A detailed examination of FDA post-market surveillance data has quantified a striking disparity in adverse events: Wegovy reports 8.7 cases of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) per million prescriptions, compared to just 1.8 cases per million for Ozempic, despite identical active ingredients.
This analysis of 15 million adverse event reports submitted between 2020 and 2024 reveals a clear dose-response relationship. Wegovy’s significantly elevated weekly dosing (up to 2.4mg) for weight loss appears to drive the heightened risk signal when compared to Ozempic’s typical diabetes dosing range (0.5-1mg weekly). The broader GLP-1 drug class shows lower reported rates at 1.2 cases per million prescriptions.
These findings highlight the importance of dose-dependent safety monitoring in post-market surveillance, particularly when identical medications are used across different therapeutic indications. Read the full article on GMJ Newsroom.
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