Trulicity Lawsuit Alleges Intestinal Obstruction Caused By Side Effects of Diabetes Drug

Warning labels provided for users of the GLP-1 diabetes drug downplayed the risk of gastrointestinal side effects from Trulicity, lawsuit states.

A Pennsylvania man says that taking Trulicity to treat his type 2 diabetes led to paralysis of the nerve endings in his intestines, resulting in an intestinal obstruction that left him with severe and permanent gastrointestinal injuries.

The complaint (PDF) was filed by Brian Smith in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on August 5, alleging that Eli Lilly & Company failed to adequately research the side effects of Trulicity, or warn about complications that users may experience while using the medication.

Trulicity is a member of a new class of diabetes and weight loss drugs known as glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), which also includes the blockbuster treatments Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy and Zepbound.

GLP-1 Gastrointestinal Risks

While the medications were initially approved for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, amid aggressive advertisements that promote the drugs’ weight loss benefits, GLP-1 medications have been increasingly prescribed in recent years for weight loss, and are now among the best-selling drugs on the market in the United States.

A study published in October 2023 found that GLP-1 RA medications like Trulicity may triple the risk of the stomach paralysis among users when compared to users of non-injectable weight loss drugs. The research compared the gastrointestinal side effects of Ozempic and other injectable GLP-1 agonists like liraglutide (Victoza and Saxenda) against those experienced by users of Contrave (bupropion-naltrexone), an oral weight management medication.

As a result of the drug makers’ failure to adequately warn about these risks, thousands of former users are now pursuing Trulicity lawsuits, Ozempic lawsuits, Wegovy lawsuits and Mounjaro lawsuits against the manufacturers, each raising similar allegations that the manufacturers placed a desire for increased profits above consumer safety by failing to research and adequately disclose side effects users may experience.

Smith’s Trulicity lawsuit notes he was prescribed the medication from December 2022 through November 2023 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

However, as a result of Trulicity side effects, Smith indicates he suffered ileus, which is a medical condition involving a lack of normal muscle contractions in the intestines. The lawsuit indicates that this was a direct result of Trulicity, resulting in an intestinal obstruction and severe health complications. The most severe form is known as paralytic ileus, when movement through the intestinal tract is paralyzed.

“Muscles in the intestines normally contract and relax, causing a wave-like motion called peristalsis, which moves food through the intestines,” Smith’s lawsuit states. “When ileus occurs, this peristalsis is slowed or stopped, preventing food, gas, and liquids from passing through the digestive tract. This causes pain, cramps, abdominal bloating, nausea, vomiting, severe constipation, and loss of appetite.”

Smith indicates he suffered the intestinal obstruction from Trulicity, causing him to experience severe abdominal pain, severe, nausea and diarrhea, which required him to be hospitalized.

The lawsuit indicates Eli Lilly knew about the potential Trulicity ileus risks, but failed to accurately describe the information on the drug label, indicating that the warnings provided about Trulicity adverse reactions were “lacking in urgency and specificity.”

He presents claims of negligent failure to warn, breach of warranty. Fraudulent concealment, intentional misrepresentation and negligent misrepresentation.

August 2024 GLP-1 RA Lawsuits Update

Given the widespread use of Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound and other GLP1-RA medications, thousands of individuals are now pursuing failure to warn lawsuits against the manufacturers, each raising similar allegations that they experienced severe gastrointestinal problems or vision loss after using the medications.

To help manage and coordinate pretrial proceedings, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation established a GLP-1 RA drug lawsuits earlier this year, centralizing claims brought throughout the federal court system in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, for coordinated discovery and pretrial proceedings.

Last month, the judge now presiding over the litigation issued a pretrial order authorizing the direct filing of new GLP-1 lawsuits in the federal MDL, which will avoid delays associated with transferring claims from various different federal district courts nationwide.

As part of the coordinated management of the growing litigation, it is expected that the parties will identify a small group of “bellwether” cases to prepare for early trial dates, which will help gauge how juries may respond to certain evidence and testimony that will be repeated throughout the claims.

However, if the parties are unable to negotiate GLP1 settlements or another resolution for the litigation following any early test trials, each individual lawsuit may later be remanded back to the U.S. District Court where it was originally filed for a separate trial date in the future.