In the United States warned about the risk of sudden blindness due to “Ozempic”
According to the FDA, taking GLP-1 drugs may increase the risk of developing non-arteritis anterior ischemic optical neuropathy, which causes sudden and painless deterioration of vision in one eye
Taking GLP-1 drugs, which include Ozempic, may be associated with an increased risk of developing a rare eye disease that can lead to irreversible vision loss, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said.
We are talking about non-arteritis anterior ischemic optical neuropathy (NAION), which occurs due to a violation of the blood supply to the optic nerve. It can cause sudden and painless loss of vision in one eye. "If NAION occurred in one eye, there is an increased risk that it will occur in the other eye," it said.
Class GLP-1 includes drugs that are used to treat type II diabetes and weight loss. In addition to Ozempik, including Vegovi, Munjaro and others.
At the same time, the FDA indicated that this is a potential increase in risk, and not an inevitable consequence of taking the drugs. An analysis of 126 clinical trials showed that among those taking GLP-1, there were 6.4 cases per 100,000 people compared to 3.8 cases in the comparison group.
Ozempik is a drug based on semaglutide from the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. It is prescribed, according to the instructions, to patients with type II diabetes to control the general condition and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
However, buyers "Ozempic" has become popular as a means to control weight and weight loss.
Last year, a rare side effect of Ozempic leading to vision loss was discovered by the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC). The regulator also warned of a possible increased risk of NAION.
After analyzing all available data, including clinical trial data and medical literature, PRAC concluded that NAION is a very rare side effect of semaglutide, meaning it can occur in 1 in 10,000 people.
Then the experts interviewed by RBC confirmed that Ozempik, like any other drug, has side effects, among which there may be problems with vision. However, according to them, there is no evidence of changes in vision in patients taking it.
