Ozempic Side Effects: The Problem With Ozempic

Ozempic (semaglutide) is a massively popular GLP-1 drug used to treat diabetes and as a weight loss drug. Around 13 percent of United States adults have used the drug.

However, numerous lawsuits have been filed over the side effects of Ozempic. There are over 1,000 lawsuits now pending in federal court alleging that Ozempic’s manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, failed to warn about serious side effects associated with the prescription medication, including gastroparesis, or stomach paralysis.

Call us today for a free consultation if you or a loved one suffered any serious side effects after taking the prescription drug Ozempic or another GLP-1 drug like Wegovy. If you or a loved one has suffered any Ozempic bad side effects, we can file a lawsuit on your behalf seeking compensation for medical bills, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain, suffering, wrongful death and more. There’s no risk in calling us since we won’t charge a fee until and unless we recover money for you, so call us today for a free case evaluation.

Ozempic Bad Side Effects Summarized

You may be wondering, “What are the bad side effects of Ozempic?” There were 1,221 Ozempic lawsuits pending in federal court as of November 1, 2024. The lawsuits over Ozempic dangers allege that Novo Nordisk knew or should have known that the drug could cause serious side effects, but failed to warn about this risk. Serious side effects which Ozempic may cause include:

• Gastroparesis (stomach paralysis)
• Gallbladder diseases like cholecystitis or cholelithiasis
• Bowel obstruction or ileus
• Pulmonary embolism
• Gallbladder removal
• Pulmonary aspiration
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Other gastrointestinal injuries
• Pancreatic cancer
• Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION)
• Changes in vision, like blurred vision or vision loss
• Suicide

How Ozempic Works

Ozempic is used as a type 2 diabetes treatment in order to control blood sugar levels as well as lower the risk of death, heart attack or stroke for those with heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Clinical trials have demonstrated the drug can help people lose weight as well as maintain that lost weight. The medication is taken once per week as an injection which goes underneath the skin of the belly, upper arm or thigh. An autoinjector pen is used.

The drug works by helping your pancreas release extra insulin. This decreases how much sugar is made by your liver and slows how quickly food passes through the body. This helps you feel full for longer. This also helps to lower levels of blood sugar and lower the risk of major cardiovascular events.

The drug is a GLP-1 agonist drug, like other weight loss drugs such as Wegovy. It works in the same way that a natural hormone called GLP-1 does. That hormone is made in the gut. It controls the release of insulin as well as gut emptying. It regulates food intake and appetite. The drug works by binding with GLP-1 receptors. This lowers blood sugar as well as levels of A1C, and might also reduce one’s appetite to aid in weight loss.

Basically, by mimicking GLP-1, Ozempic causes your brain to think it’s full.

Common Ozempic Side Effects

The most common side effects of Ozempic are:

• Abdominal pain
• Alteration of taste
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Burping
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Flatulence
• Injection site reactions like discomfort, discoloration or skin color changes
• Acid reflux or indigestion
• Minor heart rate increase
• Vomiting or nausea

While these are the most common adverse reactions to Ozempic, there are other side effects which may be associated with the drug.

Tips for Managing Mild Ozempic Side Effects

There are numerous strategies one can employ to manage Ozempic’s gastrointestinal side effects. One can do the following to manage gastrointestinal symptoms:

• You can prevent or manage upset stomach or nausea by eating smaller meals
• You can make changes to your diet, like avoiding fizzy drinks, to manage nausea
• You can drink more water and increase your fiber intake to manage constipation
• Stool softeners can also help with your constipation

You can reduce or prevent digestive side effects by avoiding or limiting certain types of drinks or food, including:

• Alcohol
• Carbonated beverages
• Spicy foods
• Fried foods

Burping and flatulence may happen with Ozempic. If these side effects bother you or won’t go away, talk to your doctor. Your doctor may suggest changes to your diet, or medication like simethicone in order to relieve burping and gas.

