- GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Trulicty are currently under safety review following reports that they may increase the risk of suicidal ideation.
- Suicidal ideation risk is not currently listed as a potential side effect of these drugs.
- However, despite the relatively small number of reported cases of suicidal ideation and self-harm among people using GLP-1 drugs, there is no evidence of a direct cause.
Semaglutide (marketed under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy) and other GLP-1 drugs that help with weight loss are currently undergoing safety reviews for their potential risk of increasing suicidal ideation.
Following the relatively small number of cases reporting suicidal ideation and self-harm among people using GLP-1 receptor agonists, government agencies around the world Canada, Europeand the England We are evaluating whether the side effects are caused by the drug or related to the underlying disease.
Suicidal thoughts are not currently listed as a potential side effect of Ozempic, according to the US Food and Drug Administration drug label and EU product information.
In addition to Ozempic and Wegovy, here are some other GLP-1 drugs currently under review.
- AstraZeneca’s drug Exenatide (Bidureon)
- Eli Lilly’s Dulaglutide (Trulicity)
- Sanofi lixisenatide
- Sanofi Soliqua
“GLP-1 receptor agonists have been used for more than 15 years to treat type 2 diabetes and for more than 8 years to treat obesity, including novo semaglutide and liraglutide, which have been on the market for more than 10 years. It also includes Nordisk products,” said Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic. statement. Semaglutide is the active medical ingredient in Ozempic.
“Safety data collected from large clinical trial programs and post-marketing surveillance do not demonstrate a causal relationship between semaglutide or liraglutide and suicidal ideation or self-harm,” the company said.
“At this time, GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic have not been identified for a direct association with suicidal ideation, nor have they been evaluated for a potential association,” he said. Dr. Mirella Loftus, Ph.D.Medical Director of Newport Healthcare.
“None of the literature describes causality,” he says. Dr. Stephen BatashFACG is a gastroenterologist currently affiliated with New York University Medical Center, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York Presbyterian Hospital and Healthline. Batash offers endoscopic or non-surgical weight loss procedures.
He added that he had never met anyone in his practice who experienced suicidal thoughts after taking a GLP-1 receptor agonist.
“The manufacturer denies that suicidal thoughts were reported during the trial,” it said. Dr. Jody PepinDirector of the Clinical Pharmacy Program at Harbor Health and Assistant Professor of Pharmacy at the University of Texas at Austin.
“As long as newly reported suicidal ideation can be related to GLP-1, there must be abundant evidence proving causation, not just correlation,” she says.
Pepin also explained that millions of people take these drugs, and the more people who take them, the more likely they are to experience these side effects.
“The number of suicidal thoughts is relatively small compared to the number of prescriptions written for these drugs,” she added.
“People who take these drugs have comorbidities or underlying medical conditions that can affect their response to the drugs,” she told Healthline.
Examples include pre-existing mental health conditions such as depression and comorbidities such as heart disease.
“These reactions may have little or nothing to do with the medications you’re taking,” she says.
This drug is for people with high BMI
GLP-1 drugs act like hunger hormones by suppressing appetite and promoting satiety and satiety.
“We have to remember that drugs like Ozempic and Wegoby are intended for people with a BMI greater than 30 or 27 and with one comorbidity,” Batas said.
“These drugs are often used off-label in people with a BMI of less than 27,” he added. “Keep in mind that these drugs were only recently approved for weight loss, and we do not know the long-term side effects of these drugs or doses currently taken for weight loss. Please stay,” he told Healthline.
Read the black box warning
Pepin said the safety warnings about GLP-1 drugs are very clear in the prescribing information.
“Black-box warnings—the most serious kinds of warnings that can be included in prescribing information—are common with these medicines,” she says.
of FDA warning Avoid using these GLP-1 agonist drugs if you have a medical or family history of:
- Medullary thyroid cancer because GLP-1 may cause an increased risk of this type of cancer
- Because of the potential for pancreatitis, people with a history of pancreatitis or who are at risk for pancreatitis are advised to avoid using the drug.
“The side effects of these drugs can be quite severe, and if your quality of life is affected, you should look for other ways to help you lose weight,” says Batas.
Not a sustainable long-term solution for weight loss
Buttash says these drugs aren’t a long-term weight-loss solution unless you’re prepared to take them for the rest of your life.
We also need to ask ourselves whether it makes sense to spend a lot of money on drugs that may not be medically necessary, and consider the costs of long-term drug use. says.
Pepin agrees. “Medicines are very expensive, so you have to consider the cost of the drug, especially if you take it for weight loss.”
“There are very few, if any, insurance companies that pay premiums,” she says.
“You should always be aware and well-informed of the potential side effects of the medications you are taking,” says Batash.
“When taking any medication, it is important to be under the supervision of a doctor, especially while taking medications that can affect mental health,” he added.
“It’s important to let your healthcare provider know right away if you feel you may be experiencing any of the side effects described for the medications you’re taking.”
What to do if you experience suicidal thoughts while taking Ozempic or other GLP-1 drugs
If you are on a GLP-1 drug and have suicidal thoughts, there are a few more things to consider.
First, Pepin recommends that the person immediately call a suicide hotline or therapist, if one is available.
If you or a loved one experience suicidal thoughts, thoughts of self-harm, or extreme feelings of hopelessness, National Suicide Prevention Lifelinefree and confidential support available at 988.
Pepin then suggests contacting your healthcare provider as soon as possible to discuss continuing or stopping the medication.
“Healthcare providers can look at a patient’s medical history and comorbidities to determine whether it is prudent to continue medication based on clinical judgment,” she says. “We also need to do a risk-benefit analysis to resolve this situation,” says Pepin.
Batash agrees, noting that it’s important for doctors who prescribe these drugs to screen them.
“Patients who have mental health problems or who have experienced suicidal thoughts should not be prescribed GLP-1 agonists for weight loss or diabetes and should be very wary of potential side effects. There is,” says Dr. Batas.
