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Weight loss drugs linked to serious side effects and vision loss
Health authorities worldwide are monitoring reports of serious side effects associated with popular GLP-1 weight loss and diabetes medications, including semaglutide, liraglutide, dulaglutide, and tirzepatide.
In the United Kingdom, the MHRA has received over 150,000 reports of possible side effects and more than 150 reported deaths linked to these injections. Similarly, Australia's TGA has recorded 62 deaths and 2,829 adverse reaction reports. In the United States, 216 lawsuits have been consolidated into a federal proceeding regarding alleged vision damage.
Concerns have been raised regarding vision loss, specifically Non-arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION), which the European Medicines Agency has linked to a doubled risk for type 2 diabetes patients using semaglutide. Medical experts note that high-risk groups include older adults, males, and individuals with hypertension or hypercholesterolemia. While vision issues are a significant concern, the most frequently reported side effects remain gastrointestinal, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
In Croatia, HALMED has recorded 333 suspected side effect reports since 2014, with 19 percent of recent reports classified as serious. Local clinicians report that while most vision-related complaints in Croatia have been mild blurring, the potential for permanent damage remains a critical warning for patients.
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What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Australian TGA has recorded 62 deaths and 2,829 reports of adverse reactions related to these medications. ordinacija.vecernji.hr
- [DISPUTED] 19 percent of the 288 reports received by HALMED were classified as serious. 023.hr · www.poslovni.hr
- [● 3 SOURCES] Common side effects of these drugs include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain. 023.hr · ordinacija.vecernji.hr · www.poslovni.hr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The UK's MHRA has received over 150,000 reports of possible side effects and over 150 reported deaths related to weight loss injections. ordinacija.vecernji.hr
- [DISPUTED] HALMED has received 333 reports of suspected side effects for drugs containing semaglutide, liraglutide, dulaglutide, and tirzepatide since 2014. ordinacija.vecernji.hr
- [● 2 SOURCES] Semaglutide is associated with a doubled risk of Non-arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION) in patients with type 2 diabetes. 023.hr · www.poslovni.hr