What Organ Does Ozempic Affect?

Taking Ozempic (semaglutide) doesn’t just affect one organ. The popular diabetes and weight loss injection affects multiple organs that are responsible for regulating blood sugar, digestion, and a person’s hunger and cravings. With that in mind, Ozempic primarily affects these organs:

• The pancreas
• The stomach
• The brain

In addition to the above organs, Ozempic can also affect the heart, the gallbladder, the eyes, and possibly the thyroid gland.

Below, we’ll discuss how Ozempic affects different organs, potential health complications associated with Ozempic use, and why some patients have taken legal action against the makers of Ozempic for severe side effects and medical complications.

If you experienced serious gastrointestinal health problems after taking Ozempic, speak with the lawyers at Bursor & Fisher, P.A. Our law firm can evaluate your situation and let you know if you qualify for an Ozempic lawsuit. Request a free consultation with our Ozempic attorneys today.

 

How Ozempic Works: The Basics

Let’s quickly review how Ozempic works before we examine the various organs affected by semaglutide.

Ozempic is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1, or sometimes GLP-1 RA). GLP-1 is a naturally occurring hormone in the body that helps regulate blood sugar levels and feelings of satiety. GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic mimic this hormone and its effects on the body.

Ozempic injections help patients experience lower blood sugar. Patients will also feel full for longer periods of time during the day, which means consuming fewer calories overall.

How Does Ozempic Affect My Pancreas?

Ozempic does two important things to the pancreas:

• It promotes the production of insulin, the hormone that lowers a person’s blood sugar
• It suppresses the production of glucagon, the hormone that raises a person’s blood sugar

Ozempic can help a person’s insulin (both natural and synthetic) function better in the body, which is extremely helpful for type 2 diabetes patients, given their insulin resistance.

For some patients, Ozempic use could lead to pancreatitis, which is the inflammation of the pancreas. This is noted on the warnings for Ozempic, and doctors typically screen a patient’s medical history for any heightened risk of pancreas problems before prescribing the drug.

How Does Ozempic Affect My Stomach?

Ozempic slows down gastric emptying, which has a major effect on the stomach, the small intestine, and the large intestine. This means that Ozempic slows down the entire digestive process.

While on Ozempic, it will take longer for food to move through the stomach and intestines. This is what makes patients feel full for a longer period of time, and it’s one of the primary weight loss mechanisms associated with the drug.

If a person feels full for most of the day, they’ll eat less and lose weight over time. Early weight loss may be pronounced, eventually leveling off as the patient gets accustomed to new eating habits and other lifestyle changes.

How Does Ozempic Affect My Brain?

Ozempic has multiple effects on a person’s brain and how they interpret their relationship with food. Researchers believe that the weight loss shot primarily affects the hypothalamus as well as parts of the brain responsible for pleasure and executive function. 

• Reward Centers of the Brain – Ozempic may affect the release of dopamine, the hormone often associated with feelings of pleasure. Eating certain foods may not cause an Ozempic patient to feel as satisfied.
• Relationship to Food  – With changes to the reward centers of the brain related to food and eating, Ozempic patients may start to rethink their relationship to food. This is especially important if the patient ate as a coping mechanism or as part of an addictive behavior.
• Changes in Mood – Changes in hormones, blood sugar, weight fluctuations, and altered relationships with food could cause some Ozempic patients to experience anxiety, depression, and low moods.

Many of these changes to the brain can help Ozempic patients make healthier food and lifestyle choices. The long-term benefits can be dramatic.

If a person experiences serious psychological or mental health issues while on Ozempic, it’s best to speak with a medical professional and possibly a therapist.

Can Ozempic Affect My Heart?

Yes, Ozempic can lead to changes in cardiovascular health that may be of concern. For instance, Ozempic can contribute to heart palpitations and changes in heart rate. In addition, research in mice has shown that Ozempic can also lead to shrinking of heart muscles and changes in heart mass.

Can Ozempic Affect My Gallbladder?

Yes, Ozempic use has been associated with an increased risk of gallstones and other gallbladder problems. These issues are primarily related to slower digestion.

The intestines require a substance known as bile to help break down and absorb food. Bile is produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder.

While taking Ozempic, the gallbladder may not empty the stored bile into the intestines. This can cause the bile to harden into gallstones and cause other kinds of problems involving the gallbladder.

Can Ozempic Affect My Eyes and My Vision?

Yes, potentially. Fluctuations in your blood sugar levels can lead to blurry vision and other issues with eyesight. These vision problems are usually temporary and will typically resolve on their own as the patient gets accustomed to taking Ozempic and their blood sugar levels out.

There’s also a potential risk of vision fluctuations if an Ozempic patient has diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes caused by high blood sugar levels. The condition causes blood vessels of the retina to become blocked or burst, and it can also trigger the formation of new and abnormal blood vessels in the retina. Diabetic retinopathy can lead to severe vision loss.

If a person has diabetic retinopathy, there is a chance that taking Ozempic could lead to worsening of the condition despite the other health benefits.

Can Ozempic Affect My Thyroid Gland?

There is scientific debate about Ozempic increasing the risk of thyroid tumors and thyroid cancer. Studies are conflicting, though Novo Nordisk, the makers of Ozempic, do include warnings about the potential risk of thyroid cancer.

When screening potential Ozempic patients, doctors typically ask about past issues with the thyroid gland and any family history of thyroid problems.