If indigestion or acid reflux is causing your burping, your doctor might suggest an antacid like famotidine or calcium carbonate.

Severe Ozempic Side Effects

Ozempic can lead to severe side effects. Because of this, it’s a better idea to lose weight through natural methods than to take the drug. It’s a good idea to avoid Ozempic unless you absolutely need it and have a doctor’s recommendation.

Severe side effects of Ozempic include:

Gastroparesis

The majority of Ozempic lawsuits pending in federal court right now have been filed by people who have developed gastroparesis, or stomach paralysis, after taking Ozempic. Gastroparesis involves the stomach’s muscles not being able to move food properly in order for the food to get digested. Gastroparesis does not have a cure, so, unfortunately, those who end up with it can face long-term side effects.

Gastroparesis symptoms include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Belly pain
• Belly bloating
• Vomiting food that’s undigested that you ate just a few hours before
• Feeling full after consuming only a few bites, as well as long after consuming a meal
• Blood sugar level changes
• Acid reflux
• Malnutrition and weight loss
• Loss of hunger

An October 2023 study linked Ozempic with a higher risk of gastroparesis.

Gallbladder Diseases Like Cholecystitis or Cholelithiasis

Ozempic may cause gallbladder diseases, and these diseases may necessitate gallbladder removal surgery.

The gallbladder is responsible for releasing bile into your small intestine. Cholecystitis is irritation and swelling of the gallbladder. It is often caused by gallstones blocking a tube which leads out of the gallbladder, leading to buildup of bile which causes inflammation.

Untreated, the disease can cause serious complications like a ruptured gallbladder, which may be life-threatening.

Cholecystitis symptoms include:

• Fever
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Belly area tenderness
• Severe pain in your center or upper right belly
• Pain which spreads to the back or right shoulder

Cholelithiasis, or gallstones, are the hardened deposits of your digestive fluid which may form in the gallbladder. They can lead to complications like cholecystitis, blockage of the common bile duct and blockage of the pancreatic duct.

Symptoms of cholelithiasis include:

• Vomiting or nausea
• Right shoulder pain
• Back pain between the shoulder blades
• Rapidly intensifying, sudden pain in the abdomen’s center, right below the breastbone
• Rapidly intensifying, sudden pain in your abdomen’s upper right portion

Bowel Obstruction

This is a blockage which prevents liquid or food from passing through the large or small intestine. Untreated, the parts of the bowel which are blocked can die. This can lead to serious, life-threatening complications such as infection.

Symptoms of bowel obstruction include:

• Abdominal swelling
• Inability to pass gas or have a bowel movement
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Loss of appetite
• Crampy abdominal pain which comes and goes

Ileus

Ileus occurs when the intestine is unable to push waste and food out of the body. The large intestine absorbs water and utilizes wavelike movements in order to push waste and food towards your anus so you can have a bowel movement. When these wavelike movements stop happening, ileus occurs.

Ileus can lead to serious, life-threatening complications, such as infection, necrosis or a perforated intestinal wall.

Symptoms of ileus include:

• Dehydration
• Watery stool
• Stomach cramps
• Lack of appetite
• Constipation
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Abdominal bloating

Pulmonary Embolism

Pulmonary embolisms are blood clots which block and stop blood flow to arteries in the lungs. Pulmonary embolisms can be life-threatening.

Symptoms of pulmonary embolism include:

• Fainting
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Discolored or clammy skin
• Leg swelling or pain
• Fever
• Excessive sweating
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Irregular or rapid heartbeat
• A cough which might include bloody mucus

Pulmonary Aspiration

Pulmonary aspiration occurs when liquid or solid material enters into your trachea or lungs.

GLP-1 drugs have been linked with pulmonary aspiration. The mechanism behind Ozempic causing gastroparesis is that one of the ways the drug works is by delaying gastric emptying. By delaying gastric emptying, patients who undergo surgery involving anesthesia can end up with food still in their stomach when the surgery occurs. As a result, that food can end up in the patient’s trachea or lungs, resulting in pulmonary aspiration which can cause pneumonia.

