Ozempic User Claims She can’t Eat without Vomiting

Publish Date : 09/26/2024

Dana Filmore, a 55-year-old grandmother, began taking Ozempic to manage her Type 2 diabetes despite her fear of needles. After more than three years on the drug, she was diagnosed with gastroparesis, a condition where the stomach muscles are paralyzed, causing severe digestive issues. Six months after stopping the drug, Filmore still struggles to digest food, forcing her to live on a restrictive diet and miss out on family events, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Filmore is one of thousands suing Novo Nordisk (maker of Ozempic) and Eli Lilly (maker of Mounjaro), claiming the companies failed to warn users of the risk of gastroparesis. The lawsuit alleges the drugs, which are commonly used to treat diabetes and obesity, caused the condition by slowing gastric emptying. Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly deny the claims, arguing the drugs are safe when used as directed, although Ozempic’s FDA label does not list gastroparesis as a side effect.

Research published in 2023 suggests a possible link between the drugs and gastroparesis. More than 20,000 cases of Ozempic side effects have been reported to the FDA since 2018, with gastrointestinal issues making up 43% of the reports.