In the quest for zero-figures, millions of people and celebrities turn to weight Loss Drugs, lured by the promise of rapid and significant results. However, an alarming trend is emerging that may temper this enthusiasm: a growing number of users are experiencing severe Stomach Paralysis, leading to a flood of weight loss drugs stomach paralysis lawsuits against manufacturers.
Recently, a 44-year-old Louisiana woman, Jaclyn Bjorklund filed a lawsuit against the famous weight loss drugs makers Novo Nordisk and Eli Lily, alleging that the drugs caused her weight loss drugs stomach paralysis.
This stomach paralysis lawsuit joins the list of Ozempic side effect lawsuits already haunting the makers. The current lawsuit hints that these ongoing issues are only a tip of the iceberg, and many more risks may be unveiled in the recent future.
Let’s probe into this issue and analyze the true story behind.
Famous Weight Loss Drugs and Their Appeal
Weight loss drugs have captured a substantial market share with their enticing promise of quick and effortless weight loss. They function by reducing appetite, increasing feelings of fullness, or decreasing the body’s ability to absorb fat.
GLP-1 receptor agonists can potentially slow down food digestion when consumed over extended periods.
However, beneath the glamorous promises lies a chilling reality. Reports have started to surface about a potentially severe side effect: stomach paralysis, also known as gastroparesis.
What is Stomach Paralysis or Gastroparesis?
Stomach paralysis or gastric paralysis is a condition where the muscles in the stomach don’t function correctly, leading to slow or incomplete emptying of the stomach into the small intestine. This can cause a lot of health issues, including severe nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and malnutrition.
Do you know, how long food stays in stomach? Usually, whatever solid food we eat stays in stomach for one to two hours. Then it would be in the small intestine for four to five hours in the small intestine.
What causes stomach paralysis, when taking weight loss drugs? When we take weight loss drugs like Ozempic or Wegovy, the food stays longer than usual causing a fullness. This would gradually cause the stomach muscles to weaken making the stomach paralyzed.
Individuals with gastrointestinal paralysis experience discomfort during digestion, often leading to reduced appetite and nutritional deficiencies. Regulating blood sugar would be difficult for them. Partially digested food would remain in the stomach, potentially forming a hard mass known as a bezoar.
The impact on daily life for those with gastroparesis can be significant. People may experience intense discomfort after eating even small meals, struggle with dehydration, and live in fear of sudden and severe symptom flare-ups.
Symptoms of gastroparesis include:
- Bloating and belching
- Constipation
- Discomfort in the upper abdomen
- Feeling full soon after starting a meal and for a long time afterwards
- Heartburn
- Lack of appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Notable Weight Loss Drugs in the Market
Before moving into the crux of this blog, let’s see some of the leading Type-2 diabetes drugs and other drugs used for weigh loss:
Mounjaro™: Identified as tirzepatide, Mounjaro™ comes as an injection, offering a twin promise of regulating blood sugar levels and tempering food intake in adults with Type 2 diabetes. Mounjaro is one of the drugs being accused of causing stomach paralysis in the recent lawsuit. Eli Lily produces this drug.
Ozempic®: An embodiment of semaglutide, Ozempic® champions the management of Type 2 diabetes, while doubling as a potential weight loss companion. Along with Mounjaro, Ozempic is also alleged of causing gastroparesis in the recent lawsuit. Apart from the gall bladder issues for which Ozempic is facing a lot of lawsuits now, its maker Novo Nordisk is destined to deal with stomach paralysis lawsuits.
Rybelsus®: A symbol of relief for adults with Type 2 diabetes, Rybelsus® harnesses the power of GLP-1 hormone to stimulate insulin release, thereby maintaining blood sugar control. It carries a black box warning on potential thyroid cancer risk. Many Rybelsus stomach paralysis are also being reported often by the users. Rybelsus® is the second highest revenue producing drug for Novo Nordisk. Many Rybelsus lawsuits are being filed as individual claims on causing gut paralysis.
Saxenda®: Dispensing the active ingredient liraglutide, Saxenda® emerged from its previous role under the brand Victoza. This drug also comes from Novo Nordisk. Today, it shines in its purpose of facilitating weight loss, prioritizing those with high BMI and coexisting metabolic health conditions. Though allegations on causing pancreatic cancer surfaced a few years back, no scientific proof was unearthed to prove that. Can Saxenda cause stomach paralysis? Recent reports affirm this. Saxenda stomach paralysis issues are slowly surfacing and many attorneys started accepting Saxenda lawsuits.
