Title: Louisiana Woman Sues Drug Manufacturers Alleging Failure to Warn Patients about Risk of Severe Gastrointestinal Problems
Date: August 10, 2023
In a recent lawsuit filed on Wednesday, a Louisiana woman has sued the manufacturers of weight loss drugs Ozempic and Mounjaro, claiming that they failed to adequately warn patients about the potential risk of severe gastrointestinal problems associated with the medications. The lawsuit specifically accuses Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, the respective manufacturers of Ozempic and Mounjaro, of downplaying the severity of gastrointestinal events caused by their drugs, such as stomach paralysis and stomach inflammation.
Jaclyn Bjorklund, a 44-year-old woman, alleges that she experienced “severe gastrointestinal events” including vomiting, stomach pain, gastrointestinal burning, hospitalization, and the loss of teeth from excessive vomiting after taking Ozempic for over a year before transitioning to Mounjaro in July. The lawsuit argues that while the medication labels mention a range of stomach problems that can be caused by the drugs, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, they do not explicitly warn about the risk of gastroparesis.
The lawsuit further claims that Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly were aware of the association between these weight loss drugs and severe gastrointestinal issues but chose not to disclose this information to patients. As a result, Bjorklund alleges she has suffered and still continues to suffer from severe gastrointestinal issues, as well as other permanent injuries, physical pain, and mental distress.
Ozempic and Mounjaro, originally developed to manage blood sugar levels in adults with Type 2 diabetes, have gained popularity for their off-label use in promoting weight loss. However, the lawsuit brings into question the manufacturers’ responsibility to inform patients about potential risks associated with these medications.
In response to the allegations, a spokesperson for Novo Nordisk stated that gastrointestinal events are well-known side effects of this class of medications, and the majority of Ozempic’s gastrointestinal side effects are mild to moderate and of short duration. Similarly, an Eli Lilly spokesperson emphasized that patient safety is their top priority and that they actively monitor and report safety information for all their medicines.
It remains to be seen how this lawsuit will progress, but for now, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly maintain their commitment to patient safety and the ongoing monitoring of their products’ safety profiles.
— Updated 9:44 p.m. —
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