Diet drugs have surged in popularity and are not without significant side effects.
In 2017, Novo Nordisk introduced Ozempic as a treatment for type 2 diabetes. Recognizing its appetite-suppressing effects and subsequent weight loss, the company later launched Wegovy, a higher-dose version of Ozempic. Novo Nordisk produces GLP-1 drugs, including Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus, all of which contain the active ingredient semaglutide.
Individuals taking semaglutide for type 2 diabetes or obesity should be aware of a potential risk for a condition called nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).
NAION can cause sudden blindness in one eye due to a lack of blood flow to the optic nerve. This rare condition affects only 2-10 out of every 100,000 people and is the second leading cause of blindness from optic nerve damage, following glaucoma. There is no known treatment for NAION.
A recent Harvard study conducted at Massachusetts General Brigham examined the potential correlation between semaglutide and NAION over a one-year period using patient data. The study specifically investigated two cohorts: individuals with obesity and those with type 2 diabetes, both FDA-approved indications for semaglutide. The study included 17,000 patients.
The study posed a simple question: were patients more or less likely to develop NAION if they were prescribed semaglutide or a non-GLP-1 medication? The findings indicated that individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes were more than four times as likely to receive a diagnosis of NAION. Similarly, those with obesity were more than eight times as likely to receive the same diagnosis.
Beasley Allen is also investigating cases of gastroparesis, intestinal obstruction, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism related to the use of diabetes and weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro.
Contact Beasley Allen today for a free case evaluation.