Trulicity®: Known scientifically as dulaglutide, Trulicity® takes the stand by lowering A1C levels in those with Type 2 diabetes. It skillfully controls sugar’s entry into the bloodstream, eases the pace of food digestion, and orchestrates the release of insulin. This Eli Lily product comes with the pancreatic cancer warning. Link between Trulicity and stomach paralysis rises Trulicity lawsuits.
Wegovy®: In essence, Wegovy® is a heavyweight sibling of Ozempic® from Novo Nordisk, carrying a higher dose of semaglutide. In 2021, it proudly earned the title of a newly endorsed weight loss medication.
Link between Weight Loss Drugs and Stomach Paralysis
Over the past few years, there has been a mounting number of cases where users of weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro have reported stomach paralysis. While correlation does not imply causation, the frequency and pattern of these reports are alarming.
Concerns are mounting within the medical community as cases of patients developing stomach issues, possibly due to diabetes and weight-loss drugs, are coming to light, as per a CNN report. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has also apparently received reports on similar accounts.
Scientists intensify their efforts to confirm whether these drugs lead to this debilitating condition, and if confirmed this revelation could significantly impact the leap of the weight loss industry.
Several medical research teams are now delving deeper into the possible link between weight loss drugs and gastroparesis. They are reviewing case reports, examining patient histories, and even conducting clinical trials to evaluate whether these medications increase the risk of stomach paralysis.
While it’s too early to definitively link weight loss drugs to stomach paralysis, the accumulating evidence is hard to ignore. The scientific community’s alarm bells are ringing, and rightfully so.
Weight Loss Drugs Stomach Paralysis Lawsuits Loom
The repercussions are not just health-related. Legal storm clouds are gathering on the horizon as patients who have suffered stomach paralysis after using weight loss drugs seek compensation for their injuries and hardship.
In a significant turn of events, Morgan & Morgan, the prestigious personal injury law firm, has initiated legal proceedings against pharmaceutical giants Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly and Company. The weight loss lawsuit is filed over a serious contention of “failure to warn”, with the drug manufacturers being accused of not adequately informing consumers about the potential risks associated with Ozempic and Mounjaro.
These reputed companies find themselves under scrutiny for allegedly masking the intensity of gastrointestinal issues that may surface with the use of these medications. This manipulation of fact, the suit argues, places the unsuspecting patients in harm’s way.
The plaintiff in this landmark case is Jaclyn Bjorklund, a patient who followed the prescribed course of both these medications for approximately 18 months. Bjorklund claims to have suffered from exhausting gastroparesis symptoms, a severe condition affecting the normal functioning of the stomach, post her treatment with Ozempic and Mounjaro.
Attorneys, Paul Pennock and Jonathan Sedgh steer this litigation. With steadfast resolve, these attorneys aim to expose the alleged corporate deception and ensure their client’s quest for justice is not futile.
The attorneys informed that more than 500 people across 45 states who are affected by stomach paralysis from using weight loss drugs have contacted them to know the prospects of their claim. This information projects a stark reality that the issue will loom large, and in the future we may see many weight loss drugs stomach paralysis lawsuits.
Let’s have a glance on Bjorklund’s tale of sufferings.
Jaclyn Bjorklund, Lousiana
In 2017, Bjorklund was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and initially treated with Ozempic, only to later switch to Mounjaro.
Bjorklund lost weight while using these drugs. However, despite her compliance with the treatment regimen, her health took a worst turn post-therapy. She found herself ensnared by severe gastroparesis, resulting in forceful bouts of nausea and vomiting. The intensity of these episodes was so severe that it led to the unfortunate loss of some of her teeth and necessitated regular hospital admissions.
She filed the weight loss drugs stomach paralysis lawsuit on Aug. 2, 2023, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana with the best lawyers in town to steer her claim.
The legal proceedings target on Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, the eminent pharmaceutical companies behind the production of Mounjaro and Ozempic, respectively.
Bjorklund is not the only person who suffered stomach paralysis. Many more people have experienced such adverse gastrointestinal side effects. Let’s have a quick scan on their stories too.
