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Justice as Peace? A Class Action Caution against GLP-1 medications.

  • 6 days ago
  • 6 min read

GLP-1 Medication Class-Action Lawsuit is Picking Up Speed

Why bitter tasting phytonutrients are a better appetite suppressor/GLP-1 hormone stimulator ... less deadly, less likely to cause blindness or loss of gallbladder... and worse, worse than death? maybe

There Is Massive Litigation Underway

Thousands of lawsuits have been consolidated against Novo Nordisk (Ozempic, Wegovy) and Eli Lilly (Mounjaro, Zepbound). As of January 2026, over 4,400 patients have filed claims, now organized into two main multidistrict litigations (MDLs) in Pennsylvania federal court. (1, 4, 7)


“A recent survey by the nonpartisan health organization KFF shows that 12% of American adults (over 31 million people) are currently using GLP-1 drugs; about one in five Americans (over 46 million) have tried such drugs.” […]


Regarding timeline and potential outcome for some of the plaintiffs:In federal litigation, there are key hurdles for claims related to gastroparesis: the Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, where the cases are centralized, requires plaintiffs to have undergone specific medical tests at the time of diagnosis to confirm the condition. If such tests were not conducted at the time, plaintiffs may be excluded from compensation.In addition, lawsuits usually take a long time. Since all cases have been centralized in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, several ‘bellwether trials’ will be conducted first to gauge the potential direction of the cases. Plaintiff attorneys say this could stretch until 2027. Considering that the earliest lawsuits were filed in 2023, the process for patients to receive compensation is indeed lengthy." - Austin Fast, a USA Today investigative data reporter (link in English but lots of ads, in an Excerpt podcast interview by Dana Taylor (usatoday.com/)(1 *article in Chinese, translation of a podcast interview is included below)


The cases allege that manufacturers failed to adequately warn about severe risks. (3, 9)


The Injuries Being Alleged

The harms are serious and, in some cases, permanent:

Injury Type: Details; Prevalence in Lawsuits

  • Gastroparesis (Stomach Paralysis): Stomach stops emptying properly; causes chronic nausea, vomiting, pain; ~75% of federal cases. (1, 7)

  • Ileus/Intestinal Obstruction: Bowel muscles fail to push waste through; can require emergency surgery: ~18% of cases. (1, 7)

  • Gallbladder Disease: Inflammation, gangrene, surgical removal; ~8% of cases (1, 7)

  • NAION (Eye Stroke): Sudden, permanent vision loss from optic nerve blood flow blockage; Separate MDL with 29+ cases as of Jan 2026, growing rapidly. (9)

  • Pancreatitis: Inflammation of pancreas; can be fatal; Included in many claims. (6)

  • Wernicke’s Encephalopathy: Brain dysfunction from vitamin deficiency secondary to severe vomiting; At least one reported case. (1, 7)


The vision loss piece—”eye stroke” (NAION)—is particularly significant. European regulators recently updated Wegovy and Ozempic labels to warn that the drugs may cause NAION in up to 1 in 10,000 patients. U.S. labels still only warn of vague “vision changes” without mentioning NAION specifically. (4, 7)

  • Todd Engel, a 63-year-old Maryland truck driver, lost vision in one eye, then the other while taking Ozempic. He’s now legally blind. His lawsuit is one of many. (1, 7)

  • JoHelen McClain, 72, heard her colon “pop” while driving her granddaughter home. It had ruptured from a blockage. She required emergency surgery and a permanent colostomy bag. (1, 7)

These are some of the personal stories behind the case numbers.


Syringe/Injection was how the drug was given to many patients.

  • Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound are all injectable drugs. (2, 3)

  • The litigation is active now and growing rapidly—over 3,000 cases in the gastrointestinal MDL alone as of January 2026. (8, 9)

  • The vision loss MDL was just established December 2025—very recent. (9)

  • Bellwether trials (test cases) are expected to begin in late 2026 or early 2027. (3, 8)

“Someone’s lawsuit will help make the way for justice.” That is what bellwether trials do—they test the waters before potential global settlements.


Strokes: Yes, But of the Eye

Are strokes a reported problem with Ozempic? NAION is literally called an “eye stroke” —it’s caused by interrupted blood flow to the optic nerve. (3, 7, 9)

Regular strokes (cerebrovascular) haven’t been strongly linked, but diabetic patients—the primary users—are already at elevated stroke risk, which complicates causation arguments. (7)


Placebo and Falsified Trials

“Placebo” and “falsified drug trials” also appears in the litigation. Plaintiffs argue that:

  • Early trials minimized gastrointestinal risks

  • Warning labels were updated only after lawsuits began filing in 2023 (7, 8)

  • Companies promoted off-label weight-loss use while allegedly downplaying severity of side effects (8)

Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly deny the claims, stating their products are safe when used as directed and that labels are FDA-approved. (1, 7)


