For all its benefits, Ozempic has been associated with an absolute parade of medical horrors – from sudden NAION blindness to gastroparesis, pancreatitis, intestinal blockages and thyroid tumors. As of mid-August, Novo Nordisk faced more than 1,800 lawsuits with damages that could top $2 billion. The gastroparesis lawsuits have been consolidated for pre-trial proceedings in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. But perhaps the most important aspect of the Ozempic lawsuits is that they put a human face to the statistics.
Patients and physicians need to be able to make informed decisions. A chance to dodge dementia sounds great, but the documented possibility of painful and life-changing side effects may not be worth it for some patients. Accurate and complete information has never been more important.
Ozempic and type 2 diabetes
Ozempic is FDA-approved in adults with type 2 diabetes and often promotes weight loss. When used in combination with diet and exercise, GLP-1 RA drugs may be effective in boosting the body’s ability to produce its own insulin. Consequently, Ozempic appears to reduce:
- the amount of glucose produced by a patient’s liver, thus lowering blood sugar;
- the risk of cardiovascular disease in diabetes patients; and
- the risk of kidney disease progression.
A recent study, published in JAMA Neurology, suggests that people with type 2 diabetes who take Ozempic, Wegovy (which is chemically identical to Ozempic, but prescribed to treat obesity) and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors had a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s and associated dementias. In that study, patients who took Ozempic had a 33 percent reduced risk of dementia. Other diabetes medications, however, were not necessarily associated with risk reduction.
Why the Alzheimer’s results?
The exact connection between Alzheimer’s disease and type 2 diabetes is still debated, but high blood sugar appears to be the main culprit. However, poorly controlled blood sugar may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s. This relationship is so strong that some have called Alzheimer’s disease “diabetes of the brain” or “type 3 diabetes.”
GLP-1 RA drugs may:
- reduce inflammation in the brain;
- improve insulin sensitivity, which could protect brain cells from damage;
- promote the growth and survival of neurons; and
- reduce the accumulation of amyloid plaques, which are toxic proteins that build up in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.
The early evidence is encouraging. But more research will be needed to confirm the potential benefits of GLP-1 RA drugs for Alzheimer’s disease.
Nasty Ozempic side effects
However, Ozempic has a well-reported dark side, too. The boxed warning for Ozempic specifically mentions:
- risk of thyroid C-cell tumors;
- acute pancreatitis;
- diabetic retinopathy complications;
- hypoglycemia;
- acute kidney injury;
- severe gastrointestinal adverse reactions;
- hypersensitivity, including anaphylaxis and angioedema;
- acute gallbladder disease; and
- the risk of pulmonary aspiration during general anesthesia or deep sedation.
Swirling Ozempic litigation has expanded this list considerably. The lawsuits also tell the human story of the suffering that Ozempic has caused.
A human face
Consider the story of Samantha Hill, a 27-year-old who took Ozempic and other medications to control her blood sugar and lose weight. However, according to her lawsuit, she began to suffer from gastroparesis, or stomach paralysis, as a result. The symptoms of gastroparesis include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and heartburn – not exactly what a young woman who wants to slim down and get healthy bargains for when they seek medical help.
Todd Engel took Ozempic to control his diabetes and was subsequently diagnosed with nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) blindness. He first experienced loss of vision in one eye before eventually becoming legally blind in both. He had to leave his job, can no longer drive, and copes with changed relationships with his family and friends.
READ MORE OZEMPIC AND MOUNJARO LEGAL NEWS
Edward Fanelli’s story is similar. He woke up one morning and could not see out of his right eye. His vision never came back.
But is all this relevant to Nana, who seems to be losing her memory?
A complicated question
As with many risk/reward issues, the answer is maybe. But without solid data there is no reason to be certain. In the future, if Ozempic and other GLP1 RA drugs become available as a treatment option for Alzheimer’s disease, doctors and patients will face difficult questions. The science is intriguing, but medical choices must also be informed by human experience.
Source link
