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    Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy are once-weekly injectable medications belonging to a class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists.

    Ozempic and Mounjaro are currently FDA-approved only to treat type 2 diabetes, while Wegovy is FDA-approved for weight loss. However, Ozempic and Mounjaro are frequently prescribed off-label by doctors for weight loss. Novo Nordisk manufactures Ozempic and Wegovy, while Mounjaro is Eli Lilly and Company’s competing product.

    While these drugs are highly effective at helping patients lose weight, their effectiveness comes with a steep cost for many users, including:

    • Gastroparesis (stomach paralysis)
    • Persistent vomiting
    • Persistent nausea
    • Persistent diarrhea

    If you or someone you love took Ozempic, Mounjaro, or Wegovy and suffered any of these symptoms, we want to hear from you. The South Carolina defective drug lawyers at Joye Law Firm are working hard to help victims of these medications get the compensation they deserve. Contact us anytime for a free consultation.

    How Do GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Medications Work?

    Drugs in the GLP-1 receptor agonist class of medications work by mimicking the action of a hormone called glucagon-like peptide 1. When people eat and their blood sugar levels rise, GLP-1 receptor agonists stimulate the body to produce more insulin. In turn, the extra insulin lowers blood sugar levels.

    Although doctors and scientists are unsure exactly how GLP-1 receptor agonists help patients lose weight, they know that the medications slow food movement from the stomach into the small intestine. This can help patients feel full faster while eating and continue feeling full for longer, which can result in a caloric deficit and weight loss.

    Increased Risk of Anesthesia-Related Complications When Taking Weight Loss Drugs

    According to a report by CBS News, the slower movement of food from the stomach into the intestines caused by these drugs can increase surgical patients’ risk of fatal complications under anesthesia.

    Before surgery, anesthesiologists require patients to stop eating several hours before their procedures to reduce the risk of aspirating food and liquids. Because GLP-1 receptor agonists slow the rate the stomach empties, it means some patients may end up under general anesthesia and on the operating table with food still in their stomachs.

    People who aspirate food under anesthesia can suffer from a complication called pulmonary aspiration, resulting in severe lung damage, infections, and death.

    How Can Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy Cause Unpleasant and Painful Digestive Symptoms?

    Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy can cause debilitating symptoms of the digestive system the same way they help patients lose weight—by slowing down digestion and keeping food in their stomachs for longer periods. According to CBS News, at least 10% of patients taking GLP-1 receptor agonist medications must stop using them because the side effects don’t improve.

    In addition to physical symptoms, patients may experience stress, anxiety, and depression due to the “gut-brain connection.” When people experience chronic and persistent stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, they may struggle with their mental health, mood, and energy levels.

    What Are the Complications of Persistent Vomiting and Diarrhea?

    GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy all have vomiting and diarrhea as listed side effects. However, in some people, vomiting and diarrhea become persistent and occur frequently or daily.

    People who suffer from persistent vomiting and diarrhea suffer both physically and psychologically. They also risk becoming malnourished and weak due to their bodies’ inability to absorb calories and nutrients from food. These symptoms also may interfere with their professional and social lives, as they may find it difficult or embarrassing to be around others while dealing with constant digestive problems.

    What Are the Complications of Persistent Nausea?

    As with vomiting and diarrhea, nausea is a well-known and widely experienced side effect of GLP-1 receptor agonists. However, it’s supposed to be infrequent and temporary. However, for some patients who take these drugs, nausea is persistent and can occur every time they eat.

    Nausea is an extremely unpleasant sensation, and when people experience it, they may struggle to do anything other than rest and wait for it to diminish or go away. Unfortunately, nausea doesn’t go away in some people who take Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy, and experiencing it can have a significantly negative impact on their lives, including their ability to work.

    What Are the Complications of Gastroparesis?

    The National Institutes of Health (NIH) defines gastroparesis as “a disorder that slows or stops the movement of food from your stomach to your small intestine, even though there is no blockage in the stomach or intestines.”

    In August 2023, the manufacturers of Ozempic and Mounjaro were sued due to their failure to warn doctors and the public of the tendency for these drugs to cause gastroparesis, or paralysis of the stomach. Some of the most common signs and symptoms of gastroparesis include:

    • Abdominal pain
    • Acid reflux
    • Vomiting
    • Nausea
    • Malnutrition
    • Dehydration
    • Reduced quality of life

    Doctors advise some patients taking GLP-1 receptor agonist medications to take multivitamins and protein supplements due to gastroparesis and other complications causing severe malnutrition.

    However, no number of multivitamins and supplements can compensate for the impaired food absorption caused by gastroparesis, which means many patients who take GLP-1 receptor agonists are chronically malnourished.

    What Is the Best Treatment for Complications Caused by These Drugs?

    Because these drugs cause such dramatic effects on the digestive system in some people, the only way to treat their complications is to stop using them. For many patients, modifying their diets isn’t enough to prevent them from experiencing severe and persistent vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and gastroparesis.

    Who Is Eligible for Compensation For GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Injuries?

    Although the manufacturers of Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro are open about some of the most common side effects of the medications, like vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea, many patients feel they weren’t adequately warned about how severe and persistent they can be. Impaired digestion can affect every aspect of your body, mind, and life.

    You may be eligible for compensation if you took any of these GLP-1 receptor agonists and experienced persistent vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, or gastroparesis. That’s because you and countless other patients didn’t receive the information you needed to decide if taking these medications was right for you.

    Our South Carolina Drug Injury Lawyers Are Helping Weight Loss Drug Victims

    Losing weight can help many people improve their health and sense of well-being. Unfortunately, the complications of GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy are too much for many people to bear. Shedding pounds is never worth the constant and severe digestive problems many users experience, including malnutrition, which can lead to other serious health problems.

    While Wegovy is FDA-approved for weight loss, Ozempic and Mounjaro aren’t. There is also no long-term data about how they will affect users years down the road.

    At Joye Law Firm, we aim to ensure people know about these medications’ dangers and help injured victims get the money they deserve for their debilitating symptoms and injuries. Holding multinational pharmaceutical giants like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly responsible for injuries their products cause helps create a safer future for everyone.

    Contact Joye Law Firm today to learn how we can help if a GLP-1 receptor agonist, including Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro, injured you or a loved one.

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