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New research and concerns regarding the health risks of the drug semaglutide have resulted in Ozempic lawsuits. Risks that may be connected with the use of Ozempic include gastroparesis, bowel blockage, certain types of cancer, and other gastrointestinal illnesses and damage. These lawsuits, which include individual, mass tort, and class action claims, allege that the manufacturer did not provide adequate warning of these health issues.
At Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner, our personal injury lawyers have an in-depth understanding of these types of cases. We can assist you in seeking compensation for the harm Ozempic caused you. Contact us today.
Understanding Ozempic Lawsuits
Ozempic is one of three semaglutide products that are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is an injectable medicine intended to treat adults with type 2 diabetes. The drug is taken weekly to aid in lowering blood sugar and minimize the risk of heart attacks, stroke, and other cardiovascular conditions.
Side effects of taking Ozempic include lowered appetite and weight loss. Therefore, Ozempic has become more popular for weight loss and has been publicized as a way to help people lose weight. This also led to the creation of Wegovy, which is a higher dose semaglutide injectable prescribed for weight management.
The increased use of Ozempic and the high-dose Wegovy has led to concerns over health issues from long-term use. Some of these health concerns include:
- Severe gastroparesis, or stomach paralysis
- Ileus, or bowel blockage
- Vision problems, eye stroke, and blindness
- Bile duct, gallbladder, and sinus cancer
- Lou Gehrig’s disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), blood clots, and pulmonary embolism (PE)
The risk of these health issues may increase with the use of these drugs. If you have developed these dangerous conditions and have been diagnosed after prolonged use of Ozempic or another approved semaglutide, you may have a claim. Due to the elevated risk associated with this drug usage, as well as concerns that the manufacturer did not properly warn of these dangers, you could recover compensation for medical bills and other losses.
Who Manufactures Ozempic?
Ozempic is manufactured by Novo Nordisk and was approved by the FDA in late 2017. Novo Nordisk is a Danish healthcare company founded in 1923. The current lawsuits regarding Ozempic and Wegovy claim that the company failed to warn consumers of all the complications that occur from using the medication.
Ozempic was not approved for weight loss at the initial time of its approval. Wegovy was approved as a weight management drug in 2021. Novo Nordisk produces Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus, which are all three FDA-approved semaglutide products.
What Is Semaglutide?
What Is Semaglutide?Semaglutide is a type of medication referred to as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, which act like the GLP-1 hormone to aid in digestion. GLP-1 is produced in the gastrointestinal tract after eating and leads to the body producing greater levels of insulin, which lowers sugar levels.
The GLP-1 receptor agonists help this naturally occurring process and slow digestion. They can also decrease hunger and increase fullness after eating, causing weight loss. No longer taking semaglutide can result in regaining that weight. The three FDA-approved semaglutide products include:
- Ozempic: approved for type 2 diabetes to lower blood sugar and to lower the risk of heart conditions, stroke, and death;
- Rybelsis: tablets approved to lower blood sugar for type 2 diabetes; and
- Wegovy: approved for weight loss, as well as the management of obesity and weight-related medical concerns.
These medications are prescription-only and made for long-term use.
Legal Support From a Talented Ozempic Lawsuit Lawyer in Houston, TX
If you believe you have grounds for an Ozempic lawsuit, you need to discuss your case with a skilled attorney. Product manufacturers, including those of medications, have a responsibility to consider the welfare of their consumers. It can be frustrating to suffer an illness or developmental condition because of the carelessness of a manufacturer. An attorney can help you determine your next steps.
While any medication can have risks, a manufacturer must warn consumers of those risks. Failure to warn could make the manufacturer legally liable for directly related injuries and conditions. If you have a valid claim, your attorney can help you recover the costs associated with your illness or other conditions.
Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner can help you determine if you have the grounds for a claim. Our team knows how to manage these lawsuits effectively and can identify the right route for you to recover compensation. If you developed an illness because of a company’s negligence, you deserve to be financially compensated.
Health Risks Associated With Ozempic
Complaints to the FDA and studies have shown a potential increased risk of gallbladder diseases, intestinal obstruction, bile duct diseases, and other health concerns. Related side effects from using Ozempic could include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Suicidal thoughts
- Gallbladder inflammation
- Gallstones
- Gastroparesis or stomach paralysis
- Pancreas inflammation or pancreatitis
- Vision changes
- Vision loss and blindness, or non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION)
- Intestinal obstruction and blockage
- DVT, leading to PE
- Biliary diseases
- Acute kidney injury
- Liver or kidney failure
- Hypoglycemia
- Thyroid cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
The risks of these conditions and side effects could potentially increase when a patient takes the drug for longer and injects a higher dose. Some of these side effects also continue even when an individual has discontinued drug use.
Understanding Certain Risks Associated With Ozempic
Understanding Certain Risks Associated With OzempicSome risks potentially associated with Ozempic and other semaglutide products are more prevalent or concerning than others. These include:
Gallbladder Issues
Patients have reported health issues with their gallbladder, even after no longer using the medication. These health risks seem more severe when there is a high dose and/or prolonged use of the drug.
