Wegovy Lawsuit

Gain Justice for Severe Health Complications With Wegovy Lawsuit Lawyers

A Wegovy lawsuit can provide the compensation you deserve for serious complications from Ozempic and Wegovy or other semaglutide drugs. Patients prescribed Wegovy have reported serious health problems, including an increased risk of stomach paralysis, and negligent companies should be held accountable. Contact us today to learn whether you may be eligible for financial compensation from a dangerous drug lawsuit. 

What is Wegovy (Semaglutide)?

The Danish company Novo Nordisk produces both Ozempic and Wegovy, which are brand names for the same drug: semaglutide. Ozempic is a diabetes drug, while Wegovy is a once-weekly medication used for chronic weight management. 

The drug works by mimicking glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a gut hormone that regulates appetite, blood sugar, and digestion. This helps people lose weight by slowing down gastric emptying, the rate at which the body digests food. Wegovy users report feeling full for longer and experiencing fewer hunger pangs, which can reduce food intake.

Another reason that Wegovy helps people lose weight is by influencing the brain’s reward system, which is triggered by things like alcohol, nicotine, and food. Clinical trials found that Wegovy reduced cravings for calorie-dense foods. The FDA approved Wegovy to treat obesity in 2021. 

The Promise and Popularity of Wegovy

Drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy gained popularity in 2021, shortly after receiving FDA approval. Drug makers marketed them as miracle weight loss drugs that had few potential risks. By 2024, 6% of American adults were using a drug like Wegovy, spurring serious shortages that only ended in February 2025. Over 200,000 prescriptions are filled for Wegovy alternatives every month, representing the intense interest in this weight loss drug. 

Emerging Reports of Serious Side Effects

In 2024, Time Magazine released a report about patients who suffered serious gastrointestinal issues after taking semaglutide drugs. One woman lost 100 pounds in one year due to gastroparesis, also known as stomach paralysis. A study that sampled 613 semaglutide users determined that those using GLP-1 inhibitors were at a higher risk of gastroparesis and inflammation of the pancreas. 

Serious Health Complications Linked to Wegovy

Wegovy and similar drugs have been linked to severe gastrointestinal problems, some of which may result in permanent injuries to the digestive tract. Some known side effects include the following.

Gastrointestinal Issues: According to the manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, Wegovy can result in abdominal pain, chronic nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, and low blood sugar in diabetics. 

Gastroparesis: In some cases, Wegovy can paralyze the stomach muscles. Gastroparesis can sometimes become so severe that patients require surgery to help the stomach muscles move again. 

Intestinal Blockages and Obstructions: Due to slower digestion, food may get stuck in the bowels, causing obstructions. 

Bowel Injuries: Intestinal obstructions, when left untreated, can cause parts of the digestive tract to die. This is a medical emergency that can result in sepsis and potentially death. 

Pancreatitis: A study found that Wegovy is more likely to cause pancreatitis than an older drug combination called buproprion-naltrexone. Approximately 5 in 1,000 Wegovy patients suffer from this dangerous condition, which causes inflammation of the pancreas. 

Gallbladder Issues: Due to rapid weight loss, Wegovy can lead to more cholesterol reaching the gallbladder. This can lead to gallstones, which may necessitate surgery. 

Kidney Problems: One case study found that a woman who began taking semaglutide suffered from acute kidney problems. Discontinuing the drug did not reverse the kidney damage. 

The Link Between Wegovy and Gastroparesis

Evidence continues to mount that Wegovy can lead to gastroparesis, a potentially life-threatening condition. Because Wegovy slows down digestion, it can stop food from moving through the digestive tract, a motion called peristalsis. 

Lawyers for semaglutide manufacturers insist that the side effects are temporary and will go away if users stop taking the drug. Still, patients report lingering and severe side effects, including some that require surgery. 

In August 2023, a woman sued Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, claiming that semaglutide medications caused gastroparesis. A spokesperson for Novo Nordisk claimed that gastroparesis is a known issue for people with diabetes or kidney problems, dismissing any connection to the drugs. 

