Health & Medicine
FDA Adds Warning on Rare Vision Loss to GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drugs
The agency is requiring labels on drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound to flag a rare optic nerve condition, even as new studies point to other benefits.
By ELENA VASQUEZStaff Correspondent · WASHINGTON · Nov 10, 11:25 PM · 1 min. read
Illustration · Liberty Bell Report
Millions of Americans taking popular weight-loss and diabetes drugs will see a new warning on their labels.
The Food and Drug Administration is adding information about possible rare cases of vision loss reported with GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy and others, CBS News reported. CNBC reported the agency found evidence of a potentially increased risk of a rare eye condition linked to the drugs. NBC News identified the condition as NAION, an optic nerve problem that can cause sudden vision loss and has no known treatment. The Guardian reported the FDA is requiring all GLP-1s to carry the warning.
The news comes as research continues to find possible upsides. Time reported that Eli Lilly released results from new studies exploring the effects of its GLP-1 drugs on sleep apnea and arthritis.
The takeaway for patients is not panic, it is attention. Anyone on these medications who notices sudden changes in vision should call a doctor right away, and anyone considering them should talk through the risks and benefits with a physician who knows their full history.
Sources
- CBS News: FDA warns of rare vision-loss side effect from GLP-1 drugs (link)
- CNBC: FDA warns of vision loss risk linked to popular GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy, Zepbound (link)
- NBC News: FDA orders new warning on GLP-1s over rare eye condition linked to sudden blindness (link)
- The Guardian: FDA warns of rare eye condition causing blindness from GLP-1 weight loss medications (link)
- Time: Weight-Loss Drugs May Help Sleep Apnea and Arthritis (link)
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