The Ozempic lawsuit has become a serious legal concern in the pharmaceutical industry. This lawsuit centers around claims that Novo Nordisk, the Danish Ozempic manufacturer, didn’t adequately warn patients about the severe potential side effects of Ozempic use.
Ozempic, also known as semaglutide, is a prescription weight loss drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is primarily used to treat and manage type 2 diabetes, but it is also commonly used off-label to manage weight loss.
But it’s now under investigation because of allegations linking its usage with vision loss, ileus, and gastroparesis–a draining digestive condition that is the crux of the Ozempic side effect lawsuit.
Overview of Ozempic Lawsuits in 2025
People are filing lawsuits against Novo Nordisk, the Ozempic maker, after suffering severe gastrointestinal injuries, blood clots, and vision loss after taking this drug. Again, Ozempic is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drug approved by the FDA to treat and manage type 2 diabetes. Further, a well-publicized side effect of this medication is that it can help people lose weight.
However, there have been concerns that increased use of this medication can cause severe gastrointestinal injuries and other severe issues.
As of February 3, 2025, there are about 1,443 personal injury claims for intestinal blockage, ileus, and gastroparesis or obstruction in multidistrict litigation 3094 in Pennsylvania. One of the plaintiffs who filed the Ozempic MDL is a woman from Michigan who claims she experienced debilitating gastrointestinal issues after taking Ozempic. Her symptoms were very severe; she needed hospitalization. Her Ozempic lawsuit claims Novo Nordisk didn’t satisfactorily warn doctors and patients of serious medical issues and instead promoted Ozempic as a magical medication. As these legal claims move through the MDL process, the judge will hold a status conference on February 24, 2025.
This is an ongoing lawsuit. Thus, if you took any semaglutide drug, including Ozempic and Wegovy, and suffered vision loss, you may be eligible to file a claim for potential compensation.
Timeline of Major Ozempic Lawsuit Developments
As of February 3, 2025, 1,143 complainants had joined the MDL against Novo Nordisk (the maker of Ozempic) and other GLP-1 manufacturers.
On January 16, 2025, many of those who were injured by this GLP-1 medication were included in the combined federal litigation for GLP-1 medications. Expert witnesses for plaintiffs and defendants are collecting evidence to prove or disprove that Ozempic may cause side effects experienced by complainants. On May 14, 2025, there will be an evidence hearing. During that hearing, the court will establish if the evidence and reports produced by experts are admissible before a judge. If the statements of the complaints’ experts are considered acceptable in court, that’ll be great for those injured by this medication.
On January 9, 2025, more people harmed by Ozempic were added to the MDL 3094: In Re: GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Products Liability Litigation. Lately, the JPML (Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation) was asked to include two more medical conditions in the lawsuit–permanent vision loss from eye strokes and blood clots. The JPML declined to include these injuries in the ongoing MDL. That’s good news for those exhibiting these injuries because they can form a new Ozempic MDL. These are severe side effects, and individuals who develop these injuries after taking Ozempic deserve to be compensated.
By January 2, 2025, 1,331 plaintiffs had filed claims against GLP-1 manufacturers. Many of those who have filed these cases claim GLP-1 medications like Ozempic injured them. These complainants say Ozempic caused them to develop gastric disorders, bowel conditions, pancreas and liver harm, and other severe medical conditions.
Key Side Effects Leading to Ozempic Litigation
Research has linked Ozempic to various health conditions. However, Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic, doesn’t list many of the weight loss drug’s serious side effects on its warning label. These side effects include gastroenteritis, gastroparesis/stomach paralysis, and intestinal blockage.
The FDA is investigating reports of these side effects filed via its FAERS (FDA Adverse Event Reporting System). This reporting system enables people to report product liability directly to the agency.
FDA scrutinization has caused the Ozempic warning label to be updated several times.
- March 2022: Novo Nordisk updated Ozempic’s warning label to include gallbladder.
- September 2023: Ozempic’s maker included ileus and intestinal blockages as Ozempic side effects.
- November 2024: Pulmonary aspiration during deep sedation or general anesthesia was included on Ozempic’s warning label.
Additionally, Ozempic use has led to hundreds of deaths. Wrongful death after taking Ozempic is often because of a condition caused by the medication or because of pre-existing health issues, which the medication worsened.
Listed Ozempic side effects include:
- Abdominal pain
- Acute kidney injury
- Anaphylaxis
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Diabetic retinopathy complications
- Gastrointestinal reactions
- Nausea
- Pancreatitis
- Thyroid tumors
- Vomiting
- Hypoglycemia
Gastroparesis Claims in Ozempic Lawsuits
Your stomach works by churning and breaking down food, then contracting and pushing the food into the small intestines. Gastroparesis, also called stomach paralysis, occurs when this process takes place slowly. Symptoms of gastroparesis include vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, bloating, early satiety, and changes in blood sugar levels.
People who have used Ozempic allege that it caused or worsened stomach paralysis. It’s still unclear what aspects of Ozempic are linked to gastroparesis, but some believe the medication affects food mobility and digestion in the gastrointestinal duct.
Research has shown a link between GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs and gastroparesis, bowel obstruction, and pancreatitis. Further, research shows that people taking Ozempic have a:
- 4.22 higher chance of developing a bowel obstruction
- 9.09 higher chance of developing pancreatitis
- 3.67 higher chance of developing stomach paralysis.
