Are you suffering from thyroid eye disease (TED)? If so, your doctor will prescribe you the medicine Tepezza as the first line of treatment. TED is an auto-immune condition resulting in bulging eyes that appear red and swollen. However, patients who have taken Tepezza reported hearing complications, such as tinnitus.
The medicine inhibits IGF-IR (insulin-like growth factor one receptor), a key element in securing the inner ear. Early clinical trials stated that the medicine led to only 10% of hearing complication risk. But a study in 2021 revealed that the probable risk quotient could rise to 65%. Horizon Therapeutics, the drug manufacturer, maintained the impression that hearing issues have been mild and mostly reversible.
In recent times, there is data to support the fact that there are other complications than hearing loss and ear injuries. The medicine can also result in diabetes. In this article, we will discuss the side effects of Tepezza and should patients opt for it to treat TED.
The Common Side-Effects of Tepezza
In September 2023, Drugwatch News stated that people who have suffered after using this medicine should file a Tepezza lawsuit and report their hearing loss. Many patients across the globe have been doing that to get compensated for their losses. Plaintiffs have alleged that the manufacturer failed to warn doctors that the drug can cause tinnitus or hearing loss.
Some of the common side effects of Tepezza other than hearing changes and loss include:
- Muscle spasms
- Hyperglycemia
- Infusion-related reactions like feeling hot, trouble breathing, and headaches
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Hair loss
- Fatigue
- Taste change
- Menstrual changes in women
- Dry skin
- High blood sugar
If you notice any of these side effects after you start taking Tepezza, it is necessary to seek medical aid. Let your doctor know about the physical discomforts that you are facing so that they can alter the dose or stop it altogether. When you get a medical check-up done at the earliest, you can stop the symptoms from aggravating and leading to any serious health issues.
Can Tepezza Cause Diabetes?
Patients can witness the side effects of Tepezza while they are on their prescribed dose. TorHoerman Law states that this medicine is given to patients via an injection. Typically, your healthcare provider will provide the infusions once every three weeks. In total, there are eight infusions prescribed for TED patients.
In October 2023, AboutLawsuits.com reported on a new case study that suggests Tepezza can add to a patient’s health risks by causing diabetes. Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center researchers have warned that this medicine might have a hyperglycemic effect on patients. As a result, it can make diabetics lose their glycemic control and increase their diabetic ketoacidosis risk. The findings have been published as a case report in Endocrine.
Are you wondering why Tepezza has a hyperglycemic effect? It’s because it can impact the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptors. Researchers further assert that in certain cases, the medicine can cause a ‘dramatic response’ by altering glucose levels in the body.
This case study revolved around one patient who witnessed a severe episode of diabetic ketoacidosis. After a medical diagnosis, the doctors linked this extreme hyperglycemia as an aftereffect of taking Tepezza.
Simply put, diabetic ketoacidosis takes place when increased blood acid levels, called ketones, accumulate in the body. It can lead to symptoms like vomiting, confusion, sleepiness, abdominal pain, and fatigue. In most cases, the patient needs to be hospitalized to receive emergency medical treatment.
The patient gradually stopped taking Tepezza infusions and was put on insulin. Based on the recent findings, the patient has stable blood sugar and glucose levels after taking metformin, an initial medicine to treat type 2 diabetes.
Should You Take Tepezza to Treat TED?
The patient on whom the case study was done decided to discontinue Tepezza because of its hyperglycemic effects. Does that mean you should, too? Or, to begin with, should you even be using this drug to treat TED? It is a judgment call that you need to take after consulting your doctor.
So here’s how you can go about it: First, find out whether Tepezza is the only way to treat TED. Today, other options include antithyroid drugs, selenium supplements, radioiodine, and botulinum toxin A. Some of the home remedies include eye drops and cool compresses. It is necessary to check whether these are working for you and decide on an alternative treatment path.
Furthermore, if your doctor suggests Tepezza as the first line of treatment, you need to act wisely. Get into a discussion of the pros and cons of the medicine with your doctor and ask them if it has a chance to cause any severe side effects like hearing loss or diabetes. Until you are convinced of the line of treatment, you shouldn’t opt for it.
In conclusion, it’s indeed disappointing if a medicine intended to treat one health condition gives rise to another. Such has been the case with Tepezza patients. Other than hearing complications, the drug is also known to cause diabetes. Therefore, study the after-effects of the drug, discuss it with your doctor, and make an informed decision about whether to use it or not.
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