New Investigation Further Evaluates Claims Ozempic Is Tied to Vision Loss
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Evidence continues to emerge that Ozempic and similar drugs may be tied to serious vision complications.
Researchers at the University of Utah studied how semaglutide, found in Ozempic, and tirzepatide, used in Zepbound and Mounjaro, affect vision. They examined several patients who had vision problems after using semaglutide or tirzepatide. The researchers determined that a rapid change in blood sugar induced by these types of drugs could be the cause of the vision concerns.
One vision issue that patients faced was nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). This condition has no cure and causes painless vision loss. But researchers made it clear that their findings cannot confirm that Ozempic and other GLP-1 agonists cause vision problems.
“This review was not conducted in any way that we can say these drugs caused the complications,” lead author Bradley Katz said in a release. “Further studies are needed to test our hypothesis. However, this is an important issue for ophthalmologists as we monitor the usage of these drugs and how to best be in communication with our patients about them.”
The new investigation builds on a previous study from July. That research, published in JAMA Ophthalmology, was among the earliest to link these drugs to vision problems. The researchers evaluated nearly 17,000 patients and determined that those who were prescribed semaglutide were at a higher risk of NAION.
“This study is the first, to our knowledge, to report an association between semaglutide and NAION,” researchers stated.
Lawyers are investigating claims that Ozempic and similar drugs could cause these vision issues.
Ozempic Lawsuits Have Tied Drug to Other Health Issues
Besides vision concerns, plaintiffs have also filed Ozempic lawsuits over claims that it and similar drugs are tied to serious intestinal issues.
As of this month, over 1,400 active lawsuits are pending in multidistrict litigation involving this issue.
Lawsuits claim that these drugs can cause gastroparesis, which is essentially stomach paralysis.
According to WebMD, Ozempic achieves impressive weight-loss results by slowing down food movement in your digestive system.
When someone develops gastroparesis, their stomach muscles move slowly. As a result, food stays in the stomach longer than it should. According to the Cleveland Clinic, this can lead to uncomfortable symptoms during digestion and long-term side effects.
New lawsuits continue to be filed each month.
Editor Lindsay Donaldson contributed to this article.