Case Studies and Reports Linking Wegovy to Gastroparesis

In 2023, the Journal of the American Medical Association issued a report stating that drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy can increase the risk of gastrointestinal health issues, including gastroparesis and bowel obstruction. 

Another report in Cureus chronicled a patient who suffered from gastroparesis, which her physician attributed to semaglutide. Lastly, a study of 336,655 people with Type 2 Diabetes who were prescribed GLP-1 drugs found an increased risk of gastroparesis.  

Legal Claims in Wegovy Lawsuits: Failure to Warn and Product Liability

Thousands of people have filed Wegovy lawsuits, accusing manufacturers of failing to provide adequate warnings about the risk of severe gastrointestinal issues. Our national law firm can assist you with these product liability lawsuits, which seek financial compensation for your injuries. 

Failure to Adequately Warn About Side Effects

The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) requires manufacturers to adequately warn users about the potential side effects of any drug (21 U.S. Code § 352). These warning labels must be included with the drug packaging. If potential dangers are not disclosed to users, then drug manufacturers can be liable for any harm done. 

Product Liability: Defective Design or Manufacturing

Our team can file a Wegovy lawsuit based on defective design, such as failing to compound the drug so that it had a lower risk of serious complications. 

The Illinois Supreme Court case Woodill v. Parke Davis & Co notes that drug manufacturers can only be held liable for risks they knew of or should have known of at the time of manufacturing, called foreseeability. As such, our Wegovy lawyers must demonstrate that the company should have known there were severe risks of complications like stomach paralysis based on testing. 

In some cases, issues with Ozempic and Wegovy could come from the manufacturing process, such as if the drug was compounded incorrectly. This could also make weight loss drug manufacturers liable under product liability doctrines, as they should have performed testing on each batch to ensure there were no issues. 

Negligence: Did the Manufacturer Act Reasonably?

A major argument in a Wegovy lawsuit is negligence. This is comprised of four factors: duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages. 

Duty of Care: The liable party had a responsibility to protect you by taking reasonable precautions. For pharmaceutical liability, this can include warning about side effects, performing trials, and implementing quality control measures.

Breach of Duty: The company failed to take all necessary precautions to prevent harm, such as not performing enough trials or misrepresenting their product. 

Causation: Your injuries were directly related to taking Wegovy. This can be proven by demonstrating that you did not have these issues before taking the drug.

Damages: You suffered financial or emotional losses as a result of taking Wegovy. 

We can also use the definition of strict liability under Illinois law. We must show that your issues, such as stomach paralysis or intestinal blockage, were a direct result of the drug and that there were unreasonably dangerous side effects. We will also need to show that these conditions were present when the weight loss drug left the manufacturer’s control. 

This negligence could stem from faulty development or inadequate testing prior to the drug’s release on the market. Additionally, our legal team could argue that Wegovy was marketed in a way that downplayed the potential risks.

Breach of Warranty

Breach of warranty refers to a situation where a product fails to meet the claims made about its efficacy or intended use. It must be proven that the product was assumed to be effective in a certain circumstance, but that it failed to perform adequately or caused other problems that would not have been present otherwise. 

In a Wegovy lawsuit, breach of warranty could be implied if a user was assured that the weight loss medication would alleviate health issues, but it actually caused other problems. 

Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) and Wegovy Class Action Lawsuit

As of now, a multidistrict litigation (MDL) Wegovy lawsuit is pending in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (MDL No. 3094). An MDL consolidates the discovery process for thousands of cases into a single process, making it easier to share information and assess the viability of cases. Once the MDL process is complete, the lawsuits will be returned to their respective jurisdictions.

Another option is a Wegovy class action lawsuit. A class action lawsuit occurs when multiple plaintiffs join forces to collectively seek compensation through a lawsuit. If the lawsuit is successful, then each plaintiff will get a portion of the Wegovy settlement. 

Who Can File a Wegovy Lawsuit?