Those filing Ozempic gastroparesis lawsuits allege that Novo Nordisk inadequately warned them about the potential risk of gastroparesis and its associated symptoms, which caused them harm and suffering. Thus, proving a link between the condition and Ozempic is a fundamental crux of this particular mass tort.
Vision Loss and Blindness Allegations Against Ozempic
Besides gastroparesis allegations, attorneys are investigating Ozempic vision loss claims. According to a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology, people with type 2 diabetes who took semaglutide medications like Ozempic had fourfold higher chances of developing nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) than other patients not on semaglutide medication.
Obese people who took Ozempic for weight loss had a sevenfold higher chance of developing NAION.
NAION occurs once blood flow to the optic nerve is cut off or disturbed, causing vision loss or blindness. A vital component of Ozempic vision loss claims is proving a connection between Ozempic and vision loss.
Differences Between Individual and Class Action Ozempic Lawsuits
Regarding Ozempic lawsuits, complainants can either pursue individual lawsuits or join a class action. Each legal process has its own considerations and pros.
Class action suits involve a group of complainants with similar allegations against a common defendant. In the case of Ozempic lawsuits, that would be a group of plaintiffs who have suffered side effects like gastroparesis or vision loss that could potentially be associated with the medication. Class actions are more effective in handling similar lawsuits, resulting in a uniform settlement for all plaintiffs.
On the other hand, individual Ozempic lawsuits allow for a personalized legal strategy and potentially larger settlements for severe claims. The complainant also has more control over the legal process, including decisions concerning settlement offers.
However, it’s vital to note that no class action Ozempic lawsuit exists. Instead, individual Ozempic lawsuits have been combined into multidistrict litigation (MDL). An MDL is a special federal legal process that combines lawsuits where a common product has harmed many people into a single federal court.
How to Qualify for an Ozempic Lawsuit
You must meet various requirements to file a claim against the Ozempic maker, Novo Nordisk. To be eligible to file an Ozempic lawsuit, you must be able to prove that you were taking the medication and developed debilitating health issues, including gastroparesis, ileus, intestinal obstruction, or severe, persistent vomiting, which needed medical treatment.
Eligibility criteria for filing an Ozempic lawsuit in 2025 include:
- Age: You must have been under 75 years old when you started taking the medication, and currently, you’re not undergoing chemotherapy.
- Proof of use: You must have documents proving use of Ozempic, Rybelsus, or Wegovy, including medical records and prescriptions.
- Severe health effects: You must prove that you developed adverse health issues, including hospitalizations or emergency room visits, after taking Ozempic.
- Diagnosis of qualifying medical condition: Not all medical conditions are eligible. Ozempic lawsuits are primarily focused on people experiencing debilitating gastroparesis, ileus, or gastric intestinal obstruction after Ozempic usage. Individuals being treated for cancer or those who have undergone major gastric surgeries aren’t eligible to file an Ozempic lawsuit. Your symptoms or diagnosis must have occurred within two months of using the medication.
It’s daunting to know if you’re eligible for an Ozempic claim without the help of a skilled product liability lawyer. Thus, it’s wise that you consult with a lawyer as early as possible in the legal process and get all medical records connected to Ozemic use and severe health conditions.
Potential Ozempic Lawsuit Payout Amounts
Ozempic, a medication touted as a game-changer in the treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults, has been under heavy scrutiny for its ability to cause adverse side effects, including vision loss and gastroparesis. The medication, made by Novo Nordisk, has been prescribed widely in the U.S. It’s not only used in treating and managing type 2 diabetes but also off-label for weight loss.
People who have developed severe side effects after taking this drug are entitled to financial compensation by taking legal action against Novo Nordisk. Although individual lawsuit payout amounts and settlements are expected to vary greatly, plaintiffs should expect to receive between $400,000 and $700,000 based on their circumstances.
Ozempic lawsuit payout amounts and settlements will largely depend on the following factors:
- Your diagnosis
- Your immediate and long-term medical treatment needs
- Your other out-of-pocket damages
- The non-financial impact of your diagnosis, which may include damages for pain and suffering, loss of consortium and companionship, emotional stress, and loss of enjoyment of life
An experienced product liability attorney can help you maximize your compensation. They’ll know the damages available and the documents needed to prove you’re entitled to maximum compensation. Also, a product liability lawyer has the necessary negotiation skills to help you receive a fair payout and settlement amount.
Novo Nordisk’s Response to Ozempic Legal Claims
Novo Nordisk has already refuted allegations by one of the plaintiffs, Jaclyn Bjorklund, a Louisiana woman, that her doctors weren’t adequately warned of the severe side effect potential in Ozempic. The Danish company says that the pain and vomiting the plaintiff alleges she experienced are listed on the drug’s warning label.
The Danish Ozempic manufacturer has filed a motion to dismiss the plaintiff’s lawsuit against the company in Louisiana federal court. The complainant said that while taking Ozempic for type 2 diabetes, she experienced stomach paralysis, a delay in the emptying of the stomach into the small intestines. This caused her to vomit, and she experienced severe pain.
In its motion, the drugmaker stated the slowdown is part of how Ozempic works to enhance blood sugar management. Additionally, it said that her symptoms were “comprehensively discussed” on the FDA’s approved label for the medication. The company further argues that the Louisiana law the plaintiff cites in her case doesn’t require doctors to be warned of the potential side effects of Ozempic and other semaglutide drugs, as she claims.
At AllConsumer.com, we advocate for your right to safety and open information. Sign up today for up-to-date information on the products you’re consuming.
