Let's begin to understand the Ozempic Gallbladder Lawsuit step-by-step. Ozempic is one of the most popular drugs to manage type 2 diabetes and also for its use to lose weight. Recent research from the FDA has revealed that taking Ozempic could substantially enhance the likelihood of having gallbladder disease, which can result in gallbladder removal and other health complications.
The company that made Ozempic did not sufficiently warn about the risks of developing gallbladder disease. People who took Ozempic and then became ill with gallbladder disease and gallstones or needed to undergo surgery to remove their gallbladder might be qualified to file a responsibility Ozempic Gallbladder lawsuit to receive an amount of financial compensation.
Ozempic gallbladder cases are being filed all over the country. If you’re the owner of an Ozempic lawsuit, contact us now at +1 (817) 672 0196 or contact us.
About Ozempic
Ozempic is the brand name for semaglutide, an antidiabetic medication that is primarily used in the treatment and treatment of type 2 diabetes. Ozempic is a drug that causes your body’s metabolism to boost insulin production and the elimination of glucose in the blood, which helps improve the control of glycemic. While Ozempic is approved only to be used to treat diabetes, it has been gaining popularity off-label to lose weight and as an anti-obesity medication. Ozempic is generally administered in the form of injections every two months.
Ozempic was invented through Novo Nordisk, a multinational pharmaceutical company based in Denmark that is a specialist in drugs to treat diabetes. Novo Nordisk first developed Ozempic in 2012, and it was approved by the FDA and made available to the U.S. market in late 2017. A year later, the 2021 stronger variant that was a higher dose version of Ozempic (sold by the name of Wegovy) was approved by the FDA.
How It Does It
Ozempic functions by mimicking the GLP-1’s function. When a person eats, the body’s natural reaction involves the release of insulin in order to control the rise of blood sugar. For people suffering from Type 2 Diabetes, the system might not function properly and result in high glucose levels in the blood. Ozempic increases insulin levels after meals, which reduces glucose levels in the blood. It also slows digestion, which can help reduce the levels of glucose in the blood even more. Additionally, it reduces the amount of glucose that is produced by the liver, ensuring an equilibrium in the level of blood sugar.
for Clinical Use
This type of medication is generally recommended when exercise and diet alone are not enough to provide sufficient regulation of blood sugar for those suffering from Type 2 Diabetes. It can be utilized as a treatment on its own or in conjunction with other medications for diabetes, like metformin. It’s not a treatment to treat type 1 diabetes or patients suffering from diabetic ketoacidosis.
Administration and Dosage
Ozempic is not a medication; however, it is a subcutaneous injection typically administered once per week. It is injected into the abdomen’s skin or thigh area or on the upper arm. The first dose is typically 0.25 mg/week during the initial month. This serves as a time during which your body will adjust to drugs. The dose then increases to 0.5 mg/week. In the event of a patient’s reaction and tolerance, the dosage is allowed to increase up to a maximum dose of 1 mg/week.
The Side Effects
Like all medications, Ozempic can cause adverse consequences. Most commonly, they include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and constipation. Some of these adverse symptoms are more prevalent at the time a person begins taking the drug, and they may diminish in time. Other adverse effects could include a decrease in appetite, constipation, indigestion, and fatigue. Other more serious but less frequently reported side effects include pancreatitis, visual changes, as well as kidney issues.
Ozempics and Gallbladder Problems
In August 2022, a research letter released in JAMA Internal Medicine revealed that Ozempic (and other similar medications) could be associated with higher incidences of gallbladder issues, such as gallstones, acute gallbladder disease, and so on. The research resulted from a study conducted by the Food and Drug Administration using information obtained by the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
The FDA data showed that individuals who used Ozempic for type-2 diabetes treatment displayed a significantly higher rate of gallbladder health conditions, particularly acute gallbladder disease (acute cholecystitis). A sudden swelling in the gallbladder characterizes acute gallbladder disease. It is typically caused by gallstones obstructing the tube that leads to the gallbladder. It’s a serious problem that requires treatment in a hospital setting to prevent any further injuries. In many instances, treatment is surgical removal of the gallbladder.
