Also known as delayed stomach emptying or stomach paralysis, gastroparesis affects the movement of food in the absence of a blockage in the small intestine or stomach.
It is a very serious condition, as it can result in many health complications, including blood sugar levels that are difficult to control, which can worsen diabetes, dehydration due to repeated vomiting, and malnutrition due to poor absorption of nutrients.
While one of the most common causes of gastroparesis is surgery on the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine, which may injure the vagus nerve, it has recently come to light that taking Ozempic or Mounjaro, two diabetes drugs, may also cause the disorder. Ozempic is a weekly injection that promotes lower blood sugar by helping the pancreas release more insulin, whereas Mounjaro, another injectable drug, is used along with exercise and diet to improve blood sugar in adults with diabetes.
The manufacturers of Ozempic and Mounjaro are being sued over claims that the medications cause gastroparesis, but some experts believe this assertion is inaccurate, as the drugs are said to only cause a temporary delay in stomach emptying. "To say Ozempic causes gastroparesis is not really an accurate statement. This is because gastroparesis is the "end product" when no food or almost no food moves in the digestive tract," said Steven Batash, founder of Batash Endoscopic Weight Loss and an expert on non-surgical weight loss procedures.
Instead, Batash believes Ozempic causes a delay in gastric emptying. Nevertheless, this delay only lasts for a short period of time, and once the medication's effects wear off, patients' "motility will return to their baselines," according to Batash. Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs are known to cause gastrointestinal issues, such as vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. The side effects of the medication will be present but will be "mild" in most patients. If they are too extreme, Batash recommends either lowering the dosage or stopping usage altogether.
On the other hand, a study from the Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology examined how liraglutide, another GLP-1 drug, affected digestion. The participants took either liraglutide or a placebo for five weeks and then ate a meal with a radioactive tracer so that researchers could see how long the food stayed in their stomachs. It took people taking liraglutide 70 minutes for half their food to leave their stomachs compared to four minutes in the control group, which is a drastic slow in digestion.
With gastroparesis, the digestion process is extended. The symptoms of the disorder include the following:
It is worth noting that gastroparesis can also be caused by diabetes itself, which is actually the most common cause of the disorder. High blood sugar can lead to gastroparesis, and there is no cure for the disorder. Although not approved by the FDA for this purpose, Ozempic and Mounjaro are sometimes used for weight loss. On August 2, 2023, a lawsuit was filed against Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly and Company, the manufacturers of the drugs, by Jaclyn Bjorklund, a 44-year-old woman from Louisiana. She claims that her gastroparesis diagnosis is the result of her taking Ozempic and Mounjaro. Furthermore, attorneys are investigating over 500 gastroparesis lawsuits for clients in 45 states.
If you took Ozempic or Mounjaro and came to struggle with gastroparesis, we strongly encourage you to contact our team of professionals, as we can easily help you find out whether you are eligible to file a claim and obtain financial compensation for your unjust suffering. We will thoroughly assess your case to determine your eligibility. The process is simple and will mostly take place over the phone, as we understand how overwhelming having gastroparesis can be.
With over 35 years of experience in evaluating personal injury claims, our team of professionals will help you determine whether you are eligible to file an Ozempic or Mounjaro claim for gastroparesis. The only documents we will request to review your case are evidence of you having taken the medication and your medical records. If we establish that you are entitled to compensation, we will put you in touch with a reliable attorney.