In a country where people love convenience and lead fast lives, the steady increase in diabetes has become a serious concern. The need for diabetic medications is higher, and the United States is currently facing a health crisis.
Beyond the allure of having a proper sugar level in the body, the ramifications of diabetes extend far beyond the superficial. Health risks, skyrocketing medical expenses, and a declining standard of living are significant factors compelling people and society as a whole to address the problem.
In the realm of diabetes, where promises often clash with reality, the rise of Mounjaro—a once celebrated drug for diabetes—now stands at the epicenter of a storm. The drug which was intended to guide individuals through the challenging terrain of Type 2 diabetes, has found itself under the harsh scrutiny of lawsuits and looming clouds of controversy.
As we dive into the landscape of Mounjaro stomach paralysis lawsuits, we are uncovering a story that dives deep into the dark valleys of unforeseen Mounjaro side effects and legal battles.
Let’s get started with the alpha and omega of Mounjaro drug for your better understanding of Mounjaro lawsuits.
What is Mounjaro?
Mounjaro is a synthetic peptide (tirzepatide) functions as both a dual agonist of the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor and a gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP). It is an analog of the gastric inhibitory polypeptide and consists of 39 amino acids.
Mounjaro and Diabetes
Mounjaro functions by inducing a decrease in hyperglycemia by stimulating the release of insulin from the pancreas. Adults with type 2 diabetes can use Mounjaro injections to lower their blood glucose and A1C levels. Mounjaro lowers blood sugar levels by helping the pancreas produce more insulin, lowering the amount of sugar your liver produces, and slowing down the rate at which food enters your body.
In a glucose-dependent way, it stimulates both first- and second-phase insulin secretion and lowers glucagon levels. Since Mounjaro activates two receptors at the same time, it’s called a ‘dual-agonist.’
Can Mounjaro reverse diabetes? On May 13, 2022, the FDA approved Mounjaro shots as a medication to help adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus control their blood sugar (glucose) levels when combined with diet and exercise. However, Mounjaro pens are not advisable for people with Type 1 diabetes.
How does Mounjaro for weight loss work?
There is a connection between Mounjaro and weight loss. Zepbound is the name of the weight loss version of Mounjaro, they both contain the same active ingredient (tirzepatide).
Has the FDA approved Mounjaro for weight loss?
Yes. The drug under the name Zepbound received the approval from the FDA on November 8, 2023, for chronic weight management in adults with obesity (with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or greater) or adults who are overweight (with a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater) and also have weight-related medical problems such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea or cardiovascular disease.
Zepbound is a once-weekly subcutaneous injection given under the skin using a pre-filled single-dose pen. Dosage form of Zepbound injection is 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, 15 mg per 0.5 mL in single-dose pen.
How does tirzepatide cause weight loss?
Zepbound reduces appetite and slows the passage of food from the stomach into the small intestine, which may help you feel fuller for longer. This helps people lose weight. For people with type 2 diabetes, these qualities aid in weight loss. Those who use these injections appear to lose even more weight when using the double agonist strategy than when using a single-agonist drug.
Lets’ wait and see how this weight loss drug of Eli Lilly can help people address obesity problem. The focus of this blog would be on Mounjaro diabetes drug and its legal tangles.
Mounjaro Lawsuits 2024: The Background
How did the controversy around Mounjaro start?
Jaclyn Bjorklund
The first Mounjaro stomach paralysis lawsuit was filed in August 2023 and the surprising fact is that it was intertwined with Ozempic, another trending weight loss drug, currently facing litigation.
The plaintiff in the lawsuit Jaclyn Bjorklund, a Louisiana woman was taking Ozempic for more than a year. In 2017, Bjorklund received a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis and was prescribed Ozempic. After a year, she developed severe gastrointestinal complications, reflecting that of stomach paralysis.
Bjorklund stopped taking Ozempic in July 2023 due to extreme vomiting that caused her to lose teeth. Instead, her doctor suggested that she take Mounjaro. However, the new medication did nothing but make her medical emergency worse—it has gastrointestinal side effects that are more severe than those of Ozempic.
The plaintiff sued Eli Lilly and Company in addition to Novo Nordisk. In the 26-page lawsuit, Bjorklund claims that she was not sufficiently warned of the risks that directly led to her injuries by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly and Company.
Blake
Another lawsuit was filed by Blake, a 38 year old man who took two doses of Mounjaro for diabetes. One fine day, he started experiencing severe vomiting, that continued for around nine days. After around 10 days of severe dehydration, and ER visits, he was diagnosed with gastroparesis.
“I had no intention of any kind of weight loss or anything,” Blake told BI. “I definitely had no desire to vomit myself away 25-30 pounds in two and a half weeks. That was not the objective.” says the plaintiff.
Blake filed a Mounjaro lawsuit against Eli Lilly, alleging that the drug manufacturer failed to warn the users about the possibility for lifelong stomach paralysis.
What is gastroparesis?
Gastroparesis is a condition that slows or stops the movement of food from your stomach to your small intestine, even though there is no blockage in the stomach or intestines. This is the definition given by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).
