Weight loss injection brands like Ozempic and Wegovy recently gained popularity. However, serious health concerns - and even death - linked to these medications have raised doubts about their safety.
More than 1,500 lawsuits have been filed against manufacturers of these weight loss drugs as of March 2025.
As of December 2024, there had been 780 deaths connected to four popular brands of weight loss drugs since 2018, the Adverse Events Reporting System (FAERS) of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) showed. These are:
FAERS is the database portal that compiles reports of adverse reactions from medical reports. These are generally reported by healthcare professionals and consumers. Based on the same adverse reaction database, 386 of these fatalities, accounting for roughly 49%, were related to the use of Ozempic alone. Meanwhile, 212 deaths had been linked to Mounjaro, 85 to Rybelsus, 51 to Wegovy, and the remaining 46 tied to weight loss drugs' reported as generic.'
The same database also revealed that there had been 85,871 cases of adverse reactions arising from the use of these weight loss medications. Of this number, 24,559 were tagged as "serious," which meant that these cases resulted in life-threatening health concerns.
Semaglutide and tirzepatide are the active ingredients commonly found among weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro. They belong to a class of medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1) that can mimic the hormone responsible for regulating appetite and digestion.
Described as 'miracle drugs' in aiding weight loss, the number of Americans using these medications has rapidly increased in the past couple of years. Research showed that around 4 out of 10 people in the United States have used semaglutides, typically administered through injections, to lose weight.
Several studies have found a connection between the use of GLP-1 agonists and developing severe health conditions, including those that can be fatal, like gastroparesis.
Gastroparesis, also known as stomach paralysis, is the inability of the stomach's muscles to move and empty food. A common side effect among type-2 diabetes patients is that it can result in death and has a mortality rate of?3.19 per 1,000 patients in the country. Aside from gastroparesis, the use of GLP-1 agonists can also result in an elevated risk of bowel obstruction and pancreatitis, according to a 2023 study published on the JAMA Network.
Individuals who suffer serious adverse effects while taking weight loss medications can seek compensation. If you intend to file a claim, you need to prepare your medical records and prescription records to see if you meet the eligibility criteria.
Once you are deemed eligible Atraxia Law can assist you in the legal process.