GLP-1 weight loss injections like Wegovy have helped countless people with obesity lose excess body mass. For many people in Ohio, drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have been gamechangers. It’s estimated that 1 in 8 Americans have taken a GLP-1 drug for diabetes or weight loss. Chances are, you have taken Wegovy or at least know someone who has tried Wegovy to experience the benefits.

Yet not all Wegovy patients have experienced success. More and more people are coming forward with stories of serious health problems that developed after taking weight loss injections. Many of these severe health issues affect the digestive tract, causing serious and life-threatening gastrointestinal emergencies that require urgent treatment and surgery. Even after treatment, these patients still have long-term health repercussions to deal with.

If you developed serious gastrointestinal health problems after taking Wegovy or a similar prescription semaglutide drug, our lawyers serving Ohio can help you file a lawsuit. The Wegovy attorneys of Bursor & Fisher, P.A. can discuss your eligibility for compensation in 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.

To put it another way, Wegovy helps lower blood sugar and makes patients feel full for a longer amount of time. Since patients don't feel hungry as much or as often, they consume fewer calories during the day, resulting in weight loss.

What Drugs Are Similar to Wegovy?

Many people use the brand name “Ozempic” as a catch-all term for GLP-1 medications used by patients with obesity. Yet Ozempic is an injectable medication used to treat type 2 diabetes, though it has been prescribed off-label for weight loss. In addition to Wegovy, there are other brand-name GLP-1 medications that were developed specifically for weight loss, most notably Zepbound and Saxenda.

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 Ohio 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 Ohio 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 Vomiting – While some nausea and vomiting are common while taking Wegovy, some patients vomit several times a day for two weeks or more. Prolonged bouts of frequent vomiting can cause severe dehydration, malnutrition, injuries to the esophagus, acidic erosion of the tooth enamel, and tooth loss.
  • Stomach Paralysis (Gastroparesis) – Stomach paralysis is when the nerves and muscles of the stomach fail to move food into the small intestine to continue digestion. If stomach paralysis is not treated, it could contribute to malnutrition, dehydration, the formation of a bezoar (a solid mass in the stomach), and many other medical issues.
  • Intestinal Obstruction – An intestinal obstruction is a blockage in the small intestine or part of the large intestine that prevents food from moving through the gastrointestinal tract. If not treated, intestinal blockages could cause death of the surrounding intestinal tissue and infection of the abdominal cavity (peritonitis).
  • Bowel Obstruction – Bowel obstructions are intestinal blockages affecting the large intestine and colon. Like obstructions of the small intestine, a blocked bowel could cause tissue death, peritonitis, or sepsis without proper medical treatment.

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, Wegovy-related complications are rare. Many GLP-1 patients have not required hospitalization or emergency treatment to address the side effects they’ve experienced while on an injectable semaglutide.

However, there are Wegovy patients in Ohio 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.

When you are well enough to do so, we encourage you to speak with our Wegovy lawsuit lawyers serving Ohio for a free consultation.

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 Ohio?

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.

It’s best to speak with our Ohio Wegovy lawsuit attorneys as soon as possible to assess your eligibility. Our experienced team of lawyers can review your medical history, discuss the severity of your GI health issues, and determine if you are eligible for compensation from Novo Nordisk in a legal claim.

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 total amount of damages you could receive will be unique to your experiences taking Wegovy, your resulting medical problems, the losses experienced, and the lasting effects on your life.

As part of the free case evaluation, our Wegovy lawsuit lawyers can discuss the physical harm, lasting difficulties, and financial losses you experienced from taking semaglutide and what that could mean for the value of your legal 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 Ohio?

If you or someone you care about has experienced severe health problems after taking semaglutide injections, contact our Wegovy lawyers serving Ohio about filing a lawsuit. Our Wegovy injury attorneys can determine if you qualify for a lawsuit during 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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