Louisiana Woman Files Lawsuit Claiming Severe Injuries from Diabetes Medications Ozempic and Mounjaro
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – In a lawsuit filed on Wednesday, a Louisiana woman is claiming she has suffered severe injuries due to her use of the diabetes medications Ozempic and Mounjaro, which were prescribed by her doctor. While these injectable medications were developed to manage diabetes, they have gained popularity for their weight loss benefits.
Jaclyn Bjorklund, 44, used Ozempic for over a year before switching to Mounjaro in July 2023, according to the lawsuit. Bjorklund is suing the makers of both drugs, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, for failing to warn her about the risk of severe gastrointestinal events that could be caused by taking the medications. She alleges that as a result of using these medications, she suffered severe and permanent personal injuries, including vomiting, stomach pain, gastrointestinal burning, and teeth falling out due to excessive vomiting.
The lawsuit claims that Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly were aware of the association between the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists, like Ozempic and Mounjaro, and the risk of developing severe gastrointestinal issues. However, they failed to disclose this information, rendering the warnings inadequate.
Both Ozempic and Mounjaro list vomiting and abdominal pain as possible adverse events, but the lawsuit does not specify whether Bjorklund was diagnosed with gastroparesis, a condition characterized by stomach paralysis. The lawsuit is seeking compensatory and punitive damages for Bjorklund’s past and future pain and suffering, medical expenses, and attorney’s fees.
Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro are part of a class of drugs that work by mimicking a hormone naturally produced by the body, which slows down the passage of food through the stomach and helps people feel fuller longer. However, CNN has previously reported on warnings from patients and doctors about gastroparesis and other side effects after taking these drugs for weight loss or diabetes.
Doctors have noted that more cases of stomach paralysis are coming to light as the popularity of these drugs increases. The US Food and Drug Administration has also received reports of gastroparesis with semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, that persisted even after the discontinuation of the medication.
In response to concerns about stomach paralysis, Novo Nordisk stated that gastrointestinal events are well-known side effects of GLP-1 drugs and that the majority of these side effects are mild to moderate in severity and short in duration. Eli Lilly also emphasized that patient safety is their top priority and that they actively monitor and report safety information for all their medicines.
CNN has reached out to Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly for comments on the lawsuit.
As the lawsuit unfolds, it raises concerns about the potential risks and side effects of popular diabetes medications used for weight loss and their manufacturers’ responsibility to disclose that information to patients.