Lawsuits continue against makers of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs over side effects ranging from extreme vomiting to what some plaintiffs describe as “eye strokes,” according to multiple media reports.
Since 2023, more than 4,400 lawsuits have been filed, with more expected in the coming years, according to media reports. Plaintiffs say none of their conditions appear on the drugs’ labels as possible side effects.
The complaints represent a small fraction of the more than 31 million people in the United States who take GLP-1 drugs. They name manufacturers Novo Nordisk, which makes Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, Victoza and Saxenda and Eli Lilly, based in Indiana, which produces Trulicity, Mounjaro and Zepbound. Both companies say the drugs are safe and that they will defend the cases in court.
Some alleged side effects are serious. USA Today identified at least 110 plaintiffs across federal and state lawsuits who accuse the drugs of causing sudden blindness or severe vision changes. One plaintiff alleges the drugs caused Wernicke’s encephalopathy, a serious neurological condition marked by mental confusion, double vision and poor coordination.
Most of the lawsuits, about 75%, involve gastroparesis, a gastrointestinal condition that slows or stops the stomach from emptying food into the small intestine. Another 36% of complaints cite other intestinal issues, including obstructions.
The growing use of GLP-1 drugs has disrupted the grocery and convenience-store industries as retailers adjust to changing consumer buying habits driven by the weight-loss medications.
Shoppers using weight-loss drugs will hold greater purchasing power in the coming years, according to research released last November by Chicago-based marketing firm Circana LLC.
The research found that households using the medications, currently about 23%, are projected to account for 35% of all food and beverage units sold by 2030.
The Circana report also found that GLP-1 users have reduced spending on traditional retail food and beverages and are seeking products higher in protein, fiber and healthy fats.
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