“Blind”-sided by Ozempic? The Vision Loss Link
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted July 27, 2024
I always caution people NOT to take a new drug.
Why? Because no matter how many studies Big Pharma conducts before putting a med on the market, it’s never enough.
You really don’t know what the actual side effects of a drug are until it’s been “tested” in millions of people.
This cautionary tale plays out repeatedly in the pharmaceutical world. The latest chapter concerns Ozempic (semaglutide) and its cousins in the GLP-1 agonist family.
Initially hailed as a breakthrough for diabetes management, GLP-1s quickly gained notoriety for their weight loss side effects.
By 2022, prescriptions for medications containing semaglutide, the active ingredient in brand names Ozempic and Wegovy, had exploded to a whopping 40 million.
But as more people jump on the bandwagon, troubling signs of side effects are emerging.
Recent research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association uncovered a potential link between GLP-1 agonists and some serious digestive issues.
Compared to those taking other weight loss medications, individuals on the GLP-1 agonist semaglutide faced:
- A nine-fold increase in the risk of pancreatitis
- A 4.22 times higher chance of bowel obstruction
- A 3.67 times greater risk of gastroparesis (stomach paralysis)
These aren’t minor side effects. We’re talking about conditions that can lead to excruciating pain, hospitalization, and even surgery in some cases.
And, now, a new rare but devastating side effect has been associated with semaglutide… blindness.
Specifically, Nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, or NAION. The form of sudden vision loss is the second most common type of optic neuropathy and a significant cause of blindness.
In a new study, people with Type 2 diabetes who took semaglutide were over four times more likely to get NAION than people with Type 2 diabetes who took other diabetes medicines.
People who were overweight or obese and taking semaglutide to lose weight had an even higher chance of NAION. They were more than seven times more likely to experience it than people who were taking other weight loss drugs.
This was one study, so more research is needed. But needless to say, the potential link to blindness is alarming.
It’s a stark reminder of why I always preach caution when it comes to new medications, like semaglutide.
The initial approval process typically involves only a few hundred participants in clinical trials. It’s not until thousands—or even millions—of diverse individuals start taking a drug that we truly understand its full range of effects.
Also, remember, our bodies are unique. They process and detoxify substances in different ways.
What works wonders for one person could spell disaster for another. Is shedding a few pounds with semaglutide really worth the risk of ending up in the hospital with a paralyzed stomach or losing your eyesight? Only you can decide.
P.S. QUIT calorie counting… here’s what REALLY works.
Source:
Hathaway JT, Shah MP, Hathaway DB, et al. Risk of Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy in Patients Prescribed Semaglutide. JAMA Ophthalmol. Published online July 03, 2024. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2024.2296
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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