Ozempic, the diabetes medicine that took the internet by storm. With celebrities like Oprah, Elon Musk, Chelsea Handler, and many others admitting to taking it; the popularity of Ozempic soared to new heights. Much to the degree that some people for whom the drug was designed, i.e. patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus couldn’t find it!
Like any other drug out there, Ozempic has side effects, some that are common and tend to disappear over time, and others that are serious. Recently, there was talk that Ozempic is linked to a rare blindness disease. We are here to investigate this claim and see what the study has to say.
What is Ozempic
I’m sure that lots of you already know about Ozempic or have heard of this word before. To those of you who don’t know, Ozempic is the trade name for a drug called semaglutide, from a family of medications called GLP-1 agonists. All the drugs in this family work by reducing blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes¹.
Ozempic was approved by the FDA in 2017 as a drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In 2021, Novo Nordisk, the company that produced Ozempic, repurposed it for the treatment of obesity and marketed it under the name Wegovy.
Ozempic and Wegovy spread like fire on dry wood, and according to a report from CNBC, they turned Novo Nordisk into a 400 billion dollars company².
However, a recent study has linked Ozempic to an increased risk of a condition known as nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), in those who were prescribed the drug (Type 2 diabetes patients and obese patients)³. If you are asking "what is a nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy?", allow me to tell you.
Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy
NAION is blindness caused by a reduction of blood flow to the frontal part of the optic nerve. This leads to a damage of the optic nerve and subsequently vision loss.
NAION is very rare, and there is little known about it. It’s unclear what causes this condition, but there are some risk factors, such as:
Smoking.
Hypertension.
Diabetes.
Anemia.
Sleep apnea.
Kidney diseases.
Symptoms of NAION
Unfortunately, there are no early warnings or signs of NAION. Usually, the patient wakes up to one blind eye, and sometimes it can be in the shape of dark blotches. The patient doesn't feel any pain.
Ozempic and NAION
As I already mentioned, one group that has a higher risk is patients with diabetes.
The purpose of the study at hand was to determine if the patients that are prescribed semaglutide for diabetes or obesity had a higher risk of developing nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy compared to other diabetic and obese patients who were prescribed other medications.
The researchers acquired the data of the patients from a centralized data registry of patients who were evaluated by neuro-ophthalmologists in between December 2017 to November 2023.
Nearly 17,000 patients were included in the study, out of them, 710 had diabetes and 979 were either overweight or obese; of the 710 patients with diabetes, 194 were prescribed semaglutide, and out of the 979 patients with obesity, 361 were prescribed semaglutide.
Findings of The Study
The study’s findings, which were published in the JAMA Ophthalmology journal, suggest a relationship between Ozempic and the incident of a nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy.
Diabetic patients were four times more likely to be diagnosed with a nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, while patients with obesity were eight times likely to be diagnosed with this condition.
The experts say that although the findings of this study are something to stop at and, of course, discuss with the patients, we still need more research.
Takeaway
Semaglutide, known by the trade name Ozempic, is a drug used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity.
Semaglutide has recently been linked to a rare condition known as nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy.
Nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is a rare condition in which the blood flow to the frontal optic nerve becomes less, which causes damage to that nerve and sudden blindness.
A recent study has linked Ozempic to NAION.
Despite the findings of this study, more research is needed to understand the risks. This study does not mean that you should stop taking your Ozempic, whether it’s for diabetes or obesity.
Consult your doctor before making any decisions about the medications that you are taking.
FAQ
1. What is Ozempic?
Ozempic is the trade name for semaglutide, a medication from the GLP-1 agonist family used to reduce blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. It was approved by the FDA in 2017.
2. What is Wegovy?
Wegovy is the name given to semaglutide when it was repurposed and marketed for the treatment of obesity by Novo Nordisk in 2021.
3. What are the common side effects of Ozempic?
Common side effects of ozempic include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and constipation.
4. What is nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION)?
NAION is a rare condition where a reduction in blood flow to the frontal part of the optic nerve which leads to sudden vision loss.
5. How is Ozempic linked to NAION?
A recent study suggests that patients with type 2 diabetes or obesity who are prescribed Ozempic have a higher risk of developing NAION compared with those on different medications.
6. What were the key findings of the study?
The study found that patients with type 2 diabetes were four times more likely, and those with obesity were eight times more likely, to be diagnosed with NAION when prescribed Ozempic.
7. Should I stop taking Ozempic if I am concerned about NAION?
It is important not to make any changes to your medication without consulting your doctor. Further research is needed to fully understand the risks.
8. What should I do if I experience symptoms of NAION?
If you experience sudden vision loss, seek immediate medical attention.
9. Are there other medications in the GLP-1 agonist family?
Yes, there are several other medications in the GLP-1 agonist family, including liraglutide (Victoza) and dulaglutide (Trulicity), which are also used to treat type 2 diabetes.
10. Where can I find more information about this study?
The findings of the study were published in the JAMA Ophthalmology journal. You can refer to the journal for detailed information.
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