Justice In Healthcare: Exploring Ozempic Side Effects and Lawsuits

3 months ago Health Care law Titas Ghosh Chaudhury No comment

Ozempic is a medication that is extremely popular for weight loss and also managing diabetes. However, nowadays, it’s been facing utmost scrutiny under different legal aspects. Why? Because of some of its adverse effects.

Reports suggest that there have been lots of health issues for the users. Hence it also explains the increasing number of lawsuits that talk about the drug results with severe side effects. Gastroparesis is one of the severe side effects of this medication.

In this article, let’s talk about the distinct side effects of Ozempic. Let’s discuss how these side effects also play a major role in achieving justice in the healthcare system.

What is Ozempic?

Ozempic is a known brand identity for a subcutaneous type of semaglutide injection. In order to reduce levels of blood sugar and reduce the risks of cardiovascular diseases, Ozempic acts as an optimal solution. Ozempic is primarily used for people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Ozempic is also one of the best solutions when it comes to managing weight.

Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor that mimics what GLP-1 hormone does. It is usually involved in regulating blood sugar.

Additionally, Ozempic is ideal for minimizing the symptoms of type 2 diabetes. It enhances insulin release and eventually reduces the amount of glucagon. Its also known for reducing appetite and delaying gastric empties. However, Ozempic is not ideal for treating type 1 diabetes.

History of Ozempic

Ozempic was not initially designed to be an anti-obesity drug. When semaglutide came up, it was intended to be the ultimate therapy for diabetes. In 2017, Ozempic was finally publicized. It got its approval from the FDA and brought the effects of diabetes under control.

You might be wondering how it got its approval so fast. This is because Ozempic had the ability to control the glycemic levels in adults whether it was a combination with other, medications or for diabetes or something else.

Less than one year after Ozempic’s release in 2017, researchers discovered that this medication was also an optimal way to control obesity. Researchers understood the potential of weight management made its market value higher.

It led to the development and following approval of the FDA of a higher-dose formulation of semaglutide with the brand identity Wegovy for long-term management of weight in adults who have a minimum of one other condition related to weight, like high cholesterol, or hypertension.

Ozempic soon became an ideal option for managing weight in the US. Later, its popularity increased all around the world. However, the FDA got reports from FAERS about 10,000 adverse event reports regarding different variants of semaglutide.

After two years, even though there were several adverse event reports about this, it however became the most common option for weight management. Later, the FDA included it in the list for drug shortages by the year 2023.

By this time, mainstream news outlets began to make reports on the adverse effects of Ozempic. These lawsuits were then shortly filed once the information got public.

Side Effects of Ozempic

Ozempic has a good number of possible adverse effects, ranging from mild to severe. Knowing about these side effects is crucial for whoever is considering the medication or is already making use of it. The following are the common and severe side effects:

Dizziness
Lack of appetite
Sore throat
Frequent tiredness or fatigue
Constipation or diarrhea
Upset stomach
Headache
Stomach pain
Runny nose

Severe Side Effects

Pancreatitis
Kidney issues
Gastroparesis
Elevated heart rate
Hypoglycemia (that is, low blood sugar level(
Gallbladder disease
Stomach flu

What is Gastroparesis?

Gastroparesis makes the muscles of the stomach not function adequately and hence it empties the stomach. This condition is extremely weakening. This can even result in adverse effects of ongoing medical treatment. Even lawsuits have argued that Ozempic can even worsen this condition as well.

Symptoms of Gastroparesis

The feeling of fullness following the commencement of a meal and for a long time thereafter
Little to no appetite
Gas and bloating, belching
Upper abdominal pain
Nausea and vomiting
Heartburn

The symptoms listed above can spiral into other issues, such as diarrhea and nausea, thereby resulting in severe dehydration or malnutrition, especially if the patient tries to avoid eating due to their symptoms. More complications, such as the presence of blood in your vomit or stool, indicate a severe problem that requires being instantly addressed by your doctor.

Ozempic Lawsuits

Ozempic has undergone several lawsuits with different types of misconduct and negligence. They are:

Failure to Warn

There has been several allegations against the medicine saying its adverse effects. It has also been told that it can cause gastroparesis.

Liability of Products

This claims that Ozempic is a product that has been found to be defective, resulting in serious health problems.

Legal Grounds for Filing an Ozempic Lawsuit

If you have or facing adverse effects of Ozempic, its your right to get a legal advice. However, there are major considerations that talk about the inadequate warnings made by the manufacturer. It hence proved that Ozempic is a faulty product and shouldn’t exist in the market.

Ozempic includes filing different lawsuits majorly for resulting in gastroparesis. Gastroparesis is a severe stomach disorder. Some professionals also believe that saying this side effect allegation might not be accurate. The medication thus only results in temporary delay for emptying the stomach.