You may be eligible to file a lawsuit if you took Wegovy prior to being diagnosed with a medical condition that has been linked to the drug. This could include stomach paralysis, bowel obstructions, pancreatitis, or gallstones. 

Steps to Take if You’ve Been Harmed by Wegovy

You must act quickly if you’d like to file a Wegovy lawsuit by getting tested and collecting medical records that can prove your claim. Follow these steps as soon as possible. 

See a Doctor and Report Your Symptoms

You should see trusted healthcare providers who can treat your condition, especially if you’re dealing with severe gastrointestinal issues like gastroparesis or chronic abdominal pain. Some top-rated gastroenterology units near Chicago include Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Rush University Medical Center. 

When speaking with a medical professional, be sure to mention how long you have been taking Wegovy and your current dosage. You should ask them to perform tests to check for gastroparesis, which can include endoscopy exams and ultrasounds.  

Document Everything: Medical Records, Medication History, Symptoms

Your medical expenses and records are key evidence in a personal injury lawsuit. Request all your records from any hospitals you may have visited, both before and after being prescribed Wegovy. This helps us prove that you were not suffering from these issues prior to taking the drug. 

Contact an Experienced Attorney Handling Wegovy Lawsuits

A skilled product liability lawyer can help you file a lawsuit against the manufacturer. As the Illinois statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits is only two years (735 ILCS 5/13-202), you should contact us as soon as possible. This ensures we have time to review your documents and prepare a strong case. 

Do Not Sign Anything from the Drug Manufacturer Without Legal Advice

When you file a Wegovy lawsuit, insurance companies will attempt to settle quickly, as they know most people aren’t aware of how much their settlement could be worth. They may encourage you to sign an agreement as soon as possible, or they may ask you to sign arbitration agreements that will force you to settle out of court. 

Don’t speak to third parties without your lawyer present, and do not sign any agreements with the company. Please allow us to review any Wegovy settlement agreements in advance. We will be able to ascertain whether this agreement is in your best interest. 

Potential Compensation in a Wegovy Lawsuit

A Wegovy settlement may encompass various types of damages, including both economic and non-economic losses.

Economic damages compensate you for your financial losses, which can include:

• Medical bills
• Out-of-pocket medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning potential
• Funeral and burial costs for wrongful death

Non-economic damages consider how your health problems have impacted your life. We can calculate this using an injury multiplier, which multiplies your economic losses by the degree of suffering. These damages can include:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Inconvenience

If your case goes to trial, the jury may award punitive damages, which punish the manufacturer for reckless behavior. These are not awarded in Wegovy settlement negotiations and are not guaranteed. 

Why Choose Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers for Your Wegovy Lawsuit?

Our attorneys are highly experienced in litigating dangerous drug cases, holding major companies accountable for their insufficient warning labels or blatant disregard for potential side effects. With over 100 years of combined legal experience, our attorneys have represented more than 5,000 clients and secured millions of dollars in damages. 

We will thoroughly investigate your case to determine the connection between your injuries and the side effects of Wegovy. For example, we can consult with medical professionals to demonstrate how semaglutide’s pharmacology increases the risk of gastric emptying issues or intestinal obstructions.

Our attorneys have an excellent track record in both negotiation and trial representation. We fight hard for our clients, ensuring that they receive maximum compensation for the pain they have endured. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers boasts hundreds of positive Google reviews and the esteemed Super Lawyers distinction, assuring our clients that they are in good hands. 

Our Contingency Fee Basis – No Fee Unless We Win

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers works on a contingency fee basis. This means that we only get paid if we win you compensation. This reduces your upfront expenses and makes quality legal representation more affordable.

Consult a Wegovy Lawyer Near You!

A Wegovy lawsuit can provide you with the funds you need to recover from health complications like gastroparesis or bowel injuries. We will hold Novo Nordisk and other manufacturers accountable for their failures to protect consumers from these dangerous drugs.To schedule a free consultation with a highly acclaimed personal injury attorney, call us at (888) 424-5757 or use our online contact form.

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.