Ozempic carries a potentially sight-threatening adverse effect: blindness.
In a startling development, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has identified a potential issue with the widely-used medication, Ozempic. The drug, renowned for treating diabetes and obesity, has been linked to a rare side effect — non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) — that might cause vision loss. This alarming finding could potentially lead to a ban on the drug.
According to the EMA, the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) has completed a review of drugs containing semaglutide, the active substance in Ozempic, due to concerns regarding the increased risk of NAION. The PRAC's recommendations will be sent to the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), and the European Commission will make the final decision on the matter.
As far back as December 2024, researchers from the University of Southern Denmark found a possible connection between Ozempic usage and eye disease. Their findings reveal a significant increase in NAION cases from the usual 60-70 to 150 annually. Additionally, a study by experts suggests that individuals with type 2 diabetes who use Ozempic carry twice the risk of developing NAION compared to those opting for other medications.
In light of these findings, the Danish Medicines Agency has requested the EU to closely examine the potential link between the semaglutide-based diabetes drugs and eye diseases.
It's noteworthy that Ozempic's popularity has surged in recent years as a weight loss solution. Celebrities in Hollywood, along with Russian and Belarusian singers Slavik and Anna Semenovich, have publicly admitted to using Ozempic analogs for weight loss.
Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is a rare eye condition that damages the blood vessels in the eye, leading to sudden vision loss. It isn't related to the arteries. Semaglutide, found in medications like Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy, is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. Recent research indicates that the use of semaglutide might increase the risk of NAION by about two-fold compared to those not taking the medication.
Patients experiencing sudden vision loss or rapidly worsening eyesight while taking semaglutide should immediately consult their healthcare provider. If NAION is confirmed, treatment with semaglutide should be discontinued. Additionally, individuals who have experienced NAION or blood clots from Ozempic may have separate legal options, as some have joined multidistrict litigation (MDL).
- The potential issue with the medication Ozempic, widely used for treating diabetes and obesity, is linked to a rare eye condition called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), which could cause vision loss.
- The European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced a review of drugs containing semaglutide, the active substance in Ozempic, due to concerns about an increased risk of NAION.
- Recent research indicates that the use of semaglutide might increase the risk of NAION by about two-fold compared to those not taking the medication, underlining the importance of health-and-wellness, particularly eye-health, when considering therapies-and-treatments.
- Patients experiencing sudden vision loss or rapidly worsening eyesight while taking semaglutide should immediately consult their healthcare provider, as individuals who have experienced NAION or blood clots from Ozempic might have separate legal options in multidistrict litigation (MDL).
