Callum Jones
Experts have issued an urgent warning about a symptom that can come to light from taking drugs such as Mounjaro and Ozempic.
Ozempic, an injection marketed for people with type two diabetes to help them manage their blood sugar levels, has become popular in recent years among those hoping to shed a few pounds.
As the brand name for a medicine called semaglutide, the drug was approved in 2017 by the US Food and Drug Aministration (FDA) to help diabetics, but some have been using it purely for weight loss as it suppresses appetite.
It's worth noting the drug is not approved by the FDA for weight loss purposes, unlike Mounjaro.
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Mounjaro is another one of the many brands that work to lower blood sugar levels to treat diabetic people, though people hoping to lose weight can also take advantage of the drug as it's been approved as a weight loss treatment.
While the benefits have been explained, a new study has found that the two drugs can cause vision loss in those who live with diabetes.
GLP-1 drugs, which include Ozempic and Mounjaro, are linked to a significantly higher risk of developing neovascular age-related macular degeneration, a study conducted by experts at the University of Toronto found.
Those who are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes were more than twice as likely to develop vision problems if they were prescribed the drug compared to those taking Ozempic and Mounjaro without diabetes.
Neovascular age-related macular degeneration, more commonly known across the world as AMD, is 'a common condition that affects the middle part of your vision', according to the NHS.
And Healthline reports it's a leading cause of irreversible vision loss amongst those aged 50+ in the US.
Andrew Mihalache, MD(C), a co-author of the study conducted in Toronto said: "The dose-response effect we observed — where longer GLP-1 receptor agonist exposure was associated with higher risk — strengthens the argument that this association may reflect a true biological effect rather than being due to confounding factors."
Meanwhile, Reut Shor, MD, a fellow author on the study added: "This was definitely surprising, especially given the growing enthusiasm for GLP-1 receptor agonists for their cardiovascular and metabolic benefits. It really highlights the need for further investigation into their ocular safety profile."
Despite the recent revelation, the risk of developing vision loss from taking drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro remains incredibly low.
The study found that the risk of developing AMD among those taking a GLP-1 drug is 0.2 percent.
If you are considering going on a GLP-1 drug, always consult a healthcare professonnial to understand if the treatment is right for you.