Does Ozempic Cause Gastroparesis?

Reg Reinoso

Author

Ozempic, a popular drug used to manage Type 2 diabetes and is widely recognized for weight loss, has gained attention for both its effectiveness and its potential side effects. Recently, lawsuits have been filed by patients who claim that after taking Ozempic, they developed gastroparesis, a condition where the stomach muscles become permanently paralyzed.

The omission of serious and potentially permanent conditions from warning labels highlights the need for more transparency, particularly when drugs are being widely advertised to the general public.

The FDA’s Current Warning Label for Ozempic

The FDA’s most recent warning label for Ozempic lists a range of gastrointestinal side effects, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which were observed in clinical trials. These side effects are considered common for drugs like Ozempic. However, one serious condition notably absent from the warning label is gastroparesis, a condition where the stomach muscles become paralyzed, preventing food from moving through the digestive tract as it should. Patients diagnosed with gastroparesis experience symptoms such as vomiting, severe nausea, and difficulty digesting food, which can lead to long-term health complications that may be permanent.

In 2023, the FDA updated the Ozempic label to acknowledge reports of users experiencing blocked intestines, such as ileus, adding to the growing list of gastrointestinal issues associated with the drug. Despite these updates, there is still no mention of gastroparesis as a potential side effect, despite lawsuits filed by patients who claim they developed this condition after using Ozempic.

Pharmaceutical Companies’ Legal Duties to the Public 

Pharmaceutical companies have a responsibility to disclose all potential side effects of the medications they market, particularly those that could have permanent or severe consequences for patients. The omission of conditions like gastroparesis from Ozempic’s warning label highlights the risks associated with incomplete disclosure, especially for a drug that is widely advertised and used by a large patient population. While most patients are aware of the more common side effects, such as nausea and diarrhea, they may not be prepared for the possibility of developing a life-altering condition like gastroparesis, which is often permanent and requires ongoing medical care.

When pharmaceutical companies fail to fully disclose all known risks, it undermines patient safety. Without a complete understanding of the potential dangers, patients are left vulnerable to unexpected complications. In the case of gastroparesis, patients who have developed this condition after using Ozempic were likely unaware of its possibility because it is not listed as a side effect. This lack of information may prevent patients from recognizing early symptoms and seeking timely medical intervention, compounding the severity of their condition.

Incomplete disclosure also means there was no informed consent, a foundational principle in healthcare. Patients have the right to know the full scope of risks associated with a medication before agreeing to take it. This lack of transparency can also strain the trust between patients and healthcare providers, as doctors rely on the information provided by pharmaceutical companies to make informed recommendations to their patients. If companies are aware of serious risks but fail to include them in their warnings, they place patients in a position where they cannot make fully informed decisions about their own health.

This information is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal advice.