Researchers concluded there was an increase in the risk of gallstones (cholelithiasis) (RR 1.27; and acute gallbladder disease (cholecystitis) when using Ozempic as compared to placebo or active comparator. Also, Researchers concluded that the risk of developing gallbladder problems with Ozempic was higher with the use of Ozempic administered at higher doses and for longer durations, as well as in cases where the medication was prescribed to lose weight.
The findings within the 2022 Research Letter were consistent with conclusions from two prior meta-analysis studies that examined the connection between medications such as Ozempic and gallbladder issues and gallstones. The prior research studies appeared in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice (2020) and Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism (2017).
About Gallbladder Disease
Gallbladder diseases encompass a wide variety of diseases, such as gallstones (cholelithiasis), inflammation in the gallbladder (cholecystitis), and gallbladder cancer, in addition to others. Ozempic lawsuits do not assert any connection to cancer. But there’s a question over whether the injuries are connected with the medication.
Gallstones
Gallstones (cholelithiasis) are the most commonly encountered type of gallbladder disease. They are pebble-like, hard deposits that develop within the gallbladder. They can be in different sizes, from sand grain up to a golf ball. We know two types of gallstones: cholesterol stones, which are the most prevalent and comprise excess cholesterol, and pigment stones, which are made of bilirubin, which is a chemical produced when the liver breaks down red blood cells.
Gallstones are a risk factor for being female, either overweight or overweight, pregnant or having gallstones in the family, and having Native American or Hispanic descent, and a few dietary factors, including eating a high-fat diet or a high-cholesterol one.
Most people who have gallstones don’t experience any symptoms. If, however, a stone blocks a bile drain, it may cause extreme pain that is sudden and intense in the left upper region of the stomach. The pain could be felt in the back or the right shoulder. Other signs include vomiting or nausea as well as chills or fever. Jaundice and light-colored stools.
Cholecystitis
The gallbladder is a place of inflammation. It can be sudden (acute) or last for a long time (chronic). It’s usually caused by gallstones that block the tube that leads to the gallbladder, which causes an accumulation of bile, which may cause swelling and inflammation. These symptoms are similar to gallstones. They include extreme discomfort on the right upper or central abdomen, pain radiating towards the back or shoulder, abdominal tenderness when touched, nausea and vomiting, and an increase in fever.
Ozempic Gallbladder Lawsuits
In March 2022, the warning label for Ozempic was updated with a caution about the risk of gallbladder diseases that are related to the medication. Prior to that, however, the warning label did not mention any risk of gallbladder disease. Before March 2022, physicians and patients needed to be adequately warned that Ozempic could be a cause of gallstones, gallbladder diseases, or gallbladder disease.
Patients who had taken Ozempic before the introduction of the warning label and later suffered from gallbladder disease (acute cholecystitis), gallstones, and other gallbladder-related issues may be able to file an action for product liability and seek financial settlement. The manufacturer of the drug could be held accountable based on different theories of product liability that include negligent failure to warn or strict liability.
Valuation of Settlements in Ozempic Lawsuits
There needs to be more time in the litigation to draw any accurate estimates of the possible settlement value of the Ozempic gallbladder injury lawsuits. The claims are relatively fresh, and the validity of the evidence of causation from science has yet to be examined. However, we can draw an educated guess at the possible settlement range in these cases based on settlements previously made with similar injuries.
If the causation proof is valid and these cases are ultimately successful, the median settlement value of the highest-ranked Ozempic lawsuits could range between $400,000 and $700,000. The cases that are considered the top of the line will be cases where the plaintiff needed to undergo gallbladder removal, and the connection between Ozempic usage and injuries is clear.
Find an Ozempic Lawyer
Ozempic gallbladder claims are being filed all over the country. If you’re the victim of an Ozempic lawsuit, this is the perfect moment to take action. Contact our experts now or dial +1 (817) 672 0196
