Ozempic Lawsuit 2026: Stomach Paralysis and Vision Loss Claims from GLP-1 Drugs

Last updated: May 2026  |  By James J. Rosemergy, Mass Tort Attorney, Carey & Danis LLC

Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and other GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs have been widely prescribed for type 2 diabetes and weight loss — and have become cultural phenomena, with millions of patients using them across the country. For many people, they have been effective. But for thousands of others, these drugs have caused serious and life-altering injuries that were not adequately disclosed: debilitating stomach paralysis, repeated hospitalizations from uncontrollable vomiting, bowel obstructions, and in a growing number of cases, permanent vision loss.

Lawsuits are now pending in two federal multidistrict litigations — one focused on gastrointestinal injuries (MDL 3094) and another on vision loss (MDL 3163) — against Novo Nordisk (maker of Ozempic and Wegovy) and Eli Lilly (maker of Mounjaro and Zepbound). If you or a loved one experienced serious injuries after taking one of these drugs, you may have a legal claim. Our attorneys offer a free, confidential case review with no obligation and no fee unless we recover for you.

Ozempic Lawsuits Explained: GI Injuries and Vision Loss

GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs work in part by slowing gastric emptying — the rate at which the stomach moves food into the intestines. For many patients, this slowing becomes severe and, in some cases, permanent. Plaintiffs in the litigation allege that Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly knew or should have known about these risks and failed to adequately warn patients and prescribing physicians.

Gastrointestinal Injuries — MDL 3094 (E.D. Pa.)

The largest category of GLP-1 lawsuits involves serious gastrointestinal harm. The MDL has been active since 2023 and includes thousands of plaintiffs who were diagnosed with one or more of the following conditions after beginning a GLP-1 drug:

• Gastroparesis (stomach paralysis) — the stomach stops working properly, causing chronic nausea, vomiting, and inability to eat normally
• Ileus — paralysis of the intestines
• Bowel obstruction — a dangerous blockage requiring emergency treatment or surgery
• Cyclic vomiting syndrome
• Pulmonary aspiration — inhaling stomach contents while under anesthesia, a known risk tied to GLP-1’s gastric-slowing effect
• Malnutrition requiring hospitalization

In January 2025, Novo Nordisk updated the Ozempic prescribing label to warn against use in patients with severe gastroparesis — a regulatory acknowledgment of the link between these drugs and the condition that plaintiffs’ attorneys view as a significant admission.

Vision Loss (NAION) — MDL 3163 (E.D. Pa.)

A separate and rapidly growing category of claims involves non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, or NAION — a sudden, often permanent loss of vision caused by reduced blood flow to the optic nerve. NAION is typically painless and can occur without warning. In many reported cases, patients woke up to find they had lost vision in one eye.

A landmark 2024 study by researchers at Harvard Medical School, published in JAMA Ophthalmology, found that patients taking semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) had a significantly elevated risk of developing NAION compared to those taking other diabetes medications. In June 2025, the World Health Organization flagged NAION as a potential rare adverse event linked to semaglutide, and European regulators added a NAION warning to the Ozempic label that same month. As of early 2026, U.S. regulators have not yet required a comparable domestic label update — a failure that plaintiffs’ attorneys argue represents a continuing failure to warn American patients.

MDL No. 3163 was created in December 2025 specifically to consolidate NAION claims, and a plaintiff leadership team was appointed in March 2026. Many legal analysts now view the vision loss cases as among the most compelling in the GLP-1 litigation due to the permanent and devastating nature of the injury.

Which GLP-1 Drugs Are Covered by the Lawsuits?

The litigation covers all GLP-1 receptor agonist medications prescribed for diabetes management or weight loss, including:

• Ozempic (semaglutide injection — Novo Nordisk)
• Wegovy (semaglutide injection for weight loss — Novo Nordisk)
• Rybelsus (oral semaglutide — Novo Nordisk)
• Mounjaro (tirzepatide — Eli Lilly)
• Zepbound (tirzepatide for weight loss — Eli Lilly)
• Trulicity (dulaglutide — Eli Lilly)
• Saxenda (liraglutide for weight loss — Novo Nordisk)
• Victoza (liraglutide for diabetes — Novo Nordisk)

If you took any of these medications and developed a serious gastrointestinal condition or sudden vision loss, you may qualify for a claim regardless of whether you took the drug for diabetes or weight loss.

Ozempic Lawsuit Status — May 2026 Update

This is one of the fastest-growing pharmaceutical litigations in the country. Here is where things stand as of May 2026:

• 3,500+ federal cases filed and growing. More than 3,500 cases are pending across both MDLs, with approximately 200 new cases filed per month.
• Two MDLs — one judge. MDL 3094 (gastrointestinal claims) has been active since 2023. MDL 3163 (NAION/vision loss) was created in December 2025 with a leadership team appointed in March 2026. Judge Karen Spencer Marston in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania presides over both, providing consistency across the related proceedings.
• No settlements yet. No global settlement has been announced for either MDL. There have been no trials to date. Bellwether case selection is expected in mid-to-late 2026, and a global resolution remains at least one to two years away.
• FDA regulatory pressure. The FDA sent a warning letter to Novo Nordisk in early 2026 over alleged failures in adverse event reporting — regulatory pressure that is likely to factor into litigation strategy on both sides.
• Significant compensation projected. With no settlements yet established, legal analysts tracking the litigation have projected individual case values ranging from $100,000 to over $2,000,000, depending on injury severity, documentation, and evidence of what the manufacturers knew and when.

Who May Be Eligible to File an Ozempic or GLP-1 Lawsuit?

You may qualify to bring a GLP-1 drug injury claim if all of the following apply:

• You took Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, Trulicity, Saxenda, Victoza, or Rybelsus — for diabetes or weight loss
• You were diagnosed with gastroparesis, bowel obstruction, ileus, or another serious gastrointestinal condition after beginning the drug — OR you developed NAION (sudden vision loss) after using a GLP-1 drug
• Your injury was not fully explained by a pre-existing condition unrelated to the drug
• You have medical records documenting both your drug use and your diagnosis

If you are unsure whether you qualify, contact us for a free evaluation. Our attorneys will review your specific facts at no cost and with no obligation.

What Compensation May Be Available?

While no two cases are identical, plaintiffs in pharmaceutical injury litigation like the GLP-1 MDLs commonly seek compensation for:

• Past and future medical expenses related to the injury (hospitalizations, surgeries, ongoing treatment)
• Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress and loss of quality of life
• Loss of consortium (for affected spouses or family members)
• In appropriate cases, punitive damages for the manufacturer’s conduct

Legal analysts tracking the GLP-1 litigation have estimated individual case values ranging from $100,000 to over $2,000,000 depending on the severity of the injury, the quality of documentation, and what the evidence shows about the manufacturer’s knowledge. These are projections only — no recovery is guaranteed, and every case must be evaluated on its own facts.

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Frequently Asked Questions About the Ozempic and GLP-1 Lawsuits

Why Choose Carey & Danis LLC for Your GLP-1 Case?

Carey & Danis LLC is a nationally recognized plaintiff-side law firm with decades of experience holding pharmaceutical companies accountable for injuries caused by dangerous drugs and inadequately labeled medical products. Our attorneys have been involved in major pharmaceutical MDLs and mass tort litigations on behalf of thousands of injured patients across the country. We handle GLP-1 injury cases on a contingency fee basis — meaning you pay absolutely nothing unless and until we recover compensation for you. When you contact us, you will speak directly with an attorney or experienced legal professional, not a call center. Your consultation is free, confidential, and without obligation.