Many people across the country have turned to Wegovy (semaglutide) to help manage their type 2 diabetes and lose excess weight. The popularity of these drugs cannot be denied. Roughly 1 out of every 8 Americans has tried a GLP-1 as a means of lowering blood sugar or overcoming obesity. With those numbers, you’ve likely tried Wegovy yourself or know someone in the Houston area who has.

Yet the popularity of these medications doesn’t paint a full picture of what patients have experienced. More and more people have come forward with stories about serious side effects from taking Weogvy despite following their doctor’s orders. Some of these patients were even diagnosed with severe and life-threatening gastrointestinal emergencies that required surgery and other kinds of urgent medical treatment.

If you were diagnosed with severe gastrointestinal health problems after taking Wegovy or a similar prescription semaglutide drug, our lawyers serving Houston can help you file a lawsuit. The Wegovy attorneys of Bursor & Fisher, P.A. can discuss your eligibility for compensation during a free case evaluation.


 

About Wegovy (Semaglutide)

Developed by Novo Nordisk, Wegovy is the brand name of an injectable semaglutide that was specifically designed for patients with obesity. It received initial FDA approval in 2021.

Wegovy was created due to the success of Ozempic, which is a semaglutide that was developed to help patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetic patients on Ozempic experienced notable weight loss, which led Novo Nordisk to create a semaglutide for patients struggling with obesity.

The demand for Wegovy and other weight loss GLP-1 and GIP/GLP-1 medications remains high. Since many people were unable to obtain or afford Wegovy due to the great demand, many doctors prescribed diabetes drugs like Ozempic for off-label use to promote weight loss.

How Do Wegovy and Other Semaglutides Work?

Wegovy is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist. This is usually abbreviated as GLP-1, or sometimes GLP-1 RA. GLP-1 is a naturally occurring hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and feelings of satiety.

GLP-1 agonists like Wegovy mimic this naturally occurring hormone, which improves blood sugar levels, slows down digestion, and helps you feel satiated.

In much simpler terms, Wegovy lowers your blood sugar and also reduces feelings of hunger throughout the day. Since you feel sated for longer periods of time, you’re less likely to snack or overeat. That means consuming fewer calories each day, which leads to weight loss.

What Drugs Are Similar to Wegovy?

Even though Wegovy is gaining in brand recognition, many people use “Ozempic” as a catch-all term for semaglutide and other GLP-1 medications. In regular conversation, most people do not differentiate between Wegovy for weight loss and Ozempic for type 2 diabetes

In addition to Wegovy, there are other GLP-1 drugs developed for patients with obesity who want to lose weight. Zepbound is perhaps the most notable given reports about its effectiveness for weight loss.

With all this in mind, you may recognize these other names for modern and in-demand drugs prescribed to patients with type 2 diabetes or obesity:

  • Ozempic (semaglutide from Novo Nordisk)
  • Rybelsus (semaglutide from Novo Nordisk)
  • Mounjaro (tirzepatide from Eli Lilly and Company)
  • Zepbound (tirzepatide from Eli Lilly and Company)
  • Saxenda (liraglutide from Novo Nordisk)
  • Victoza (liraglutide from Novo Nordisk)
  • Trulicity (dulaglutide from Eli Lilly and Company)

Bursor & Fisher, P.A. can represent Houston clients in Wegovy lawsuits as well as legal claims that involve any of the GLP-1 or GIP/GLP-1 medications listed above.

Common Side Effects of Wegovy

Mild and temporary side effects are common when patients take Wegovy. These minor side effects include:

  • Reduced appetite
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Headaches
  • Dizziness

These minor side effects are most common when patients start their Wegovy injections. The side effects typically subside as the patient gets accustomed to taking their injectable GLP-1 and their body adjusts to the dosage of semaglutide.

How Long Do These Common Wegovy Side Effects Last?

These common Wegovy side effects are most noticeable for the first two to six weeks of taking semaglutide. After the initial month and a half, Wegovy side effects should subside or become much more tolerable.

If your Wegovy side effects persist after six weeks or worsen, be sure to speak with your doctor about what steps to take next.

Serious Health Complications Linked to Wegovy

Some Wegovy patients in Houston have reported severe side effects and health complications that involve the gastrointestinal system. In addition to a heightened risk of pancreatitis and gallstones, Wegovy patients have also suffered from:

  • Severe and Prolonged Bouts of Vomiting – Occasional nausea and vomiting while on Wegovy is normal. Yet some Wegovy patients report vomiting several times a day for two weeks or more. Constantly vomiting like this can lead to malnutrition, severe dehydration, damage to the esophagus, erosion of the tooth enamel, and tooth loss.
  • Stomach Paralysis (Gastroparesis) – Gastroparesis is a condition in which the muscles and nerves of the stomach do not push food from the stomach into the small intestine to continue the digestive process. If stomach paralysis is not treated, it can lead to malnutrition, dehydration, the formation of a hard mass in the stomach (a bezoar), and many other health complications.
  • Intestinal Obstructions – Blockage of the small intestine and portions of the large intestine needs to be taken seriously. An intestinal obstruction prevents food from moving through the GI tract as it normally would. This can lead to severe pain, death of the surrounding intestinal tissues, and infection of the abdominal cavity (peritonitis).
  • Bowel Obstruction – Like intestinal obstructions, a blockage of the large intestine or colon can lead to major health emergencies. An obstructed bowel that is not treated in time can cause tissue death, peritonitis, or even sepsis.