In addition to causing nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, gastroparesis can obstruct regular digestion. It may also result in issues with nutrition and blood sugar regulation. While there is no known treatment for gastroparesis, dietary modifications and medication may help some people feel better.
Mounjaro and Stomach Paralysis
The exact reason for stomach paralysis related to Mounjaro is still not clearly understood. However, considering the connection between the actions of the drug on the vagus nerve gives us some insights. Let’s have a glance on it.
In order to move food into the small intestine by contracting the muscles in your stomach, the vagus nerve helps control the intricate functions in your digestive system. Signals to your stomach muscles will not be send if your vagus nerve is damaged. Under such circumstances, the food may stay in the stomach for a longer period of time, instead of moving into the small intestine for digestion.
In short, Mounjaro causes a delay in emptying stomach contents, causing the digested food to remain trapped in the stomach. When the normal digestion mechanism is paused, it triggers severe symptoms, affecting the entire body metabolism and health.
Mounjaro Stomach Paralysis Lawsuits: The Current Update
Mounjaro warns about these potential side effects in its label.
- Nausea
- Indigestion
- Diarrhea and stomach pain
- Decreased appetite
- Vomiting
- Constipation
However, Mounjaro’s side effects label does not specifically warn users or prescribing doctors of the possibility of stomach paralysis. Because of this, plaintiffs in the ongoing Mounjaro stomach paralysis lawsuits claim they were misled about the drug’s safety and effectiveness and would not have taken if had they known that it could result in gastroparesis.
What is the latest news about Mounjaro?
Mounjaro users across the nation have filed lawsuits in an attempt to demand accountability and recompense due to Eli Lilly and Company’s disregard for consumer safety. Currently, there are 20 GLP-1 RA-related lawsuits that federal courts have recently been the target of.
Like any other product liability claim, Eli Lilly and Company have denied liability, reaffirmed the safety of their drugs, and undertaken to derail the litigation. Along with manufacturer of Ozempic, Eli Lilly had filed a petition in the federal court, requesting to dismiss the claim of Bjorklund. At the pleading stage, Judge James D. Cain Jr., who is currently overseeing the case, dismissed Novo Nordisk’s arguments and upheld Bjorklund’s standing. On Eli Lilly and Company’s motion, he hasn’t yet made a definitive ruling, though. Even so, it is likely that the court will decide on the Mounjaro manufacturer’s bid similarly because the companies purposefully used similar arguments to have the lawsuit dismissed.
It is estimated that around 10,000 claims against Mounjaro are under the investigation stage and under the process to consolidate the cases for pretrial legal proceedings in Louisiana federal court.
As per the plaintiffs in Mounjaro stomach paralysis lawsuits 2024, Eli Lilly had a legal obligation to alert the public because it knew or should have known that the medication could cause stomach paralysis. However, in any Mounjaro lawsuit, the plaintiffs should prove that the drug manufacturer failed to disclose the risks associated with using the medication.
The plaintiffs should also prove that the drug manufacturer’s negligence had caused gastroparesis and the resulting damages.
What are the damages covered under Mounjaro lawsuits 2024?
- Medication expenses
- Medical bills, including dental work and surgery if any
- Lost wages
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of quality of life
The other side of the argument in Mounjaro lawsuits is that the defendant argue that gastroparesis is often associated with Type II diabetes and should not be attributed to the usage of Mounjaro. However, plaintiffs counter argue that though it is true, they started experiencing gastroparesis only after taking Mounjaro, particularly those who were not Type II diabetics.
Medical record reviews of the plaintiff can become a major breakthrough in Mounjaro lawsuits by proving the injuries sustained by the plaintiff.
The plaintiffs have requested to consolidate Ozempic and Mounjaro stomach paralysis lawsuits into a multidistrict litigation. However there is no official information on the status of the request.
Mounjaro class action lawsuit may evolve into multidistrict litigation as these lawsuits are consolidated before one Judge in one jurisdiction. Sail with LezDo TechMed to know the time to time updates on Mounjaro lawsuits update 2024.
Manufacturers of prescription medications have a duty to notify users and/or prescribing physicians of any risks associated with a particular product. Legal action may be appropriate in the event that this duty of care is broken, especially if it results in serious harm to other people.
Are you harmed by the adverse effects of Mounjaro? It’s the right time to consult an expert Mounjaro lawsuit lawyer and have a case evaluation. Expert attorneys all over the U.S are currently taking Mounjaro stomach paralysis lawsuits. Seek expert legal support before it’s too late.
Your medical records would be the great asset to prove your injuries, medical expenses and future medical needs. Stomach paralysis is a life-time injury, demanding medications and medical attention consistently. Contact a seasoned Mounjaro stomach paralysis lawyer and bag the maximum compensation from the negligent drug manufacturer. With precise medical record review reports, attorneys would help you fight for justice.
Need High Quality Medical Record Review?
Mounjaro lawsuits share a story that goes beyond the pursuit a solution for diabetes, delving into the complexities of balancing innovation with safety. What would be the fate of Mounjaro lawsuits in 2024? As of now, there are no Mounjaro class-action lawsuits other than the filed product liability cases.We can get to know more about Mounjaro sideffects and the destiny of the drug once the legal proceedings start.
