'I got approved for Ozempic but turned my doctor down over 1 rare yet major side effect'

'I got approved for Ozempic but turned my doctor down over 1 rare yet major side effect' EXCLUSIVE: A woman with type 2 diabetes was approved for Ozempic by her doctor but after initially being "excited" to start taking it, she refused the medication after learning of one rare, yet potentially life-changing side effect A woman whose doctor approved her to start taking Ozempic turned down the treatment after learning of a rare - yet permanent - and potentially life-changing side effect. Prescription injectable medicine Ozempic has been making waves in recent years, with many people, including a number of celebs, openly using it to lose weight - even though it isn’t a weight loss drug. Ozempic is formally approved to help treat type 2 diabetes as it can manage blood sugar levels in adults with the chronic medical condition. It contains the active ingredient semaglutide, which suppresses the appetite and slows down digestion. This, in turn, can lead to weight loss. Stars including Sharon Osbourne, Serena Wilson, and Kathy Bates have publicly discussed their use of Ozempic or similar GLP-1 drugs - like Mounjaro or Wegovy - to manage their weight or to help curb binge-eating habits. While Ozempic is not classed as a weight-loss drug, Mounjaro and Wegovy are approved for long-term weight management in adults with obesity or those overweight with related health conditions. Cleveland Clinic states: “GLP-1 agonists are a class of medications that mainly help manage blood sugar (glucose) levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Some GLP-1 agonists can also help treat obesity.” It adds: “GLP-1 agonists alone can’t treat Type 2 diabetes or obesity. Both conditions require other treatment strategies, like lifestyle and dietary changes.” Jane*, who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes five years ago and was recently approved to start taking Ozempic as part of her treatment for the condition. She said: “I’ve seen and heard all sorts of success stories from people who’ve used Ozempic and it’s really improved their lives. I’ve always struggled with my weight so I was hoping to get signed off by my doctor to start taking Ozempic as I know it can reduce your appetite and slow down digestion, helping you lose weight.” Jane, 60, continued: “I had naturally lost a little weight so at my most recent diabetes check-up, the nurse did a few checks and a blood sugar level test and sent the results off to the doctor with the recommendation that I be approved for Ozempic. I was excited at first, I thought this could really change my life. "I had a few consultation calls with the doctor to check whether I’d be a suitable candidate for the treatment and he approved me. We discussed a phased start with a low weekly dose but when he mentioned the potential side effects, I stopped in my tracks.” Side effects associated with Ozempic According to Diabetes UK, common side effects of Ozempic may include: - feeling sick (nausea) - being sick (vomiting) - diarrhoea - constipation - risk of low blood sugar - risk of worsening retinopathy Those who already have the diabetic eye disease known as diabetic retinopathy could also find it “gets worse” when starting Ozempic, “and this might need treatment”. Retinopathy is any damage to the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye - the retina - which can lead to vision loss or blindness. Diabetes UK states: “It’s thought that this might be caused when blood sugar levels fall too quickly once you start using Ozempic with insulin - there is ongoing research into this. Tell your doctor if you have diabetic eye disease or if you experience eye problems during treatment with Ozempic.” In very rare cases, there could be a risk of developing non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a condition which affects the optic nerve in the eye. NAION occurs when blood flow to the optic nerve is reduced which can cause “sudden loss of vision, typically in one eye”. The loss is permanent and is often described as “blurring or cloudiness of vision”. Diabetes UK explains: “Semaglutide (Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy) has been associated with very rare reports of NAION. If you notice a sudden change in your eyesight, such as sudden vision loss or your eyesight gets worse very quickly in one or both of your eyes during treatment with semaglutide, seek urgent medical advice.” Although Ozempic does not directly cause blindness, research shows a rare statistical link to NAION. Experts have stressed this research shows a correlation, not a direct cause. Jane added: “It’s not worth the risk to me. I know it’s very, very rare but I’m not willing to roll the dice on something as important as my eyesight - I’d rather be fat.” A spokesperson for Novo Nordisk, which makes Wegovy and Ozempic, said: “Patient safety is our top priority, and we take any reports about adverse events from the use of our medicines very seriously. We work closely with authorities and regulatory bodies from around the world to continuously monitor the safety profile of our products. “Based on the totality of evidence we concluded that the data did not suggest a reasonable possibility of a causal relationship between semaglutide and NAION, and Novo Nordisk believes that the benefit-risk profile of semaglutide remains favourable.” *Jane is a pseudonym as she wishes to remain anonymous.