Rybelsus is a semaglutide drug made by Novo Nordisk. Although approved for diabetes treatment, Rybelsus is now widely used for weight loss similar to other drugs like Ozempic or Wegovy. New research has shown that using Rybelsus at higher dose levels for weight loss can cause a host of very serious health problems. Health conditions linked to Rybelsus include: gastroparesis or gastrointestinal conditions, including bowel obstruction or cyclic vomiting syndrome, and NAION vision loss.
If you used Rybelsus and suffered any of these health problems or injuries, you may be able to file a product liability lawsuit and get financial compensation. Our firm is currently accepting Rybelsus lawsuits from individuals with any of the following injuries:
- Vision loss from NAION (nonarthritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy)
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and related complications
- Gastroparesis (stomach paralysis)
- Gastrointestinal problems resulting in overnight hospitalization
- Esophageal injuries with surgery
- Bowel Obstruction
- Gallbladder injuries with surgery
If you have a Rybelsus lawsuit, call our lawyers today at 800-553-8082 or reach out to us online for a free consultation.
About Rybelsus
Rybelsus is a prescription medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. Rybelsus is the brand name for an oral form of semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist developed by Novo Nordisk. It was actually one of the first glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) receptor protein oral treatments approved in the U.S.
GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonists work by mimicking a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar. Rybelsus primarily helps lower blood sugar levels by stimulating insulin production and reducing the amount of glucose produced by the liver. Rybelsus is within the same family of drugs as Ozempic and Wegovy.
Although Rybelsus was initially approved for use as a diabetes treatment, it is now widely used as a weight loss drug for the treatment of obesity. In fact, Rybelsus is more commonly used now as weight loss drug than it is for diabetes. Rybelsus is manufactured by the Dutch pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, which focuses primarily on the development and sale of diabetes drugs.
Research Links Rybelsus to Various Health Problems
New scientific research has recently shown that using Rybelsus as a weight loss drug (which requires higher dose levels) can cause a number of different health problems, many of which are very serious and even life-threatening. Listed below are the various health conditions that have been linked to Rybelsus.
Rybelsus and Gastroparesis
One of the health conditions with the strongest link to Rybelsus is gastroparesis. Gastroparesis, also known as delayed gastric emptying or “stomach paralysis”, is a condition where the stomach takes too long to empty its contents into the small intestine. This delay occurs because the muscles in the stomach, which are responsible for moving food through the digestive tract, are weakened or malfunctioning. As a result, the normal process of digestion is slowed or disrupted.
Gastroparesis can cause chronic pain and discomfort. Common symptoms include stomach pain, bloating, dehydration, acid reflux, and an overall drop in quality of life.
While there is no cure for gastroparesis, treatments focus on managing symptoms. Options include dietary changes (such as eating smaller, more frequent meals), medications that stimulate stomach muscles or reduce nausea, and in severe cases, procedures like gastric electrical stimulation. Controlling underlying conditions, such as diabetes, is also crucial for managing the condition.
Rybelsus and NAION Vision Loss
Some of the most recent studies have shown that prolonged use of Rybelsus at high doses can cause a very serious condition called Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION), which causes vision loss.
NAION is a medical condition that affects the optic nerve, leading to sudden vision loss in one eye. NAION occurs when there is a disruption of blood flow to the optic nerve, causing damage to the nerve fibers. It is classified as “non-arteritic” because it is not caused by inflammation of the blood vessels, unlike the arteritic form associated with conditions like giant cell arteritis.
NAION can cause very sudden vision loss. The loss of vision can be full or partial and it can occur in one or both eyes. Unfortunately, there is no effective treatment that can reverse the effects of NAION after it occurs. The only thing that can be done is to manage the risk factors in the hopes of preventing further damage.
Rybelsus and DVT
Rybelsus use has been linked to a higher risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT is a condition where a blood clot (thrombus) forms in a deep vein, typically in the legs, though it can also occur in other parts of the body like the arms or pelvis. These clots can block blood flow, causing pain, swelling, and other complications.
DVT can be dangerous if the clot breaks loose and travels through the bloodstream to the lungs, leading to a pulmonary embolism (PE), a life-threatening condition. Treatment for DVT can range from medication (blood thinners) to surgical intervention to break up the clot. If DVT is not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner, it can potentially be life-threatening.
Rybelsus and Gallbladder Disease
Using Rybelsus for prolonged time periods has been linked to a higher risk of developing gallbladder disease. Gallbladder disease refers to a range of conditions affecting the gallbladder, a small organ located beneath the liver that stores bile, a fluid produced by the liver to help digest fats. Gallbladder disease can lead to pain, inflammation, and other digestive issues, with the most common conditions being gallstones (cholelithiasis) and gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis).
Rybelsus Lawsuits
Drug manufacturers like Novo Nordisk have a legal obligation to ensure that there drugs are safe and to warn doctors and patients about potential health problems and risk associated with their drugs. There is evidence that Novo Nordisk was aware of the potential health risks associated with Rybelsus, but failed to adequately warn about these risks.
This has prompted a growing wave of lawsuits involving drugs like Rybelsus, Ozempic and Wegovy. The lawsuits are being brought by individuals who used Ryblesus and subsequently developed one of the health conditions described above that have been linked to the drug.
Rybelsus Class Action MDL
All of the product liability lawsuits in federal courts involving Rybelsus and other semaglutide drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have been consolidated into a class action MDL (Multidistrict Litigation). The consolidated cases in the MDL will go through a period of discovery, after which a handful of sample cases will be selected for jury trials.
The results of these jury trials (known as bellwether trials) are supposed to give the parties an idea of what to expect so that they can negotiate a global settlement. In many cases, however, a global settlement is worked out before any bellwether trials.
Estimated Settlement Value of Rybelsus Lawsuits
Estimating the potential settlement value for new product liability cases like the Rybelsus lawsuits is highly challenging, especially since these cases are still in their early stages. The outcome largely depends on how well the scientific evidence holds up in court, a critical factor in any defective drug litigation.
Despite this uncertainty, many victims want to know what the possible payout might be. While it’s difficult to predict, our lawyers can make an informed estimate based on assumptions regarding the strength of the causation evidence. Given these assumptions, we believe that successful Rybelsus lawsuits could have a settlement value ranging from $400,000 to $700,000 for “top tier” cases, which would involve plaintiffs suffering from the most serious conditions (e.g., gastroparesis, NAION, DVT).
Contact Us About Rybelsus Lawsuits
If you have a Rybelsus lawsuit, call our Ozempic lawsuit lawyers today at 800-553-8082 or reach out to us online for a free consultation.