The Other Side of Ozempic: Long Term Risks & Legal Battles You Need to Know

Ozempic® (semaglutide) has exploded in popularity over the last few years, praised for its ability to help people with Type 2 diabetes manage blood sugar and more recently, to fuel rapid weight loss. Celebrities, influencers, and even everyday moms have shared their “miracle results.”

Behind the headlines are doctors, researchers, and now the courts that are raising serious questions. What happens when a drug designed for diabetes is used long term by millions of people for weight loss? And are patients being told the full story about its risks?

This post dives into the health concerns, side effects, and ongoing lawsuits surrounding Ozempic and similar GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy® and Mounjaro®.

Long-Term Health Concerns

Digestive Damage

The most alarming risk is severe gastrointestinal harm.

• Gastroparesis (stomach paralysis), chronic nausea, vomiting, and intestinal blockages are increasingly reported.
• One study found GLP-1 users had a 52% higher risk of gastroparesis compared to non-users.

Some lawsuits now refer to Ozempic as causing “life altering digestive damage.”

Gallbladder & Pancreas Issues

• Cases of pancreatitis (pancreas inflammation) and gallbladder disease (including gallstones) have been documented.
• These conditions can lead to hospitalization, surgery, or lifelong complications.

Eye & Vision Loss

New data suggests Ozempic may harm the eyes:

• Worsening of diabetic retinopathy in some patients.
• A 2025 Canadian study linked GLP-1 drugs to higher rates of macular degeneration.
• Perhaps most devastating: lawsuits claim the drug caused irreversible blindness (non arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, or NAION).

One New Jersey man and a grandmother of 11 are suing after losing much of their vision just months after starting the drug.

Thyroid & Cancer Concerns

• In animal studies, semaglutide caused thyroid C-cell tumors.
• Because of this, Ozempic carries an FDA boxed warning against use in patients with a personal or family history of thyroid cancer.

Muscle Loss, Skin Changes & “Ozempic Face”

• Rapid weight loss often means losing muscle mass along with fat, increasing risk of weakness and frailty.
• Patients also report sagging skin, “Ozempic face,” and even changes in intimate areas (“Ozempic vulva”).

Mental Health Effects

• Some patients have reported depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts while taking Ozempic or similar drugs.
• While not yet proven as a direct cause, the FDA and EMA are monitoring closely.

Kidney Injury

Severe vomiting or diarrhea can cause dehydration and kidney damage, particularly dangerous in older or already at risk patients.

2. The Legal Battles

The Growing Multidistrict Litigation (MDL 3094)

• As of 2025, over 2,190 lawsuits have been consolidated in federal court.
• Plaintiffs allege manufacturers failed to warn about the risk of gastroparesis, intestinal blockages, and other serious GI injuries.

High-Profile Lawsuits

• Vision Loss: Plaintiffs claim Ozempic caused permanent blindness, with lawsuits citing optic nerve damage that wasn’t disclosed on labels.
• Colon Removal: A Texas woman required her colon to be removed after severe intestinal injury allegedly linked to Ozempic. She now lives with an ileostomy bag.
• NAION Case: One lawsuit alleges a woman lost 90% of her vision in one eye within six months of taking Ozempic.

Novo Nordisk’s Counterlawsuits

Interestingly, Novo Nordisk (Ozempic’s manufacturer) has also filed lawsuits, but against compounding pharmacies and telehealth providers selling counterfeit or unapproved versions of semaglutide. This highlights another safety concern: many patients may be unknowingly using unregulated knock offs.

3. Balancing the Picture

It’s important to note:

• Ozempic works. It’s highly effective for diabetes and can reduce cardiovascular risk.
• For some patients, the benefits outweigh the risks.
• But the long term safety is not fully known, especially when used off label for weight loss by people without diabetes.

4. What This Means for You

Before starting (or continuing) a GLP-1 drug like Ozempic, ask yourself:

• Am I aware of the full risk profile?
• Is my doctor monitoring for side effects?
• Do I have lifestyle strategies (nutrition, exercise, stress management) in place that could provide a safer, long term solution?

Ozempic is more than a “miracle shot.” It’s a powerful drug with very real risks. While some may benefit, others are finding themselves in courtrooms, battling health issues they never expected.

The takeaway is this, don’t let the hype decide for you. Natural weight loss is not only healthy it is sustainable. There is no getting around it…Whole Food Nutrition, Daily Intentional Movement, and Meeting Your Water Goals, will have the most positive impact on your health and your life.

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