If a Wegovy patient experiences any of these GI complications, they need to seek immediate medical care and possibly even hospitalization.

In extreme cases of intestinal obstruction, the Wegovy patient may require the use of an ileostomy bag or a colostomy bag for the rest of their life. Furthermore, these gastrointestinal complications could be fatal if patients do not receive urgent medical attention.

How Common Are These Serious Health Issues from Wegovy Use?

Thankfully, severe gastrointestinal complications related to Wegovy use are rare. Many semaglutide patients do not require hospitalization to treat GI problems and instead just experience the more common side effects of the drug.

However, there are Wegovy patients in Houston who have experienced severe GI problems even though they followed all of their doctor's instructions to the letter. The team at Bursor & Fisher, P.A. is here to provide legal guidance and support to people who’ve been adversely affected by taking Wegovy and similar GLP-1 drugs as directed.

Symptoms and Warning Signs of Serious Gastrointestinal Complications

If you are concerned that Wegovy or another weight loss drug has caused a serious medical problem, there are several common warning signs of gastrointestinal issues. These are the most common warning signs of the GI complications we've detailed above:

  • Frequent nausea
  • Excessive vomiting
  • Acid reflux (GERD)
  • Severe abdominal discomfort
  • Bloating or swelling of the abdomen
  • Loss of appetite
  • Lack of bowel movements

What to Do If You Experience Gastrointestinal Complications from Wegovy Use

If you have experienced any of the symptoms listed above, seek immediate medical attention. Do not delay. As we’ve noted, severe complications affecting the gastrointestinal tract could prove fatal if they are not treated ASAP.

After getting necessary medical treatment, you may wonder what you can do to seek compensation. When you are well enough to do so, we encourage you to contact our Wegovy lawsuit lawyers serving Houston for a free case review.

Can I File a Lawsuit for Gastrointestinal Problems Linked to Wegovy Use?

Yes, you can potentially file a lawsuit against Novo Nordisk if your gastrointestinal health or a family member’s GI health was negatively impacted after taking Wegovy.

While Novo Nordisk includes warning labels about Wegovy’s most common side effects, the language on these labels may not have provided adequate warnings about severe health risks such as stomach paralysis, intestinal blockages, bowel obstruction, or frequent and excessive vomiting.

Had obesity patients been sufficiently warned about the potential dangers of these rare medical complications, they may not have taken Wegovy in the first place and instead discussed alternatives.

Who Is Eligible to File a Wegovy Lawsuit in Houston?

You may qualify for a semaglutide lawsuit if you were prescribed Wegovy and suffered serious health complications that affected your gastrointestinal system.

Keep in mind that a history of certain medical conditions, past surgical procedures, or other factors could block you from seeking compensation through legal action.

Because of the numerous variables that could disqualify you from filing a legal claim, it’s best to speak with our Houston Wegovy lawsuit lawyers to find out about your eligibility. As part of a free case evaluation, our experienced attorneys will carefully review what happened to you, your medical history, and the lasting impact of your GI problems. We can then let you know if you qualify to file a case against Novo Nordisk.

How Much Can I Win If I File a Wegovy Lawsuit?

The amount secured in a Wegovy claim will vary from patient to patient. Numerous variables need to be considered, so an estimate cannot be provided until our attorneys can review the details of your case.

The potential damages you could receive in a legal claim will depend on what you suffered while taking Wegovy. You may be compensated for medical bills, lost wages, lost future earnings, and the lasting effects your gastrointestinal health issues have had on your quality of life.

During your free case evaluation, our Wegovy lawsuit attorneys can review the harm you experienced, its long-term effects on your life and livelihood, and other financial losses. We can also help you understand how your circumstances will determine the value of your Wegovy claim.

Why Choose Bursor & Fisher, P.A. for Your Wegovy Lawsuit

The attorneys of Bursor & Fisher, P.A. are nationwide leaders in high-stakes complex litigation. Since 2008, our law firm has secured numerous multi-million dollar verdicts in major lawsuits. This includes a $267 million jury verdict against a debt collector who was found to have violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

With law offices in Miami, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area, our lawyers have represented more than 160 million people in legal actions—that’s roughly 1 in every 2 Americans.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Wegovy Attorney?

At Bursor & Fisher, P.A., it costs you nothing upfront to get your case evaluated. In addition to offering free case reviews, our law firm operates on a contingency fee basis. That means you don’t pay our Wegovy lawyers anything unless and until we win.

Put simply: you pay nothing unless we secure compensation for you.

How Can I Learn More About Filing a Wegovy Lawsuit in Houston?

If you experienced severe gastrointestinal complications after taking semaglutide for weight loss, you’re not alone. Our Wegovy attorneys serving Houston are here to help and ready to listen. Contact our Wegovy lawyers to learn if you qualify for a lawsuit. We can discuss your situation as part of a free case review.

Bursor & Fisher, P.A. is not a medical provider. The information on this website is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as, nor should it be considered a substitute for, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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