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Deep vein thrombosis happens when blood clots form in the body’s deep veins, typically in the legs. They can be very serious because the clots may break loose and get stuck in your lungs, leading to a pulmonary embolism.

The symptoms of deep vein thrombosis include:

• Warmth in the leg
• Leg skin color changes
• Leg pain, soreness or camping
• Leg swelling

Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is cancer of the pancreas, which is a body part behind your stomach which produces enzymes which help you digest food, and produces hormones that manage blood sugar.

Unfortunately, the five year survival rate of pancreatic cancer is only 13 percent. This is because it commonly doesn’t cause symptoms until it has already spread within the body.

Symptoms of pancreatic cancer include:

• Weakness or tiredness
• Swelling or pain in a leg or arm
• Diabetes
• Itching
• Dark urine
• Light-colored stools
• Floating stools
• Jaundice
• Weight loss
• Appetite loss
• Belly pain which spreads to the back or sides

Ozempic has also been shown to lead to thyroid tumors and thyroid cancer, including medullary thyroid carcinoma, in animals

Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy

This eye condition might restrict the optic nerve’s blood flow, leading to sudden-onset, painless vision loss.

Symptoms include:

• Painless, sudden vision loss in a single eye
• Cloudiness or blurring, commonly when looking down
• Pain around your eye or headache, rarely

A July 2024 study found a link between Ozempic and this disease.

Serious Allergic Reaction

People taking Ozempic may experience a severe allergic reaction. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction include:

• Swelling of the throat, tongue, lips or face
• Problems swallowing or breathing
• Severe itching or rash
• Feeling dizzy or fainting
• Rapid heartbeat

Low Blood Sugar

Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is when the level of glucose in the blood is lower than normal. The main energy source for your body is glucose. Complications of low blood sugar include, coma, seizure and death.

Symptoms of low blood sugar include:

• Shakiness
• Looking pale
• Headache
• Sweating
• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• Nausea or hunger
• Anxiety or irritability
• Fatigue
• Lightheadedness or dizziness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Numbness or tingling of the cheek, tongue or lips

Advanced hypoglycemia symptoms include:

• Nightmares
• Tunnel vision or blurry vision
• Slurred speech
• Coordination loss
• Unusual behavior or confusion

Severe hypoglycemia symptoms include seizures and loss of consciousness.

What Is Ozempic Face?

“Ozempic face” is the term given to common Ozempic side effects which can lead to aging and sagging of your face’s skin.

The rapid weight loss that Ozempic can induce can be very pronounced on your face. Weight loss can lead to dermatological shrinking and changes since the fat which cushions and stretches the skin isn’t there any longer.

When rapid weight loss occurs, reduced levels of collagen and elastin can prevent the face’s skin from retracting. Because of this, the following symptoms can occur:

• Loss of fat, leading to the skin becoming saggy and loose
• Increased aging signs, like wrinkles and lines
• A hollowed-out look
• Lipodystrophy, affecting how your body stores and accumulates fat

Preventing Facial Side Effects

Those who take Ozempic may not be able to prevent any facial side effects. If the side effects are concerning, though, your doctor may recommend:

• Reducing your dosage
• Switching medication
• Drinking one to two liters of water each day
• Improving your intake of protein
• Dermatological fillers
• Modifications to lifestyle

The best way to prevent the facial side effects of Ozempic is not to take Ozempic.

How Long Do Ozempic Side Effects Last

Ozempic’s mild side effects are generally manageable or temporary while using the medication.

However, once you stop using Ozempic, it might take around five weeks for your body to fully clear the medication from your system. Side effects may occur during this time frame.

Some severe side effects, like worsening diabetic retinopathy, can occur even after the drug has fully left your body.

Talk with your doctor in order to discuss any lingering or severe side effects.

Ozempic Withdrawals

Some people report “Ozempic withdrawal” after they stop taking the drug. They describe notable increases in appetite, leading to not feeling full after eating a large amount of food.

