Taking Ozempic or Wegovy for weight loss? New regulatory warning issued
Dubai: Millions of people worldwide taking medicines such as Ozempic and Wegovy for diabetes or weight loss are being alerted to a rare but potentially serious eye condition that can cause sudden, sometimes permanent, vision loss. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ordered a new safety warning for a class of medicines known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, following a review of clinical…
Millions of individuals using weight loss or diabetes medicines such as Ozempic and Wegovy are being warned of a rare but potentially serious eye condition called non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION). The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued this safety alert after reviewing clinical trials and reports of vision complications.
NAION occurs when blood flow to the optic nerve is reduced, leading to sudden vision loss. The condition is rare, with an estimated six cases per 100,000 patients using GLP-1 receptor agonists for a year, compared to fewer than four cases per 100,000 in those on placebos. Symptoms include sudden changes in vision, blurred vision, blind spots, tunnel vision, distorted colors, and reduced sharpness of sight.
The FDA advises patients experiencing these symptoms to seek immediate medical attention. The warning does not suggest stopping the use of these medicines, but rather to discuss the risk with healthcare professionals. The FDA's decision was prompted by a study suggesting a link between semaglutide and NAION.
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