Our attorneys are investigating lawsuits for people who developed serious gastrointestinal injuries after taking GLP-1 weight loss medications Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Trulicity, Rybelsus, and Saxenda. We are focusing on three specific qualifying conditions: gastroparesis (stomach paralysis), intestinal blockages, and gastroenteritis.
What Are GLP-1 Medications?
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are medications initially developed to treat type 2 diabetes that have gained widespread use for weight loss.
These drugs mimic the naturally occurring hormone GLP-1, which is released from the intestines after meals to lower blood glucose levels and slow gastric emptying.
The medications involved in current litigation include drugs from manufacturers Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly.
Novo Nordisk drugs containing semaglutide:
- Ozempic (approved 2017 for diabetes)
- Wegovy (approved 2021 for weight loss)
- Rybelsus (oral form)
- Saxenda (liraglutide)
Eli Lilly drugs:
- Mounjaro (tirzepatide, approved 2022)
- Trulicity (dulaglutide)
Because natural GLP-1 degrades quickly, these medications have been engineered to last longer in the bloodstream, making them effective as once-weekly injections. The global GLP-1 market has surged from $53.5 billion in 2024 to $62.86 billion in 2025, with projections reaching $268.37 billion by 2034.
While clinical trials demonstrated significant weight reduction benefits, researchers continue to study these medications’ long-term health effects.
Serious Gastrointestinal Injuries
These GLP-1 medications have been linked to severe gastrointestinal complications that can result in hospitalization and long-term health problems. The three primary qualifying injuries for legal claims are:
- Gastroparesis (Stomach Paralysis). Gastroparesis is a medical condition where the stomach does not properly empty, causing food to remain in the stomach longer than normal. This can lead to severe complications including persistent vomiting, nausea, dehydration, malnutrition, and in some cases, the need for medical procedures to suction stomach contents.
- Intestinal Blockages. Also known as intestinal obstructions, these occur when the normal movement of food through the digestive system is blocked. This serious condition often requires emergency medical intervention and can lead to hospitalization.
- Gastroenteritis. Severe inflammation of the stomach and intestines that goes beyond typical gastrointestinal side effects, often resulting in prolonged symptoms and medical complications.
Reports of these severe gastrointestinal injuries can be found in the FDA’s adverse event reporting data and medical literature. News sources have also reported a spike in emergency room visits for individuals experiencing serious gastrointestinal complications.
Medical organizations have issued specific guidance regarding these medications. For example, the American Society of Anesthesiologists recommended that doctors advise patients taking these medications to stop at least a week before any surgical procedure. This recommendation followed several reports of patients regurgitating or vomiting while under anesthesia, which can lead to post-surgery pneumonia and other complications.
Current Litigation Status
As of May 2025, over 1,685 federal lawsuits have been consolidated into a multi-district litigation (MDL) known as “MDL 3094 In Re: Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1 RAS) Products Liability Litigation” in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania under Judge Karen Marston.
During the March 2025 MDL status conference, plaintiff’s attorneys projected that the litigation could eventually include tens of thousands of cases, with approximately 7,000 potential cases currently under active investigation.
While additional injuries have been reported, including vision issues such as nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) decided not to add these injuries to the existing MDL in January 2025. The current MDL remains focused on extreme gastrointestinal side effects, including gastroparesis, intestinal blockages, and gastroenteritis.
These GLP-1 lawsuits contend that manufacturers failed to adequately warn about known or reasonably knowable risks, did not exercise reasonable care in researching and testing their products, and withheld or underreported data on the frequency of serious complications.
The defendants named include the manufacturers and distributors: Novo Nordisk A/S, a Danish pharmaceutical company, Novo Nordisk USA, its U.S. subsidiary, and Eli Lilly and Company. In December 2024, the JPML decided to additionally include claims involving Novo Nordisk’s Saxenda.
Upcoming Legal Developments
The court will hold an evidentiary hearing on May 20, 2025, where Judge Marston will address whether to permit early discovery and motion practice on issues of preemption, adequacy of warning labels, and gastroparesis diagnostic testing standards.
A central issue is the defendants’ attempt to block key plaintiffs’ experts from testifying about gastroparesis diagnoses that don’t require specific medical testing. This hearing and subsequent findings may significantly influence which types of claims advance in the litigation.
The defendants are pushing for requirements that gastroparesis diagnoses be based on objective, contemporaneous testing, which could potentially disqualify many valid claims from plaintiffs whose symptoms improved after stopping the medication and who did not undergo formal testing.
Legal Eligibility Requirements
If you experienced severe gastrointestinal side effects after being prescribed one of these medications for weight loss and were diagnosed with gastroparesis (stomach paralysis), intestinal blockages, or gastroenteritis, you have important legal rights.
Contact us for a free case and medical record review.
We handle all cases on a contingent fee basis, meaning there are no fees unless we obtain compensation for you.
Start a Free Case ReviewImportant Note: Please consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your medications.