Intestinal Blockage and Gastroparesis
The FDA received complaints regarding the association of intentional obstruction due to the use of Ozempic. Intestinal blockage may be present through swelling, constipation, cramps, and vomiting.
The FDA was also informed of cases of stomach paralysis, or gastroparesis. This condition results in limitations on the nerves and muscles in the stomach, delaying the digestion process. Gastroparesis can show symptoms through nausea, indigestion, vomiting, malnutrition, bloating, upper abdominal pain, and more.
Blockages and paralysis in the intestines can be life-threatening, and obstruction often requires surgical intervention.
Vision Loss
A study has shown a potential connection between semaglutide and eye strokes. Eye strokes and NAION occur when there is a limited blood flow in the optic nerve, causing sudden vision loss and potential blindness. Those who take Ozempic may have an increased risk of this type of damage.
DVT and Blood Clots
DVT, or deep vein thrombosis, is when a blood clot forms in a deep vein. Commonly, these clots occur in the leg. DVT can be life-threatening. There is a potential connection between developing DVT and taking Ozempic.
DVT and PE
DVT and blood clots can also cause PEs, or pulmonary embolisms. DVT is the most common cause of PE. Part of the blood clot can travel from the deep vein to the lungs, blocking smaller pulmonary arteries. These conditions are life-threatening.
Who Is Eligible for an Ozempic Lawsuit?
Not every person who has taken Ozempic has a viable Ozempic lawsuit. You must also have had a medical complication and diagnosis that is connected to the use of the drug. In order to be eligible for a potential claim, you must meet these criteria:
- You received Ozempic, Wegovy, or Rybelsus treatments
- You were diagnosed with a related illness or condition while actively taking the medication or within a set period of time after you stopped taking it
- You were hospitalized, visited the emergency room, or had a visit with a specific specialist due to that condition
How Can an Attorney Help With an Ozempic Lawsuit?
An Ozempic lawsuit attorney can review your individual circumstances and determine if you have a potential claim based on your qualifying condition. If you do, they can advise you on the next steps to take, including filing a lawsuit, joining an existing lawsuit, or taking other steps to protect your financial future.
Your lawyer may take steps such as gathering relevant evidence and documentation, negotiating your settlement on your behalf, and calculating what damages you are owed. An attorney will also take your claim to court if necessary. The sooner you begin reviewing your case with a skilled Ozempic lawsuit attorney, the more effectively they can protect your interests.
Settlements and Potential Damages in an Ozempic Claim
The size of a settlement for an Ozempic lawsuit can vary and mostly relies on the value and significance of your damages. The more serious your condition is, the more likely it involves higher medical costs and long-term medical complications. It may also be more likely to affect your ability to do your job and negatively impact your career.
The compensation you receive should cover the costs of these damages. Because of this, there is no set value for any Ozempic lawsuit settlement. The damages you recover are usually only compensatory damages, including both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are tangible costs with a monetary value. These include:
- Medical bills and healthcare costs, both existing and anticipated
- Long-term at-home care
- Lost wages from missing work
- Lost earning capacity from being unable to return to work
Non-economic damages are intangible losses, which have no set value but are given one in this case. These include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Loss of quality or enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium or companionship
In addition to compensatory damages, a claim filed in court could also recover punitive damages. Punitive damages are awarded by the court when the actions of the at-fault party are severe, such as egregiously negligent. The exact requirements for punitive damages vary from state to state. In Texas, punitive damages are included in exemplary damages and are awarded in cases of fraud, malice, or gross negligence. These damages are assigned to punish the defendant for their behavior.
Your attorney is helpful in calculating the full amount of your damages and securing the compensation that covers those damages. Calculating the costs of future bills and assigning a monetary value to pain and suffering can be challenging, but an attorney has experience in this field. They can help gather the documentation needed to prove your expenses and secure a fair settlement.
Time Limits to File an Ozempic Lawsuit
Each state has its own statute of limitations for filing product liability and personal injury lawsuits. A statute of limitations is a set period of time that an injured party has to file for damages. In Texas, this time limit is two years from the date of the injury.
Many claims may start with negotiations before they are filed in court. The other party will often negotiate during this time to avoid an expensive lawsuit. You will not want to let the statute of limitations pass by, however, as the other party will no longer have a reason to fairly negotiate and settle if you do so.
It is important that your claim is filed within that time period, or you will be unable to recover compensation. There may be some exceptions to the statute of limitations, and an attorney can determine if you meet them.
Get in Contact With a Skilled Ozempic Lawsuit Attorney Today
The impact of Ozempic or another semaglutide product may cause serious injury and long-term health concerns. When suffering from a developmental illness or other condition, you need support to determine if you can hold a party at fault. However, navigating this process is much harder while dealing with an illness or, even worse, grieving the loss of a loved one. An attorney is a necessary ally to help you receive the compensation you may be owed.
Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner is dedicated to helping individuals and families hurt by the carelessness and failures of big companies. Our team works to support you, and we use our years of work in the field to benefit your claim. When you need help filing an Ozempic lawsuit, contact our team.
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