Zepbound Lawsuit 2026 | Gastrointestinal Injuries and Vision Loss Claims

Zepbound Lawsuit Overview

Zepbound is a prescription obesity drug containing tirzepatide, manufactured by Eli Lilly and approved for chronic weight management after receiving FDA approval for use in eligible adults with obesity or overweight with certain related conditions.

Patients taking Zepbound often use the medication as part of a long-term plan to reduce body weight under medical supervision, but lawsuits allege that some users developed serious digestive complications after starting treatment.

These claims describe adverse events that plaintiffs say escalated beyond expected side effects and required emergency care, hospitalization, or ongoing specialist treatment.

Common allegations include persistent nausea and vomiting, severe stomach pain, delayed gastric emptying, and obstruction-like episodes that patients describe as intestinal blockages.

When someone was prescribed Zepbound and later experienced these complications, the legal analysis typically focuses on medical documentation: when the drug was started, whether symptoms appeared or worsened after dose escalation, what diagnostic testing showed, and what treatment was required.

Plaintiffs contend that Eli Lilly did not provide adequate warnings about the potential severity and persistence of these complications, while the manufacturer disputes causation and raises case-specific defenses.

These lawsuits proceed as individual injury cases, meaning each plaintiff must prove diagnosis, causation, and damages based on their own records.

If a plaintiff can establish that the injuries caused significant losses, they may seek to recover compensation through settlement or verdict, including medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering tied to the alleged harm.

Other Drugs and Manufacturers Named in the GLP-1 Lawsuits

GLP-1 and related therapies have rapidly expanded in use for diabetes care and weight loss, with demand rising as more people seek medical options for obesity and metabolic disease.

Other drugs commonly discussed in GLP-1 litigation content include:

• Ozempic (Novo Nordisk)
• Wegovy (Novo Nordisk)
• Rybelsus (Novo Nordisk)
• Trulicity (Eli Lilly)
• Mounjaro (Eli Lilly)
• Saxenda (Novo Nordisk)
• Victoza (Novo Nordisk)

The primary pharmaceutical company manufacturers discussed in these cases are Eli Lilly (including Eli Lilly’s Zepbound and Mounjaro) and Novo Nordisk (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, Saxenda, Victoza).

Alleged Injuries and Medical Conditions Linked to GLP-1 Drugs

GLP-1 drugs were developed and FDA approved for specific medical indications, including type 2 diabetes management and, for certain products, chronic weight management in obese adults and other eligible patients.

As use expanded, including off-label use and demand tied to cosmetic weight loss, more patients sought medical care for complications they describe as severe and persistent rather than temporary intolerance during dose escalation.

The current litigation reflects that shift: plaintiffs allege that effects on the gastrointestinal system can, in some cases, progress into diagnosed motility disorders and related injuries requiring emergency evaluation, hospitalization, specialist care, and repeated diagnostic testing.

These filings also raise broader questions about whether labeling and risk disclosures adequately addressed the potential for serious complications associated with delayed gastric emptying and impaired intestinal motility.

This section describes the categories of injuries that appear most often in GLP-1 complaints and medical records reviewed in these cases.

It does not assume causation or predict outcomes, and it is not a substitute for medical advice.

The legal focus is whether the alleged health risks were foreseeable, whether they were adequately disclosed, and whether an individual patient’s records support a drug-related injury theory based on timing, diagnosis, and documented treatment.

Severe Digestive Conditions Alleged in GLP-1 Lawsuits

GLP-1 lawsuits involving Zepbound and similar medications generally focus on severe injuries documented in medical records, not temporary nausea or reduced food intake during early dose escalation.

In these cases, the drug is evaluated based on what the patient actually used, including the active ingredient and dosing history, because causation often turns on timing and exposure details.

Plaintiffs allege that GLP-1 drugs can impair gastrointestinal motility by slowing gastric emptying and altering normal digestive function, which in some patients is claimed to progress into diagnosed disorders rather than short-term intolerance.

Some complaints cite clinical trials and post-marketing safety data as part of the argument that drug makers knew or should have known about serious motility risks, while defendants dispute both causation and the interpretation of the evidence.

The litigation tests these claims case by case using objective diagnostics, treatment history, and the documented severity of symptoms.

Gastrointestinal conditions and complications commonly alleged include:

• Gastroparesis and delayed gastric emptying, sometimes described by patients as “stomach paralysis”
• Persistent vomiting and inability to tolerate food or liquids over an extended period
• Severe abdominal pain and abdominal distension requiring urgent evaluation
• Ileus, involving reduced or absent intestinal motility that can mimic bowel shutdown
• Bowel obstruction or obstruction-like episodes requiring imaging and emergency care
• Dehydration, malnutrition, and electrolyte imbalances associated with prolonged vomiting
• Hospitalization for monitoring, imaging, symptom control, and specialist consultation
• Ongoing dietary restrictions, follow-up care, and long-term gastrointestinal management after the acute episode

Vision Loss Potentially Linked to GLP-1 Usage

Some reported cases and subsequent claims allege an association between certain GLP-1 medications and non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).

