There have been thousands of lawsuits filed against Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, alleging that these companies’ GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy cause a wide range of severe side effects, some of which are life-threatening and permanently damaging. If you or a loved one has used any of these drugs and experienced side effects, it’s important to speak with a dangerous drug lawyer about potentially filing an Ozempic lawsuit.
Understanding the Ozempic Lawsuit
When a product manufacturer releases a product that is defective or unreasonably dangerous for its intended use, the manufacturer is not only liable for any resulting harm to end users, but also required to take corrective action, such as issuing a product recall to remove the dangerous product from the consumer’s reach.
Ozempic and similar products gained tremendous popularity as an off-label weight loss aid. Originally intended to slow stomach emptying to diminish appetite as a way to help those with Type 2 diabetes control blood sugar, weight loss effects became the primary source of attention for these drugs.
However, while many people have reported successful weight loss using GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, there were more than 1,800 lawsuits filed against the manufacturers in the United States as of May of 2025, alleging that these drugs cause a host of severe side effects, including:
- Gastroparesis, or paralysis of the stomach. This prevents food from being digested and can lead to food rotting inside the stomach. This is often accompanied by severe gastrointestinal distress such as persistent vomiting, severe nausea, difficulty eating, stomach pain, bowel obstruction, and bloating.
- Gallbladder complications. Some users of Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs have developed gallstones and inflammation of the gallbladder.
- Pancreatitis. Some of the lawsuits have alleged that use of Ozempic and similar drugs resulted in acute pancreatitis.
- Kidney problems, including diminished kidney function.
- Various adverse symptoms including general malaise, weakness, mood changes, and hair loss.
- Vision loss, primarily due to non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). This is a very damaging condition that causes sudden permanent damage to the optic nerve.
Hundreds more lawsuits are expected to be filed in the near future with similar complaints. So far, many of the Ozempic lawsuits have been consolidated into multi-district litigation centralized in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The manufacturers targeted by these lawsuits maintain that their products are safe to use as prescribed, and that all medications come with some level of risk.
This multi-district litigation is still in the earliest stages, and bellwether trials are tentatively scheduled for the end of 2026 and early 2027. This means that it could be quite a long time before any results are reached and any claimants receive compensation. However, starting your claim as soon as possible and joining the mass tort if you are eligible can significantly improve the timeline for your legal proceedings.
Legal Options After Harm From Ozempic
If you or a loved one has used Ozempic or a similar product and experienced any medical complications like those cited in the current lawsuits, it is important to hire a dangerous drug lawyer to discuss your legal options. You may have grounds to file a personal injury claim under product liability law, and you may be eligible to join the mass tort in progress, joining hundreds of other claimants who have suffered similar harm.
It is important to understand the difference between a class-action lawsuit and a mass tort. The two are often conflated, but while a class-action lawsuit involves many plaintiffs coming together in a single case against one defendant, a mass tort consolidates multiple individual claims into a single series of proceedings. While a class-action results in a single payout that is divided among members of the class, each member of a mass tort has an individual claim.
Mass torts are more appropriate for cases involving dangerous drugs and defective medical products. Plaintiffs who have suffered injuries from such products typically have extensive damages, so it makes more sense for them to take advantage of the benefits of joining a mass tort so they can maintain their individual rights to pursue compensation.
Claiming Compensation in Dangerous Drug Cases
A dangerous drug case is a type of personal injury case filed against the drug manufacturer under product liability law. If you believe you have grounds to file an Ozempic lawsuit, it’s crucial to speak with an experienced dangerous drug lawyer as soon as possible. You have a short time to gather the evidence you need to build this type of case, which is likely to include:
- Records showing your prescription for Ozempic or a similar GLP-1 drug.
- Medical records proving that you experienced adverse effects linked to the use of GLP-1 drugs, such as a gastric emptying study, ophthalmological diagnosis with NAION, and treatment records for other conditions known to be linked to GLP-1.
- Proof of severe gastrointestinal distress resulting in hospitalization after you started using GLP-1.
Your attorney can help gather necessary evidence and establish a timeline showing that the negative effects you experienced started after you began using Ozempic. They can also help you prove that you do not have any underlying medical condition that may have interfered with the GLP-1 drug’s intended function or caused the negative effects you experienced.
Your attorney can then help you calculate the full scope of damages you are eligible to claim from the defendant. A dangerous drug case is a type of personal injury claim, and the plaintiff has the right to seek compensation for the economic and non-economic damages the defendant caused, which may include:
- All medical expenses related to the negative side effects you experienced. This can also include any future medical treatment costs if you suffered severe effects requiring ongoing care.
- Lost income. If the medical complications you have experienced have caused you to miss work, or if you have been permanently disabled by a GLP-1 drug and can no longer work, your attorney can help you claim compensation for lost income and lost future earning capacity.
- Pain and suffering. Victims of adverse side effects of Ozempic and similar drugs have experienced tremendous physical pain along with emotional distress, especially those who have suffered permanently disabling harm from these drugs. Your attorney can explain how to calculate suitable pain and suffering compensation to seek in your claim.
While the Ozempic lawsuits are ongoing and the results remain to be seen, if you believe you have grounds to file such a claim, it is vital to start building your case as soon as possible. The team at Kelley Ferraro, LLC has years of proven experience handling dangerous drug cases, and we know the challenges you are likely to face in your claim. Reach out to our firm as soon as possible to learn more about our legal services and how we can help with your case.
FAQs
Who Is Eligible to Join the Ozempic Lawsuit?
Eligibility to join the Ozempic lawsuit includes proof of using a GLP-1 drug such as Ozempic, and proof that severe side effects followed the use of this drug. Additionally, you will need to show proof that you do not have a disqualifying medical history. Your dangerous drug lawyer can help you gather the evidence needed to establish your eligibility and explain what to expect as your case unfolds.
How Long Will the Ozempic Lawsuit Take to Be Settled?
The time it will take for the Ozempic lawsuit to be settled is likely several years. There are already thousands of cases consolidated into multi-district litigation, and since these drugs just recently hit the market, there are likely thousands more people who have been harmed or will be harmed by these drugs who will also file lawsuits. While this may be a long and difficult process, starting as early as possible by speaking with an attorney is a wise decision.
How Much Compensation Can You Claim in an Ozempic Lawsuit?
The amount of compensation you can claim in an Ozempic lawsuit largely depends on the nature and severity of the damages you suffered. Your attorney can calculate economic damages like medical bills, future medical treatment costs, lost income, and lost future earning capacity, and they can also help you determine suitable pain and suffering compensation to seek with your claim.
Why Should I Hire a Dangerous Drug Lawyer?
You should hire a dangerous drug lawyer to have a better chance of reaching a favorable outcome in your case. Filing an Ozempic lawsuit means confronting a major pharmaceutical company with an in-house legal team experienced in pursuing cases against their employer. You need experienced legal counsel to level the playing field as much as possible, especially when participating in an emerging mass tort.
The attorneys at Kelley Ferraro, LLC have an extensive record of successfully handling dangerous drug cases, and we are confident we can help with your Ozempic lawsuit. It’s vital to start gathering the evidence you need to build your case as soon as possible, and we can help. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with our team and learn more about our legal services.