References

  1. 数千起诉讼质疑GLP-1类药物安全性 | The Excerpt, Thousands sue over GLP-1 drugs: What patients allege | The Excerpt, Jan 28, 2026 https://www.familydoctor.cn/news/shuqian-susong-zhiyi-leiyaowu-anquanxing-theexcerpt-322472.html [same article on USAToday, in English but lots of ads) “This article provides an in-depth report on thousands of lawsuits targeting GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, with patients accusing Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly of failing to adequately warn about serious side effects such as gastroparesis, intestinal obstruction, and blindness. Investigations show that since 2023, over 4,200 patients have filed lawsuits, with notable cases including Todd Engel from Maryland, who became blind in both eyes after using Ozempic, and 72-year-old real estate agent Jo Harlan McClain from Oklahoma City, who suffered a bowel rupture requiring permanent colostomy. Although the pharmaceutical companies deny the allegations and emphasize the drugs' significant benefits in controlling blood sugar and reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease, patients are calling for stronger warning labels. Experts advise users to closely monitor their physical reactions. The litigation process is expected to continue until the test trial phase in 2027, highlighting the complex challenges of balancing efficacy and safety as innovative drugs become widely used.” (translation con’t below)

  2. Sobia Qasim | Reviewed by Usma Parveen, Ozempic Uses, Mechanism, Weight Loss, and Safety, curely.co.uk, Feb 5, 2026, https://www.curely.co.uk/support-advice/ozempic

  3. Ozempic Faces $2 Billion in Lawsuits Over Severe Side Effects Including Stomach Paralysis and Vision Loss, 6 months ago, Medpath, https://trial.medpath.com/news/e5ef868ff717e201/ozempic-faces-2-billion-in-lawsuits-over-severe-side-effects-including-stomach-paralysis-and-vision-loss

  4. Lynn C. Allison, Lawsuits Against GLP-1 Makers Mount, newsmax.com, Feb 16, 2026, https://rss.newsmax.com/health/health-news/glp-1-medications-drugs/2026/02/16/id/1246287/

  5. Bolt Pharmacy, Ozempic and Blood Clots: Evidence, Risk Factors and Safety Guidance, 4/2/2026, https://www.boltpharmacy.co.uk/guide/ozempic-and-blood-clots

  6. Ozempic Death Lawsuit Claims [February 2026 Update] | Wrongful Death Ozempic Claims, TorHoerman Law, Jan. 15, 2026, https://www.torhoermanlaw.com/ozempic-lawsuit/ozempic-death-lawsuit/ *This is a lawfirm, the page mentions “Our law firm is currently accepting new clients for Ozempic Lawsuits, including family members and loved ones of people who have tragically passed away as a result of these weight loss medications.”

  7. Chris Kenning and Austin Fast, ‘My colon blew up’: lawsuits mount over GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, USA TODAY, Feb 9, 2026, https://www.centraloregondaily.com/news/consumer/glp-1-weight-loss-drug-lawsuits-injury-claims/article_51a44d3d-4161-4dd9-a2f4-f63dbb602eb0.html 

  8. Ozempic Lawsuit, Miller and Zois, Attorneys at Law, *also a law-firm accepting cases. https://www.millerandzois.com/products-liability/drugs/ozempic-gallbladder-lawsuit/ 

    1. “This page will provide the latest news and updates on the Ozempic litigation, as well as our predictions about the potential settlement value of these cases.

      Ozempic lawsuits are being filed around the country. If you have an Ozempic lawsuit, call us today at 800-553-8082 or reach out to us online.”

  9. Weight Loss Drug Lawsuits 2026, FDA Warnings and New Vision Loss and Stomach Paralysis Claims January 2026 Update, By All About Lawyer, Jan. 29, 2026, https://allaboutlawyer.com/weight-loss-drug-lawsuits-2026-fda-warnings-and-new-vision-loss-and-gi-injury-claims-january-2026-update/#can-i-sue-if-i-used-a-compounded-version-of-the-drug


Fennel Seeds are a licorice mint flavored chewy seed, toasted and served as a breath freshener at the end of Indian meals. They may help curb the appetite. A pinch or teaspoon may be plenty as the flavor is potent and the crunch and fiber is slow to chew. Image by Jalspreet Kalsi
Fennel Seeds are a licorice mint flavored chewy seed, toasted and served as a breath freshener at the end of Indian meals. They may help curb the appetite. A pinch or teaspoon may be plenty as the flavor is potent and the crunch and fiber is slow to chew. Image by Jalspreet Kalsi

Disclaimer: This information is being provided for educational purposes within the guidelines of Fair Use and is not intended to provide individual health care guidance, however bitter phytonutrients are satiating and generally health promoting in moderate, to tiny amounts. Toasted fennel seeds after a meal also freshens breath, like a sugar free mint with no alternative sweetener, that helps curb appetite and improve gut health.

 
 
 

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