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A 55-year-old Michigan woman, Monica Church, experienced severe side effects after being prescribed Ozempic in October 2023 to manage her diabetes. By Christmas, she was hospitalized for two weeks due to abdominal pain, vomiting, and stomach paralysis. The once-enjoyable foods like pizza and bread became unbearable, forcing her to eat only small, manageable meals. Monica claims her doctor did not inform her about these potential side effects.

Monica Church is not an isolated case. She joins a growing number of patients filing lawsuits against Novo Nordisk and its parent company, Eli Lilly, alleging insufficient warning labels for the drug’s risks. Robert King, a New York attorney, represents 400 patients in these lawsuits. He revealed that stomach issues are the most common complaints, but the consequences extend to blood clots, blindness, tooth loss, and paralysis.

Jacqueline Barber from Louisville, Kentucky, endured a year of sleeping next to a garbage can due to constant vomiting. She lost 140 pounds, her teeth deteriorated from stomach acid, and she needed a walker to move around, all attributed to her use of Ozempic.

The controversy revolves around GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Trulicity, initially designed to treat diabetes by mimicking hormones that regulate fullness and digestion speed. However, their weight-loss efficacy led to broader prescriptions. By May 2024, polls indicated one in eight adults were taking GLP-1 agonists, potentially 30 million people.

Cecily King, a 43-year-old from Kentucky, began using GLP drugs in September 2021 and subsequently developed gastroparesis. This serious condition led to persistent vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, resulting in multiple emergency room visits. Her symptoms have had a lasting impact, and she is part of the legal action against the drug companies, accusing them of downplaying gastrointestinal risks.

Other severe cases include Bob Tuttle of Tennessee, who had to quit his job and be airlifted from an oil rig due to immobilizing stomach paralysis, and Roderick Shirely of Florida, who developed a life-threatening blood clot after taking Ozempic.

Novo Nordisk denies these claims, stating that Ozempic’s side effects are clearly listed on the label and that the company stands by the drug’s safety and efficacy when used as directed. Nonetheless, patients involved in these lawsuits emphasize the need for better education on the potential risks, hoping future users can make more informed decisions.

For Jacqueline Barber and many others, the primary goal is not to remove Ozempic from the market but to raise awareness about its serious side effects. Barber said, "I just want people to have the education I didn't."