Other Diabetes and Weight Loss Drugs That Are Like Ozempic

We should note that many people use the word “Ozempic” as a blanket term for various diabetes and obesity drugs that are extremely popular these days. However, Ozempic is the brand name of just one kind of medication.

There are several drugs out there with different brand names but similar effects on people’s bodily organs. These other medications include:

• Rybelsus (semaglutide from Novo Nordisk)
• Wegovy (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)

Can Ozempic Patients Take Legal Action After Suffering a Medical Emergency?

Potentially, yes. If you were diagnosed with a gastrointestinal health complication caused by Ozempic or a similar weight loss drug, the lawyers of Bursor & Fisher, P.A. can help you file a lawsuit to seek compensation.

As part of your free case review, our attorneys will carefully screen for these four GI conditions to ensure you qualify to file a lawsuit:

• Severe and Prolonged Vomiting

• Stomach Paralysis (Gastroparesis)

• Intestinal Blockage

• Bowel Obstruction

Certain criteria must be met to qualify for a lawsuit against the makers of Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, and other popular diabetes and weight loss drugs.

Major Gastrointestinal Problems Caused by Ozempic Use

Severe GI problems on Ozempic are thankfully rare, but they can be life-threatening when they occur. If you suffered any of these gastrointestinal conditions while taking Ozempic, our attorneys can help you file a lawsuit.

Excessive and Prolonged Vomiting

Excessive and prolonged vomiting means that an Ozempic patient vomits several times a day for a period of two weeks or more. Vomiting this much on a daily basis can cause many issues affecting the throat and mouth.

For one, the acidity from frequent vomiting can lead to irritation and injuries of the esophagus. The acidity can also affect the pH of the mouth, gradually eroding tooth enamel. Without treatment, this can cause tooth sensitivity, toothaches, root canal infection, and tooth loss.

On top of these issues, the inability to keep food and water down can contribute to severe malnutrition and dehydration.

Keep in mind that excessive and prolonged vomiting is a warning sign of the three other GI problems below.

Stomach Paralysis (Gastroparesis)

Also known as gastroparesis, stomach paralysis is when the nerves and muscles of the stomach stop functioning normally during the digestive process. Food doesn’t get pushed into the small intestine but instead remains in the stomach.

If stomach paralysis goes undiagnosed and untreated, it could cause malnutrition, dehydration, the formation of a bezoar (a solid mass in the stomach), and a host of other medical complications.

Intestinal Blockage

An intestinal blockage is an obstruction in the small intestine or part of the large intestine. This blockage prevents food from passing through a person’s body.

There are two potential causes of an intestinal blockage:

• Ileus – Also known as functional bowel obstruction, ileus is when the intestines fail to contract normally, which makes it difficult to push food through the intestines for digestion and excretion.
• Bezoar – If a bezoar passes from the stomach into the intestines, it could lead to a major intestinal blockage that prevents proper digestion.

If not treated promptly, an intestinal blockage could cause death of the surrounding intestinal tissue and infection of the abdominal cavity (peritonitis).

Bowel Obstruction

Bowel obstructions are similar to intestinal blockages, though the disruption is in the large intestine and colon. This may be the result of ileus or a bezoar.

Like blockage of the small intestine, bowel obstructions could lead to tissue death, peritonitis, or sepsis without getting immediate treatment.

Common Warning Signs of Ozempic-Related Gastrointestinal Issues

Here are some of the most common symptoms of the severe gastrointestinal problems Ozempic patients may experience: 

• Frequent vomiting
• Stomach pain, particularly around the upper abdomen
• Bulging of the abdomen
• Fever
• Constipation
• Inability to pass gas

If you are on Ozempic and have noticed any of the symptoms listed above, seek immediate medical attention. When you are well enough to do so, contact our law firm to speak with our Ozempic injury attorneys.

How Bursor & Fisher, P.A. Can Help Injured Ozempic Patients

The lawyers of Bursor & Fisher, P.A. have secured numerous multi-million-dollar verdicts over the years, including actions against pharmaceutical companies like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly and Company. We’re ready to advocate for you.

A nationwide leader in complex high-stakes litigation, our law firm has represented more than 160 million people in legal actions—that’s roughly 1 in every 2 Americans.

How Much Can I Win If I Sue for Ozempic-Related Health Problems?

This depends on a variety of factors, including the severity of your GI problems, the medical treatments you required, and the lasting effects of the Ozempic-related health problems on your livelihood and quality of life. Our law firm cannot provide an estimate on the value of your Ozempic claim until we’ve had an opportunity to evaluate the details of your case.

With that in mind, compensation received in an Ozempic lawsuit can help cover your hospital bills, emergency medical treatments, ongoing healthcare expenses, loss of income, and changes in your future earning potential.

To learn how much your lawsuit may be worth, it’s best to contact our Ozempic injury attorneys for a free case review.

How Much Will It Cost to Hire an Ozempic Injury Lawyer?

It costs clients nothing to hire an Ozempic attorney with Bursor & Fisher, P.A.

In addition to free case evaluations, our lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. That means you do not pay our attorneys anything unless and until we secure compensation for you.

Put simply: if we don’t win, you don’t pay.

How Injured Ozempic Patients Can Learn More About Filing a Lawsuit

If you experienced a serious medical emergency from taking Ozempic, you’re not alone. Our weight loss drug attorneys are here to help. You may qualify to take legal action against Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly and Company.

For more information about seeking damages from the makers of Ozempic and similar GLP-1 drugs, contact the lawyers of Bursor & Fisher, P.A. for a free consultation.

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.