying Study Results: This is perhaps the most critical piece of medical evidence in an Ozempic lawsuit. A federal court overseeing the consolidated GI injury litigation has ruled that plaintiffs must have had a gastric emptying study performed at the time of diagnosis in order to proceed with their product liability claims, so if you have not yet obtained this testing, that should be a priority.
- Complete Medical Records Related to Gastroparesis Treatment: You should collect and preserve evidence of every physician visit, emergency room encounter, hospitalization, and specialist consultation related to your gastroparesis. These records document the severity of your condition and the full extent of the medical intervention your care has required. Click here to learn how to request and obtain your medical records.
- A Personal Symptom Journal: A detailed written account of your daily symptoms carries real evidentiary value. A record that documents the date, nature, frequency, and severity of your symptoms over time can corroborate clinical findings and convey to the court the true toll gastroparesis has taken on your life.
- Documentation of Financial Losses: Gastroparesis can create substantial financial strain, including from medical bills, lost wages, and out-of-pocket expenses. Pay stubs, medical billing records, and related receipts can help you establish the full financial impact of your injury.
- Records of Prior Digestive Health: One argument the drug manufacturers have advanced in the existing litigation is that plaintiffs had pre-existing conditions that could explain their symptoms. Medical records documenting your digestive health before you began taking Ozempic can refute that argument and establish that your gastroparesis developed in direct connection with the drug.
- Communications with Healthcare Providers: Emails, patient portal messages, and written correspondence between you and your physicians about Ozempic side effects should be preserved. If you reported symptoms to your doctor while taking the drug, that communication history may be directly relevant to the failure-to-warn claims at the heart of this litigation.
- Expert Medical Opinions: In complex pharmaceutical litigation, judges and juries rely heavily on qualified medical experts to explain the connection between a drug and a plaintiff’s injury. An experienced Ozempic lawsuit attorney can retain qualified experts to review your records and provide a professional opinion on causation.
Building a Strong Case for Gastroparesis Linked to Ozempic
A solid Ozempic gastroparesis case offers a cohesive narrative that connects your Ozempic use to your diagnosis and your diagnosis to your suffering. It should also connect your suffering to a specific dollar figure that reflects the true cost of your injury. That kind of narrative requires careful preparation and a thorough understanding of how pharmaceutical product liability cases work.
An experienced attorney can seek to establish that Novo Nordisk knew or should have known about the risk of gastroparesis and that the company’s warnings were inadequate. They can also demonstrate that you would have made a different decision about taking the drug had you received adequate information. Each of those arguments requires its own body of supporting evidence.
The Role of Expert Testimony
A qualified gastroenterologist or pharmacologist can explain to a jury precisely how GLP-1 receptor agonists affect gastric function. They can also clarify why your diagnosis is consistent with Ozempic use and how the manufacturer’s warnings fell short of what the medical evidence demanded. Without credible expert testimony, even a well-documented case can quickly fall apart.
How an Attorney Can Help with an Ozempic Gastroparesis Lawsuit
Pharmaceutical product liability litigation is highly complex, and Ozempic cases are no exception. Novo Nordisk is a large, well-resourced company with experienced legal counsel, and it has made clear its intention to vigorously defend against liability claims. All of this means that you will be at a serious disadvantage if you attempt to pursue a claim without experienced legal representation.
An attorney with experience in Ozempic litigation will take on the full burden of preparing and presenting your case. That includes obtaining and reviewing your medical records, identifying and retaining qualified expert witnesses, researching the applicable law, and developing a litigation strategy tailored to the specifics of your situation. Your attorney can also handle all communications and negotiations with the defense, so you can focus on your health rather than the demands of litigation.
Perhaps most importantly, an experienced attorney will know the status of the current Ozempic MDL and can position your individual claim effectively within that broader framework.
Filing an Ozempic Gastroparesis Lawsuit in Chicago
If you took Ozempic and developed gastroparesis, you should know how Illinois law will govern various aspects of your personal injury claim. For example, Illinois’ statute of limitations law gives you two years to file most personal injury lawsuits. This two-year window begins on the date you discovered or reasonably should have discovered the link between your injury and your Ozempic use. Two years can go by more quickly than you might expect, so it is best to consult an attorney promptly if you know or suspect you might have a claim.
Once you file your individual lawsuit, it will likely become part of MDL No. 3094, the federal consolidated Ozempic litigation currently pending in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The MDL structure of this case involves coordinated pretrial proceedings for thousands of cases, though each claim gets resolved individually. The outcome of your case will ultimately depend on the specific facts of your situation.
At Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., we have represented seriously injured clients throughout Illinois for over 40 years and have secured hundreds of multi-million dollar payouts to date. Our firm has the resources and litigation experience to pursue even the most complex pharmaceutical claims at the highest level. If you believe you may have an Ozempic lawsuit, contact us immediately.
Consult a Chicago Ozempic Lawsuit Lawyer Today
The attorneys at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. have the resources, litigation experience, and record of results to give your Ozempic case the attention it deserves. If you or a loved one developed gastroparesis after taking Ozempic, contact us now to discuss how our firm can help in a free consultation.
