Ozempic (Semaglutide) Gastroparesis and Vision Loss Litigation

Ozempic (semaglutide) is a prescription medication initially approved by the FDA in 2017 for adults with Type 2 diabetes. It belongs to a drug class known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), which help regulate blood sugar and can also lead to significant weight loss.

Over time, public awareness and demand for GLP-1 medications expanded dramatically. Patients were drawn to the potential for improved metabolic health and meaningful weight reduction, and these drugs became some of the most widely discussed prescription medications in the United States.

But rapid adoption can outpace public understanding of risk. As more patients used semaglutide products in real-world settings—often for long periods—reports of severe gastrointestinal complications and vision-related injuries began to drive litigation and intensified scrutiny over what manufacturers disclosed, when they disclosed it, and how clearly they warned clinicians and patients.

Most Ozempic lawsuits have been filed by patients who allege they developed severe stomach and intestinal complications after taking the medication. The most frequently alleged injuries include gastroparesis (stomach paralysis), ileus (a condition where the intestines stop moving properly), and intestinal obstruction or pseudo-obstruction.

More recent lawsuits also allege that semaglutide medications can trigger a serious eye condition called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), which can cause sudden and sometimes permanent vision loss.

Plaintiffs generally claim these injuries were unexpected, severe, and life-altering—and that they were not adequately warned about the true nature of the risk when the drug was prescribed.

A central theme is informed consent. Plaintiffs argue that if doctors and patients had been clearly warned about the possibility of stomach paralysis, intestinal shutdown, or serious optic nerve injury, they would have chosen different medications, used tighter monitoring, or stopped earlier—reducing the severity of harm.

A major issue in the litigation is that Ozempic’s labeling has changed over time—but many plaintiffs were prescribed the drug before key warnings were strengthened.

Even with these updates, plaintiffs argue the label still did not sufficiently convey the real-world severity and duration of certain complications—especially where symptoms persist, require hospitalization, or do not resolve after stopping the medication.

With respect to NAION, plaintiffs note that the label does not name NAION specifically. The label has referenced “vision changes” and concerns about diabetic retinopathy, but plaintiffs allege those warnings did not adequately disclose the risk of sudden optic nerve injury leading to permanent vision loss.

Gastroparesis is a severe disorder in which the stomach empties too slowly—or, in some cases, stops moving food forward entirely. When digestion stalls, patients can experience chronic nausea, severe abdominal pain, early satiety (feeling full after a few bites), reflux, and repeated vomiting.

Plaintiffs allege there is no cure for gastroparesis and that treatment can be long-term, involving dietary restrictions, medications, IV fluids, feeding tubes, or procedures aimed at improving gastric emptying.

These conditions can be medical emergencies. They may require hospitalization, imaging, nasogastric tubes, surgical consultations, and prolonged recovery.

Plaintiffs argue that these are not routine “nausea” side effects. Instead, they describe serious injuries that can cause prolonged suffering, repeated hospital visits, and lasting impairment.

Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is an optic nerve injury caused by reduced blood flow to the optic nerve. It can occur suddenly and without pain, often noticed upon waking.

NAION is especially alarming because it can cause permanent vision damage and there is no cure. Plaintiffs allege that semaglutide use increased their risk of NAION and that they were never warned about the possibility of sudden optic nerve injury.

A 2024 study published in JAMA Ophthalmology reported that patients with Type 2 diabetes taking semaglutide-containing medications had more than a fourfold higher risk of developing NAION compared with patients not on a GLP-1 agonist. The same study reported that overweight patients taking semaglutide for weight loss had a more than sevenfold higher risk.

In litigation, this type of study can become a key battleground—supporting plaintiffs’ causation arguments while defendants may contest methodology, confounding factors, and what constitutes sufficient evidence to mandate a stronger warning.

NAION is often described as sudden, painless vision loss in one eye, frequently first noticed upon waking. Because other serious conditions can mimic NAION—some requiring urgent treatment—patients should treat sudden vision changes as a medical emergency.

Diagnosis is typically based on an eye exam and patient history, with additional testing used when symptoms are atypical or when physicians need to rule out more dangerous causes.

Ozempic is not the only medication named in these lawsuits. Because semaglutide and related compounds share mechanisms of action, lawyers are investigating whether other GLP-1 receptor agonists can cause similar severe gastrointestinal and vision-related injuries.

The core allegation remains consistent: patients took a GLP-1 RA drug, developed a serious injury, and were not adequately warned about the risk at the time of prescription.

Many federal lawsuits involving Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs have been centralized into a single multidistrict litigation (MDL) for coordinated pretrial proceedings.

The MDL is titled: In re: Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1 RAs) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 3094.

This MDL was established in February 2024 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, with U.S. District Judge Karen Marston presiding.

As of January 5, there are 3,063 pending actions in the MDL. The MDL process is designed to streamline discovery, expert litigation, and common legal issues—while still preserving each plaintiff’s individual case and right to trial if the claim does not resolve through settlement.

Eligibility generally depends on documenting both exposure to Ozempic (or another GLP-1 medication) and a qualifying injury consistent with the litigation—most commonly severe gastroparesis or NAION.

Some firms may decline cases involving certain medical histories. For example, cases may be weaker where a patient had prior bariatric surgery (gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, or gastric banding), or where the medication was taken in the context of active cancer treatment.

An attorney can review medical records and prescribing history to determine whether your claim fits current filing criteria.

Ozempic and GLP-1 injury cases are documentation-heavy. Plaintiffs typically need medical and pharmacy records to prove the drug was taken and to establish the diagnosis and severity of injury.

Because many patients have multiple providers, a law firm often helps coordinate and obtain complete records to build a coherent timeline of exposure, symptom onset, diagnosis, and damages.

Compensation in Ozempic and GLP-1 injury cases varies widely and depends on the type of injury, treatment required, long-term impairment, and overall impact on quality of life.

Because plaintiffs allege that some injuries—such as NAION and gastroparesis—have no cure and can permanently alter daily functioning, damages may be substantial in severe cases. Every case is fact-specific, and outcomes depend on proof of causation and documented damages.

Not every patient who takes semaglutide develops severe side effects, and many experience only mild gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or a feeling of fullness.

However, plaintiffs allege that certain symptoms can be warning signs of a severe gastrointestinal injury. Patients should contact a physician promptly if they experience persistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain, inability to keep food down, or symptoms of intestinal blockage.

Do not stop taking Ozempic or any prescription medication without consulting your physician. A healthcare provider can help evaluate symptoms, rule out urgent causes, and determine the safest course of action.