NAION is an injury related to reduced blood supply to the optic nerve; it often presents as sudden, painless vision loss, sometimes described as a shadow or curtain in one eye and frequently noticed upon waking.

Because the injury involves ischemic damage, vision loss may be sudden and may not be reversible in all cases, particularly when optic nerve tissue is permanently affected.

Risk factors discussed clinically for NAION can include vascular conditions such as high blood pressure, which is why medical records and eye exam documentation matter in any individual evaluation.

Do You Qualify for a Zepbound Lawsuit?

You may qualify for a Zepbound lawsuit review if you were prescribed the drug and later developed severe problems that required documented medical treatment.

Most claims focus on diagnosed gastrointestinal conditions such as gastroparesis (stomach paralysis), ileus, or obstruction-like symptoms that led to emergency care, hospitalization, or long-term specialist follow-up.

Some patients also seek review after serious vision events described in medical records as sudden vision loss, which some individuals refer to as sudden blindness, though these allegations are evaluated carefully based on ophthalmology findings and differential diagnosis.

Eligibility is not based on discomfort alone.

Attorneys typically examine whether your medical records show objective testing, a clear symptom timeline, and treatment escalation that goes beyond expected side effects or routine safety precautions discussed at the time of prescribing.

Lawsuits allege that the drug manufacturer failed to adequately warn about the severity and persistence of certain risks, despite information plaintiffs claim was available through clinical trial findings and post-marketing data.

The company disputes these allegations, and each case is assessed individually based on evidence, not assumptions.

If your records document a confirmed diagnosis, significant treatment, and a timeline that supports a potential link to Zepbound, a legal review can help determine whether your situation fits within the current litigation framework.

Evidence Commonly Reviewed in GLP-1 Lawsuits

GLP-1 cases are documentation-driven, meaning attorneys typically evaluate claims using records that show diagnosis, treatment, and timing, not general reports of side effects.

The most important starting point is a clear medication timeline (when you started, dose changes, and when you stopped) matched to symptom onset and escalation.

Proof often comes from objective findings and notes from healthcare providers who documented how severe the condition became and what care was required.

Medication history matters even more if you used other drugs in the same class or switched therapies, because the analysis has to account for overlap across other medications and potential alternative causes.

Common evidence includes:

• Prescription history and pharmacy records for Zepbound and any other GLP-1 medications
• Dosing records and start/stop dates (including dose escalation schedules)
• Emergency room records and inpatient hospital records
• Imaging reports (CT, X-ray, ultrasound) addressing obstruction/ileus concerns
• Gastroenterology notes, endoscopy reports, and motility testing (including documentation supporting gastroparesis)
• Ophthalmology and neuro-ophthalmology records, vision testing, and optic nerve assessments
• Documentation of symptom onset and progression, including ER return visits and referrals
• Follow-up plans showing ongoing care for persistent or recurring gastrointestinal issues

Damages in Zepbound Lawsuit Claims

Damages in pharmaceutical injury claims are case-specific and typically reflect the real-world impact of the injury on a person’s health, finances, and daily function.

Lawyers assess damages by reviewing medical bills, the level of care required, prognosis, and how the condition affected work and routine life activities.

In GI cases, damages often track the cost and duration of treatment for motility disorders, hospitalizations, and ongoing dietary or medical management.

In vision cases, damages may relate to functional limitations, accommodations, and the extent of lasting impairment supported by eye records.

The analysis is individualized, and it is grounded in documentation (what happened, what treatment was needed, and what losses can be verified) rather than assumptions about outcomes.

Potential damages may include:

• Past and future medical costs (testing, hospitalization, specialist care)
• Future treatment and monitoring expenses
• Lost income from missed work and recovery time
• Reduced earning capacity if limitations persist
• Diminished quality of life tied to ongoing symptoms or lasting impairment

TorHoerman Law: Investigating the Zepbound Lawsuit

TorHoerman Law is reviewing claims involving alleged GLP-1–related gastrointestinal injuries and vision loss, including those involving Zepbound.

Our intake process focuses on medical proof: your prescription history, the symptom timeline, diagnostic testing, and the intensity of treatment documented by your providers.

We look for objective support for the alleged injury (such as specialist diagnoses, imaging, motility testing, and ophthalmology evaluations) so the case can be assessed on evidence, not speculation.

We also evaluate how other exposures and baseline health factors may affect causation, and we explain how an individual claim may fit within the broader multidistrict litigation structure.

If you have records showing a diagnosed injury and significant treatment after using Zepbound, we can provide a free case review to assess next steps.

Contact TorHoerman Law Today, or use the chatbot on this page.