For those with diabetes, cessation of Ozempic can lead to dangerous increases in blood sugar, leading to:

• Vomiting or nausea
• Headaches
• Blurry vision
• Excessive urination
• Excessive thirst

There are also long-term side effects which can happen when you stop taking the drug. These include:

Weight Gain

A 2022 study showed that after people stop taking Ozempic, they gain back two thirds of the lost weight in one year.

An additional study came to a similar conclusion. While those who took the drug lost about 10 percent of body weight, they gained about seven percent of body weight in a year after they stopped taking the drug.

Blood Sugar

When those with diabetes stop taking Ozempic, their levels of blood sugar return almost to baseline.

Heart Health

You may be wondering if Ozempic cardiac side effects exist.

According to an October 2024 research letter, GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic may cause the heart to shrink.

In addition, when most people stop taking Ozempic, their blood pressure returns back to the pre-Ozempic levels.

Who Should Not Use Ozempic?

Ozempic is typically given in the long-term. You can keep using it as long as it is prescribed to you, assuming the drug is effective and safe.

However, it might not be safe for everybody.

The drug is not recommended for those with elevated risks of thyroid cancer. It is also not recommended to those who have had allergic reactions to any of the ingredients in it, including semaglutide.

Ozempic should not be taken solely for weight loss – better weight loss methods exist. Typically, those that should take Ozempic are those who have type 2 diabetes.

What to Tell Your Healthcare Provider Before Taking Ozempic

Tell your doctor about all health conditions and any medicines and supplements you’re taking.

In addition, tell your doctor about

• Pancreatitis
• Kidney problems, such as chronic kidney failure
• Vision problems, such as diabetic retinopathy
• Low blood sugar
• Pregnancy, as it isn’t known how Ozempic can affect pregnancy
• Breastfeeding, as it isn’t known if Ozempic ends up in breast milk

What Side Effects Warrant a Doctor’s Appointment?

You will need to contact your doctor if you experience severe side effects from Ozempic. You can document your symptoms as well as share them with your doctor.

Ozempic’s label contains a boxed warning about the risk of thyroid cancer. Research has indicated it has caused thyroid cancer in animals, but scientists aren’t sure if it can cause it in humans.

Still, you should tell your doctor if you experience:

• A hoarse voice which worsens over time
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• A pain or lump in your neck
• Difficulty swallowing

Does Ozempic Interact With Other Medications?

Ozempic may interact with medications. Because it delays gastric emptying, it might reduce your absorption of some oral medicines.

The drug can cause hypoglycemia if it is taken with some diabetes medicines like:

• Sulfonylurea
• Insulin

Usually, if you’re on insulin, your doctor might recommend decreasing your insulin dosage to lower your risk of hypoglycemia when you take Ozempic.

What If I Accidentally Take Too Much Ozempic?

Immediately contact a doctor if you have taken too large of a dose of Ozempic.

When to Contact an Ozempic Lawyer

Call us today for a free consultation if you or a loved one have developed any of the following after taking Ozempic:

• Gastroparesis (stomach paralysis)
• Gallbladder diseases like cholecystitis or cholelithiasis
• Bowel obstruction or ileus
• Pulmonary embolism
• Gallbladder removal
• Pulmonary aspiration
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Other gastrointestinal injuries
• Pancreatic cancer
• Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION)
• Changes in vision, like blurred vision or vision loss
• Suicide

Our lawyers have been handling dangerous drug cases since 1990 and have recovered over $750,000,000 for our clients. Our vast experience in helping the victims of dangerous drugs will allow us to recover the maximum possible financial compensation for you.

We will not charge any fee to handle your Ozempic lawsuit until and unless we recover financial compensation for you. This means no upfront fees or out-of-pocket fees. The only fee we’ll ever charge to handle your Ozempic case is a percentage of any compensation we recover for you.

Call us today for a free consultation.