Ozempic blindness to Ozempic mouth: Beware of these shocking side effects of the weight loss drug

Amid the growing epidemic of obesity, Ozempic and other weight loss drugs are proving to be game-changers in the fight against excess weight. Not just fitness, they can also improve longevity by reducing heart disease risk, protecting kidneys, and lowering the risk of certain obesity-related cancers. While Ozempic can seemingly turn back the clock by helping you look and feel younger, some of its unexpected side effects could do just the opposite.

Here are a few you need to watch out for:

1. Ozempic blindness
Ozempic could potentially make you blind. An elderly man in Maryland, United States who took Ozempic for managing type 2 diabetes became legally blind after being diagnosed with NAION , a rare eye condition linked to Ozempic use. Sudden and irreversible vision loss linked to the weight loss drug can be life-altering, a stark warning against its indiscriminate use. A new study published in JAMA Ophthalmology showed how people on GLP-1 drugs suffered from vision issues, including nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), as well as two other potentially blinding eye conditions.

2. Ozempic mouth Ozempic can help you shed a significant amount of weight which can resolve many health woes. However the rapid fat loss could lead to loosening and sagging of skin and cause some aesthetic side effects. One of them is Ozempic mouth, which could give your lower face a wrinkly and hollowed appearance which extends from the corners of the mouth down towards the chin, leading to premature aging.

3. Ozempic personality
Ozempic's adverse effects aren't just restricted to cosmetic changes, but also a reduced joy of life in certain cases. Many users on the GLP-1 drug report low moods, anxiety, depression, lack of interest in activities that one previously enjoyed. A few have also experienced decreased libido or less interest in sexual activity. This may happen due to semaglutide's effect on the brain's reward centre. Many get a temporary high after eating food of their choice. However, Ozempic could make these reward centres less active. There isn't sufficient evidence around this effect and more studies are required.

4. Ozempic butt
It is natural for the skin to wrinkle, sag, and lose its elasticity post excessive weight loss. Just like face, Ozempic could also impact the appearance of your butt. Ozempic butt is more likely to affect older people considering the proteins, collagen and elastin, which promotes elasticity, can reduce as we age. However, these changes may not be experienced by everyone on weight loss drugs. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found that skin reactions were reported in fewer than 10% of patients who received Ozempic.