Semaglutide drugs have changed the way many Americans think about weight loss. It’s estimated that 12% of the country has used Ozempic, Wegovy, or a similar GLP-1 drug, even with the high demand and steep price tag. It’s not surprising. You may even have a friend or family member taking one of these drugs.

Despite the success stories, some patients on Wegovy and other GLP-1 drugs have reported severe side effects and health complications. Even when these patients followed instructions and consulted their doctor, they came down with serious and even life-threatening medical conditions.

If you developed medical problems after taking a prescription semaglutide like Wegovy, our lawyers serving Louisiana can help you file a lawsuit. The Wegovy attorneys of Bursor & Fisher, P.A. can discuss your eligibility for compensation in a free case review.


 

About Wegovy (Semaglutide)

Developed by Novo Nordisk, Wegovy is the brand name of a semaglutide medication specifically designed for weight loss patients. It received initial FDA approval in 2021.

Wegovy was born from the success of Ozempic, which is a semaglutide developed to help manage type 2 diabetes. Diabetic patients on the drug reported that the medication helped them lose weight, which led to Novo Nordisk making a weight loss semaglutide.

The demand for Wegovy and other weight loss semaglutides and GLP-1s remains high. Since many people cannot afford Wegovy given the demand, doctors have prescribed diabetes GLP-1 drugs for off-label use to promote weight loss in obese patients.

How Wegovy and Other Semaglutides Work

Wegovy is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (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 mimic this hormone, which improves blood sugar levels, slows the movement of food from the stomach into the small intestine, and helps you feel satiated.

In other words, Wegovy helps you feel full for a longer amount of time, which prevents you from consuming more calories throughout the day.

Drugs That Are Similar to Wegovy

While many GLP-1 medications are prescribed off-label to treat obesity, there are other brand name GLP-1 medications that were made for losing weight. The most notable weight-loss GLP-1 brand names are Wegovy, Zepbound, and Saxenda. Even still, many people use Ozempic as a catch-all term for these kinds of medications.

With that in mind, Louisianians may recognize these other popular brand names for modern and in-demand weight loss drugs:

  • 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 Louisiana clients in Wegovy lawsuits as well as legal claims that involve any of the GLP-1 products listed above.

Common Side Effects of Wegovy

Mild and temporary side effects are common when taking Wegovy. These minor side effects include a reduced appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, and dizziness.

These minor side effects are most common when patients start taking Wegovy and other semaglutides or GLP-1 medications. The side effects typically subside as the patient gets used to taking Wegovy and their body adjusts to the dosage.

Serious Health Complications Linked to Wegovy

Some Wegovy patients in Louisiana have reported having severe side effects and medical problems. In addition to a heightened risk of pancreatitis and gallstones, Wegovy patients have also suffered from:

  • Severe and Prolonged Vomiting – While nausea and some vomiting are normal side effects of Wegovy, some patients experience frequent vomiting that lasts for two weeks or more. This can cause severe dehydration, injuries to the esophagus, and acidic erosion of a person’s tooth enamel.
  • Stomach Paralysis (Gastroparesis) – Stomach paralysis is when the nerves and muscles of the stomach do not push food into the small intestine to get digested. If this condition is left untreated, gastroparesis could contribute to malnutrition, dehydration, the formation of a bezoar (a solid mass in the stomach), and a host of 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 traveling through a person’s GI tract. If not treated, intestinal obstructions could cause death of the surrounding intestinal tissue and infection of the abdominal cavity (peritonitis).
  • Bowel Obstruction – Bowel obstructions are intestinal blockages that affect the large intestine and colon. Like blockage of the small intestine, bowel obstructions could lead to tissue death, peritonitis, or sepsis without proper treatment.

If a person on Wegovy experiences these complications, they need immediate medical care and hospitalization. In extreme cases of intestinal obstruction, a person may need an ileostomy bag or a colostomy bag for the rest of their life. These complications could prove fatal without urgent medical attention.

Symptoms and Warnings Signs to Look Out For

Concerned that Wegovy or another semaglutide has caused a serious health issue? Here are the most common warning signs of the complications described above:

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

If you have experienced any of the listed symptoms, seek medical attention right away. When you are well enough, you can speak with our Louisiana Wegovy lawsuit attorneys for a free case evaluation.

Can I File a Lawsuit for Health Problems Related to Wegovy Use?

Potentially, yes. If your health was adversely affected by taking Wegovy, you may be eligible to receive compensation from Novo Nordisk.

While Novo Nordisk provides warning labels about common side effects of Wegovy and their other semaglutide medications, their labels may not provide adequate warning about severe health risks such as stomach paralysis, intestinal blockages, or bowel obstruction.

Had people been warned about the severity of these rare complications, they might not have taken Wegovy in the first place.

Eligibility to File an Wegovy Lawsuit in Louisiana

You may qualify for a semaglutide lawsuit if you were prescribed Wegovy and suffered serious health complications as a result. However, certain medical conditions, surgical procedures, or other factors could affect your eligibility to seek compensation.

It’s important to speak with our Louisiana Wegovy lawsuit lawyers as soon as possible. Our attorneys can discuss what happened to you and determine if you are eligible to seek compensation from Novo Nordisk.

How Much Can I Win in a Wegovy Lawsuit?

That depends on a number of factors that are unique to your experiences taking Wegovy. As part of the free case review, our semaglutide attorneys can discuss the harm, lasting hardships, and financial losses you experienced from taking Wegovy and what that could mean for your legal claim.

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

The attorneys of Bursor & Fisher, P.A. are nationwide leaders in complex, high-stakes litigation. With offices in Miami, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area, our law firm has represented more than 160 million people in legal actions—that’s roughly 1 in every 2 Americans.

Since 2008, our law firm has secured numerous multi-million dollar verdicts in large complex lawsuits. This includes a recent $267 million jury verdict against a debt collector who was found to have violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

In addition to offering free case reviews, Bursor & Fisher, P.A. operates on a contingency fee basis. That means you don’t pay our lawyers anything unless we can recover money for you.

How Can I Learn More About Filing a Wegovy Lawsuit?

If you or someone you care about developed a serious medical condition after taking GLP-1 medications, contact our Wegovy lawyers serving Louisiana about filing a lawsuit. Our semaglutide attorneys can determine if you qualify for a lawsuit during a free case review.

 

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