Ozempic (ozempic)

2025

Ocular stroke. People taking ozempic lose their eyesight

On February 3, 2025, American specialists from the John Moran Ophthalmology Center at the University of Utah released the results of a study that suggests that patients taking ozempic significantly increase the risk of vision loss.

Ozempic (semaglutide) is a drug, an agonist of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (aGLP-1), used in the therapy of type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. In addition to ozempic, semaglutide is an active ingredient in other drugs such as rebelsas and vegovi.

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Фото: Freepik

In July 2024, the researchers concluded that this class of drugs increased the risk of patients developing non-arterial anterior ischemic optical neuropathy, which is essentially an eye stroke. This condition is characterized by an acute violation of blood circulation in the vessels of the optic nerve, a sudden decrease in visual acuity and/or a change in visual field, which later leads to the development of partial or complete loss of vision.

The study, conducted by specialists from the John Moran Eye Center, involved nine people who had vision problems while taking these drugs. Seven of them were diagnosed with an eye stroke, one with optical papillitis (a specific type of optic neuritis), another with paracentral acute median maculopathy (a rare disease of the middle layers of the central retina).

After analyzing the available data, the scientists concluded that the cause of these complications may be rapid changes in blood sugar levels caused by drugs, and not the toxic effect of these drugs, as previously assumed. However, more research is required to obtain more accurate results.^[1]

U.S. Approval for Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

In January 2025, Novo Nordisk A/S's blockbuster Ozempic received U.S. approval for the treatment of chronic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes, further expanding the scope of the popular drug.

2024: Drug success turns Novo Nordisk into Europe's most expensive company

The success of weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy turned Novo Nordisk in February 2024 into the largest European company by capitalization.

2023: Suicidal ideation from taking drugs

In July 2023, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) began to study the situation around Novo Nordisk drugs. According to available information, some means of this supplier provoke thoughts of suicide.

We are talking, in particular, about the Ozempic tool. This semaglutide is an agonist of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (aGLP-1). The drug is used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. Another substance that has come under regulatory scrutiny is called Saxenda. The active component of this preparation is liraglutide, an acylated analogue of human GPP-1 produced by recombinant DNA biotechnology using a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Some Novo Nordisk funds provoke suicidal thoughts

It is said that these drugs can cause serious side effects in patients. So, when taking these funds, cases were recorded when patients thought about suicide or self-harm. The problem has been raised by the Icelandic Medicines Agency. The review began after complaints of two cases of suicidal ideation and one case of self-harm received from Icelandic citizens taking Novo Nordisk for diabetes and/or obesity.

Novo Nordisk said patient safety is the company's top priority. The business is said to take all reports of adverse events seriously. The company's own safety monitoring did not reveal a causal link between self-harm thoughts and drugs, the statement said.

At least 60 reports of suicidal thoughts from patients taking semaglutide have been received since 2018, according to public information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FAERS) Adverse Event Reporting System. The measures that can be taken in relation to these drugs are not reported.^[2]

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