The short answer
Individuals harmed by GLP-1 medication side effects in California may recover compensation for injuries like gastroparesis, bowel obstruction, or other complications. You generally have two years to file (CCP § 335.1). Consult a lawyer to evaluate your case.
GLP-1 receptor agonist medications, including semaglutide products such as Ozempic and Wegovy and related drugs such as tirzepatide, are now among the most widely prescribed medications in the United States. Many patients in Los Angeles began taking them for diabetes or weight loss through their doctors, telehealth services, or compounding pharmacies. For most people they are tolerated, but some patients report serious gastrointestinal and other complications.
Lawsuits filed across the country allege that GLP-1 manufacturers did not adequately warn patients and doctors about certain risks, including severe gastroparesis (stomach paralysis), ileus, and intestinal obstruction. Other reported cases and claims have linked these drugs to additional conditions, such as a sudden form of vision loss. These are allegations, the litigation is ongoing, and no final determination has been made that these medications cause any of these conditions. Whether you may have a claim depends on your diagnosis, your medical records, and when you used the drug.
Our founding attorneys worked as insurance-defense lawyers and in-house for a major auto insurer before starting this firm. We understand how corporate defendants screen claims, which gaps in medical records they look for, and how they argue that pre-existing conditions explain an injury. We evaluate your situation with that same scrutiny, so you get an honest assessment.
Consultations are free and confidential, and you pay no attorney's fee unless we recover compensation for you. If you developed a serious complication while taking a GLP-1 medication, talk to your doctor before changing your treatment, then contact us for a case review.
From the other side of the table
How the defense sees your claim
They point to your diabetes or other conditions
Diabetes itself can affect digestion, and defendants will argue your condition, not the medication, caused your symptoms. We gather records from before and after you started the drug to show how your health changed.
They demand objective diagnosis
Defendants typically challenge gastroparesis claims that were not confirmed by objective testing, such as a gastric emptying study. We review what testing was done and help identify what documentation is missing.
They argue the label was adequate
Manufacturers point to warnings about nausea and vomiting and to label updates over time. We compare what the label said when you were prescribed the drug against the injury you experienced.
They question product identity
Compounded and online versions complicate who made the drug you took. We use pharmacy records to identify the exact product and source, which affects who can be held responsible.
Why it happens
Common causes
Severe gastroparesis
Claims allege that some patients developed persistent, severe delayed stomach emptying causing prolonged vomiting, malnutrition, and hospitalization.
Ileus and intestinal obstruction
Some patients have reported bowel blockages or a lack of normal intestinal movement requiring emergency treatment or surgery.
Gallbladder complications
Gallbladder problems, including gallstones and inflammation, have been reported in patients taking these medications, sometimes requiring removal of the gallbladder.
Vision loss
Reported cases and pending claims have linked semaglutide use to a sudden optic nerve condition known as NAION. This link is alleged and remains under study.
Aspiration during anesthesia
Delayed stomach emptying can increase the risk of aspiration during procedures. Claims may involve whether warnings and pre-procedure instructions were adequate.
Compounded drug errors
Compounded GLP-1 products have been associated with dosing errors and quality concerns, which may give rise to claims against pharmacies or other sellers.
What we see
Injuries we handle
What you may recover
Compensation in a California claim
Medical expenses
Emergency care, hospital stays, surgery, diagnostic testing, feeding therapies, and the reasonable cost of future treatment.
Lost income
Wages lost during illness and recovery, and reduced earning capacity if the injury is long-lasting.
Pain and suffering
Compensation for physical pain, loss of enjoyment of eating and daily life, and emotional distress.
Loss of consortium
A spouse or registered domestic partner may have a claim for the impact of the injury on the relationship.
Punitive damages
If a manufacturer is proven by clear and convincing evidence to have acted with malice, oppression, or fraud, punitive damages may be available.
The rules that apply
California law you should know
Strict product liability
California holds manufacturers strictly liable when a defective product they place on the market causes injury.
Greenman v. Yuba Power Products (1963) 59 Cal.2d 57
Failure to warn for prescription drugs
The California Supreme Court held that drug manufacturers can be strictly liable for failing to warn of risks that were known or reasonably scientifically knowable when the drug was distributed.
Carlin v. Superior Court (1996) 13 Cal.4th 1104
Two-year deadline and discovery
Personal injury claims generally must be filed within two years. Under the discovery rule, the period may begin when you suspected, or reasonably should have suspected, that your injury was caused by wrongdoing.
Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1; Jolly v. Eli Lilly & Co. (1988) 44 Cal.3d 1103
Punitive damages
Punitive damages require clear and convincing evidence of oppression, fraud, or malice.
Civil Code § 3294
General information, not legal advice. Deadlines and rules depend on the facts of your case, so talk to an attorney promptly.
Right now
Protect your claim
Evidence to gather
- Pharmacy records showing the drug name, dose, and fill dates
- Remaining pens, boxes, and packaging, including lot numbers
- Records of any gastric emptying study, imaging, or endoscopy
- Emergency room, hospital, and surgical records
- Records from before you started the medication
- A symptom journal with dates and severity
- Invoices and communications with telehealth or compounding providers
- Proof of missed work and out-of-pocket costs
Mistakes insurers count on
- Stopping or changing medication without talking to your doctor
- Throwing away pens, packaging, or pharmacy labels
- Not getting objective testing when a doctor suspects gastroparesis
- Waiting too long after a diagnosis to talk with a lawyer
- Assuming every GLP-1 claim is the same, when eligibility depends on your facts
Step by step
How we handle your case
- 1
Free case review
We ask about your prescription, your symptoms, and your diagnosis, and explain honestly whether your situation fits the claims being pursued.
- 2
Collect pharmacy and medical records
We obtain your prescription history, product details, and medical records, including diagnostic tests and hospital stays.
- 3
Evaluate causation and timing
We review your records for pre-existing conditions, the timing of your symptoms, and the diagnosis, and identify gaps that should be addressed.
- 4
File your claim
If you qualify, we file your individual claim in the appropriate court, which may involve coordinated proceedings with other cases.
- 5
Pursue resolution
We keep you informed as the litigation develops and pursue a fair resolution of your individual claim.
Straight answers
Frequently asked questions
Lawsuits have been filed alleging that GLP-1 manufacturers failed to adequately warn about risks such as severe gastroparesis and bowel obstruction. The litigation is ongoing and outcomes are not guaranteed. Whether you may have a claim depends on your diagnosis, how it was confirmed, when you used the medication, and your medical history.
Civil Rights & Emerging Harms