Joanie Knight, Lousiana
Joanie Knight, a 37-year-old woman, started her journey with a popular weight-loss drug in 2019. Not long after, she started facing extreme nausea and vomiting symptoms that persisted for two years.
Upon conducting a gastric emptying study, doctors found that her stomach was unusually slow in processing food – more than 35% of her food remained undigested after four hours, a far cry from the normal rate of less than 10%. This led to Ms. Knight undergoing gastric bypass surgery, which despite improving her stomach emptying, left her with lingering side effects. She now manages to consume only small portions of her beloved foods.
She has a message for those who rush behind the weight loss drugs for desired weight loss transformation.
As per the CTV report, she says, “I wish I never touched it. I wish I’d never heard of it in my life.” “This medicine made my life hell. So much hell. It has cost me money. It cost me a lot of stress; it cost me days and nights and trips with my family. It’s cost me a lot, and it’s not worth it. The price is too high.”
Emily Wright, Toronto
Emily Wright, 38-year-old teacher, began her Ozempic regimen in 2018. Through its use, she was able to shed 80 pounds over the course of a year, maintaining the weight loss. However, Wright’s experience with the medication soon took a turn for the worse. The frequent bouts of vomiting became so unbearable that she found herself compelled to take a leave of absence from her teaching position.
“It’s nearly been a year since I stopped taking Ozempic, but I still haven’t returned to my normal state,” expressed Wright.
Brenda Allen, Dallas
Brenda Allen, aged 42, hailing from Dallas, has shared an experience that resonates with others. Her medical provider recommended Wegovy as a solution for weight reduction. However, her journey with the medication has been far from smooth.
“And the challenges continue even now, after discontinuing the medication almost a year ago. I’m still grappling with significant health issues,” Allen expressed with concern. She recently found herself in urgent care, suffering from intense bouts of vomiting that led to dehydration, a situation that demanded immediate medical attention.
These are only a glimpse on the tales of woes from the people who used the weight loss drugs.
Views of Physicians on Stomach Paralysis & Weight Loss Drugs
Dr. Ninh T. Nguyen, a noted UCI Health bariatric surgeon, stresses the need for thorough research on Ozempic, a drug for diabetics, to determine if it induces or aggravates gastroparesis. With a 1% incidence rate of gastroparesis in type 2 diabetics, the matter warrants caution.
He cites the removal of the 1990s diet drug fen-phen due to cardiovascular complications as a cautionary tale. Dr. Nguyen recommends physicians and patients to handle these medications with caution and wisdom.
As someone with significant influence at the UCI School of Medicine, he’s not blind to the allure these drugs cause in the battle against weight gain. According to him, it’s high time that we dig deeper and understand the truth behind.
Dr. Michael Champeau, ASA president and adjunct clinical professor at Stanford University, expressed a significant concern: the relatively recent introduction of these drugs to the market means comprehensive studies have not yet been conducted to understand the full scope of their impact on stomach emptying times. As such, providing accurate guidelines in this context remains a challenge until more research is undertaken.
Dr. Andrew Boxer, a gastroenterologist at Gastroenterology Associates of New Jersey, notes a rising trend in patients reporting side effects from GLP-1 receptor agonists, a class of drugs found in medications like Ozempic.
Symptoms of weight loss drugs include nausea, vomiting, and feelings of fullness. Many patients were oblivious to the potential side effects and often overlooked mentioning their medication use, assuming it irrelevant to their gastroenterology consultations.
Just earlier July 2023, the American Society of Anesthesiologists cautioned against the use of these drugs before surgeries, citing instances of patients still having food in their stomachs during surgical procedures, despite preoperative fasting. This could cause dangerous outcome while under anesthesia.
The recurrent culprit seems to be delayed digestion due to long-term usage of these drugs, potentially escalating the risk of “regurgitation and pulmonary aspiration.”
Weight loss experts, such as the esteemed bariatric surgeon Dr. Mir B. Ali, seek to elucidate that severe stomach paralysis, though alarming, remains an uncommon side effect.
“I found myself taken aback by this discovery,” Dr. Ali confessed, “seeing this as a prolonged complication with patients persistently facing difficulties, even after ceasing the medication.”
