Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, a gland behind the stomach that produces digestive enzymes and hormones such as insulin. Acute pancreatitis comes on suddenly and may last days; chronic pancreatitis lasts for years and can cause permanent damage.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, pancreatitis symptoms include upper abdominal pain that may spread to the back, nausea and vomiting, fever, rapid pulse, and weight loss, and causes include gallstones, heavy alcohol use, medicines, and genetic disorders. Severe cases need hospital care and can lead to complications like infection or organ failure.

Pancreatitis is part of the litigation over GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro. The Ozempic prescribing information includes a warning section on acute pancreatitis, stating it has been observed in patients treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists. Lawsuits in the GLP-1 litigation focus mainly on stomach paralysis (gastroparesis) and related digestive injuries, and some plaintiffs also claim pancreatitis. Whether the warnings were adequate for each injury, and whether the drug caused it, are disputed questions for the court.

Anyone with severe, persistent abdominal pain should get medical care right away, and should not stop a prescribed medicine without talking to their doctor. If you are exploring a claim, the key records are your prescription history, the date symptoms began, and hospital records confirming the diagnosis. See our Ozempic lawsuit page and our explainer on multidistrict litigation.