What is stomach paralysis?

Paul Pennock, a lawyer at Morgan, told the Financial Times, “Many people are experiencing constant vomiting. I don’t mean once a week, I mean every day, all the time. I mean, so bad that these people are going to the emergency room for their vomiting.”

“Patient safety is of utmost importance to Novo Nordisk. We recommend patients take these medications for their approved indications and under the supervision of a healthcare professional,” Novo Nordisk told the Financial Times.

Eli Lilly also stressed the importance of patient safety for them, adding that they “actively engage in monitoring and reporting safety information,” according to the newspaper.

What is gastroparesis, and what exactly happens inside the digestive system when someone develops gastroparesis?

Dr Adithya V. Naragund, senior consultant in GI & HPB Surgery at Cytecare Hospitals, Bengaluru, tells indianexpress.com, “Gastroparesis is a condition where the stomach muscles lose their ability to contract in a coordinated manner, leading to delayed emptying of food into the small intestine. In normal digestion, the stomach grinds and propels food forward in a rhythmic fashion, ensuring nutrients are absorbed efficiently downstream. In gastroparesis, this motility is disrupted. Food can sit in the stomach for prolonged periods, causing symptoms such as fullness after small meals, nausea, bloating, and vomiting. Unlike normal digestion, where the process is smooth and continuous, gastroparesis creates a bottleneck that affects both digestion and nutrient absorption.”

Ozempic and Mounjaro are popular weight loss drugs (Source: Freepik)

Can gastroparesis be long-term or even permanent?

“Gastroparesis can vary in its course. In some cases, it may be temporary, especially if it is drug-induced or linked to reversible factors. With discontinuation of the triggering medication and appropriate therapy, patients may recover normal gastric function,” notes Dr Naragund.

However, in other cases, especially where there is nerve damage to the vagus nerve or prolonged muscular dysfunction, he says that the condition can become chronic or even permanent.

How strong is the connection between medications like Ozempic and the onset of this condition?

Current medical literature suggests there is a possible link between GLP-1 receptor agonists and delayed gastric emptying, according to Dr Nagarund.

Dr Jagadish Hiremath, Public Health Intellectual, tells indianexpress.com, “GLP-1 receptor agonists reduce the speed at which the stomach empties into the intestine. While this is part of their therapeutic benefit in controlling blood sugar and appetite, it can occasionally tip into a pathological delay. The stomach and intestines rely on finely coordinated muscular contractions, and prolonged disruption of these contractions may predispose certain patients to gastroparesis or partial obstruction. The problem is often magnified when patients have pre-existing motility issues that were either undiagnosed or underestimated prior to therapy.”

Warning signs of stomach paralysis

“Nausea and mild vomiting can occur early in therapy as the body adjusts to GLP-1 drugs, and often these settle within weeks. Warning signs of something more serious include persistent or worsening vomiting, inability to tolerate even liquids, severe bloating, unexplained weight loss, or prolonged feelings of fullness after minimal food intake. If these symptoms are ongoing and disproportionate, they may indicate gastroparesis rather than transient side effects,” concludes Dr Nagarund.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.