He went on to say, with a thoughtful and cautious demeanor, “For those diagnosed with gastroparesis, I recommend steering clear of this medication, fully understanding the possible risks. Yet, it’s crucial to recognize that such an adverse reaction is not commonly seen.”
His statement, measured and insightful, paints a picture of care for patient’s health, while also weighing the treatment risks and benefits in a balanced manner.
Legal Implications of Weight Loss Drugs Stomach Paralysis Lawsuits
Legal disputes unfolding now resemble historical litigations against pharmaceutical firms, where drug side effects triggered substantial financial consequences and even corporate insolvencies.
These weight loss drug makers have not learnt the lesson, despite facing numerous weight loss lawsuits in the past.
The legal implications of these stomach paralysis lawsuits can have significant impacts on health care professionals, manufacturers and the consumers. They are listed below:
Product Liability Claims: Legal action against manufacturers and distributors of harmful weight-loss products can result in damages and criminal penalties.
Medical Malpractice: Improper prescribing of weight-loss medications can cause healthcare providers to face financial liability and loss of license.
Regulatory Compliance: Non-compliance with regulatory standards for weight loss drugs may lead to investigations, fines, or product recalls.
Consumer Protection: Misrepresentation or non-disclosure of risks can trigger legal action under consumer laws.
Impact on Reputation: These anti-obesity drug lawsuits can damage the reputation of weight loss drugs manufacturing companies and healthcare professionals, deterring future business.
Class Action Lawsuits: Injuries from a weight-loss product can lead to substantial financial penalties through collective legal action as class action lawsuits on weight loss drugs stomach paralysis.
Insurance Considerations: Legal actions may cause increased insurance premiums and complicate coverage.
Influence on Legislation and Regulation: High-profile weight loss drugs stomach paralysis lawsuits can shape future regulations and industry standards, affecting the weight loss industry.
What should I do to pursue a weight loss lawsuit?
Consult a Physician: Seek immediate medical attention from a healthcare provider to evaluate your condition and initiate appropriate treatment. Documenting the causes of your paralysis of the stomach and the treatment you receive can be crucial for later legal considerations.
Preserve Evidence: Keep the weight-loss medication, packaging, receipts, and other relevant documents. It can serve as evidence if legal action becomes necessary.
Notify the Manufacturer and Retailer: Inform the manufacturer and the place of purchase about the adverse effects. It may initiate a formal investigation or even a product recall, serving not only your interest but potentially assisting others who may encounter similar issues with the same drug.
Find a Weight Loss Lawyer: Should you suspect that your injury stems from a flawed or inaccurately labeled weight loss or diabetes drug, seeking the expertise of an attorney well-versed in personal injury or product liability is crucial. Such a legal expert can thoroughly assess your situation, and advocate for your rights in legal proceedings.
Keep Records: Maintain a detailed record of your symptoms, medical appointments, expenses, and any communication with the manufacturer, retailer, or legal professionals. This information can be vital in proving your weight loss lawsuit.
Consider LezDo TechMed Services: If you are in the USA, utilizing LezDo TechMed’s medical record review services, such as medical chronology and medical opinion, can assist in understanding the medical intricacies of your case. Their specialized team can provide valuable insights to support your Wegovy or Ozempic stomach paralysis lawsuits.
To wind up
The thought of shedding pounds quickly can be incredibly alluring, yet it’s essential for consumers to stay alert of potential perils. The newly discovered link between weight loss drugs and stomach paralysis is a stark warning of the significant hazards that may come with quick-fix approaches to health and fitness.
As investigations and weight loss drugs stomach paralysis lawsuits progress, it is critical for everyone, like consumers, healthcare providers and legal professionals, to stay informed about these developments. After all, health is our most precious asset.
These weight loss drugs stomach paralysis lawsuits serve as a wake-up call for the pharmaceutical industry, regulators, and consumers alike. They underline the urgent need for rigorous testing, transparent communication about potential risks, and vigilant post-market surveillance to protect public health.
Remember, the road to true and lasting health doesn’t come in a pill. It’s achieved through balanced nutrition, regular exercise, and a healthy lifestyle. Stay safe, stay informed, and most importantly, stay healthy.
As this story unfolds, we’ll keep you updated with the latest news and developments. For now, consider sharing this information with those who might need it – the awareness you spread could save a life.
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