Australians taking weight-loss drugs including Ozempic and Mounjaro are warned to monitor their vision amid fears surrounding a “severe” eye condition.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has linked GLP-1-class diabetes medicines to a rare but severe eye disorder – non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION).
The disorder can cause permanent vision loss and, occasionally, blindness.
No treatment has been shown to improve symptoms.
Medicines sold under the names Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Trulicity and Saxenda are GLP-1 RAs.
“If you or someone you care for is using one of the GLP-1 RA medicines listed above, you should be alert to any sign of vision loss,” the TGA wrote on Thursday,
“If any changes are noted, stop using the medicine and seek prompt medical attention.”
Health professionals were also warned to be alert to the new class-wide warnings.
“Advise patients to seek urgent medical attention if they experience sudden vision loss, including partial loss of vision,” they were instructed.
The medicines were originally developed to treat type-2 diabetes, mimicking a naturally occurring hormone which stimulates the release of insulin and suppresses glucagon production.
The hormone also slows the rate at which food leaves the stomach, assisting in regulating blood sugar.