Overview:
If you are taking Ozempic or a similar medication and you are now facing a diagnosis of gastroparesis (stomach paralysis), this article contains important information you need to know. Over the past several years, the popularity of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist (RA) medications such as Ozempic has skyrocketed. While their ability to treat diabetes and assist with weight loss has been praised, there is a great deal of concern regarding potential Ozempic side effects, including gastroparesis.
In October 2023, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) examined adverse events associated with GLP-1 RA drugs used for weight loss in a research letter called “Risk of Gastrointestinal Adverse Events Associated With Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists for Weight Loss” where they concluded that studies had found increased risks of gastrointestinal adverse events, such as biliary disease, pancreatitis, bowel obstruction, and gastroparesis.
In October 2023, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) examined adverse events associated with GLP-1 RA drugs used for weight loss in a research letter called “Risk of Gastrointestinal Adverse Events Associated With Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists for Weight Loss” where they concluded that studies had found increased risks of gastrointestinal adverse events, such as biliary disease, pancreatitis, bowel obstruction, and gastroparesis.
Research Shows:
With the heightened scrutiny surrounding the safety and efficacy of GLP-1 RA medications, researchers around the world have undertaken a concerted effort to determine the precise correlation between the use of popular diabetes drugs and severe gastrointestinal side effects. The most recent study to establish a definitive link comes from a group of physicians in an October edition of JAMA Network, a peer-reviewed medical journal in operation since 1883.
Relying on data from the PharMetrics Plus database, which contains the prescription records of tens of millions of patients, the researchers selected, at random, 16 million subjects from 2006 to 2020. After refining the selection criteria to exclude semaglutide and liraglutide users who also have diabetes or underlying medical conditions (including those with prior gastrointestinal conditions) which could increase an individual’s risk factor for developing severe biliary or gastrointestinal diseases, the researchers then proceeded to track the rate of incidence of alarming complications.
The JAMA study concluded that users of semaglutide for weight management were at a heightened risk of developing “pancreatitis, gastroparesis, and bowel obstruction.” The study’s goal was to fill the gaps in prior clinical research about the correlation between semaglutide and liraglutide use and gastrointestinal complications. The ultimate recommendation in the JAMA study was these results should “be considered by patients who are contemplating using the drugs for weight loss.”
Relying on data from the PharMetrics Plus database, which contains the prescription records of tens of millions of patients, the researchers selected, at random, 16 million subjects from 2006 to 2020. After refining the selection criteria to exclude semaglutide and liraglutide users who also have diabetes or underlying medical conditions (including those with prior gastrointestinal conditions) which could increase an individual’s risk factor for developing severe biliary or gastrointestinal diseases, the researchers then proceeded to track the rate of incidence of alarming complications.
The JAMA study concluded that users of semaglutide for weight management were at a heightened risk of developing “pancreatitis, gastroparesis, and bowel obstruction.” The study’s goal was to fill the gaps in prior clinical research about the correlation between semaglutide and liraglutide use and gastrointestinal complications. The ultimate recommendation in the JAMA study was these results should “be considered by patients who are contemplating using the drugs for weight loss.”
The Lawsuit:
In August 2023, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly and Company, the manufacturers of Ozempic and Mounjaro, respectively, were named as defendants in the first of many product liability lawsuits. The Louisiana plaintiff in that case, alleges that after taking Ozempic for one year and, subsequently, Mounjaro, she developed severe gastrointestinal complications, which resulted in tooth loss from profuse vomiting.
The 44-year-old received a definitive diagnosis of stomach paralysis (gastroparesis) and struggles with an undiagnosed vomiting condition requiring temporary hospitalization to treat her dehydration.
Although Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly and Co. deny any wrongdoing, this Ozempic lawsuit claims the drug manufacturers “failed to warn” users of the potential risks involved with these GLP-1 RA medications.
Over the last 5 years since Ozempic was approved for use in the U.S., Google searches for Ozempic have increased by nearly 5000%. Clearly, many people are interested in learning more about Ozempic, but they need to know the whole story.
While the promise of rapid weight loss may entice the general public, anecdotal reports of adverse events warrant further attention from medical professionals. We anticipate the publication of large epidemiological studies over the next few years, which will shed more light on the link between Ozempic or Mounjaro and stomach paralysis.
The 44-year-old received a definitive diagnosis of stomach paralysis (gastroparesis) and struggles with an undiagnosed vomiting condition requiring temporary hospitalization to treat her dehydration.
Although Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly and Co. deny any wrongdoing, this Ozempic lawsuit claims the drug manufacturers “failed to warn” users of the potential risks involved with these GLP-1 RA medications.
Over the last 5 years since Ozempic was approved for use in the U.S., Google searches for Ozempic have increased by nearly 5000%. Clearly, many people are interested in learning more about Ozempic, but they need to know the whole story.
While the promise of rapid weight loss may entice the general public, anecdotal reports of adverse events warrant further attention from medical professionals. We anticipate the publication of large epidemiological studies over the next few years, which will shed more light on the link between Ozempic or Mounjaro and stomach paralysis.
What is Gastroparesis:
Gastroparesis (stomach paralysis) is a severe medical complication that extensive clinical research is beginning to connect to the use of popular GLP-1 RA (also known as GLP-1 agonists) medications, particularly Ozempic and Wegovy. It is characterized by dangerously slow rates of gastric emptying, which is the rate at which the stomach empties its contents.
What Does Gastroparesis Cause:
In severe cases, gastroparesis has been known to prevent people from eating food after only a few bites, thereby seriously inhibiting the natural digestion process. Although the severity of the symptoms connected with gastroparesis caused by the use of Ozempic and Wegovy varies, common symptoms of the condition include:
Our Verdict:
Although many people tend to have issues with managing weight and their self-image in relation to weight, we do not recommend the use of pharmaceuticals for a vast number of reasons, many of which include the long term and coinciding effects with other drugs. Many tests and studies may be done, but the fact that 75% of pharmaceutical commercials includes side effects of a negative nature, we would state that this is the primary reason to look into alternative medicine and natural remedies.
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