Study links weight loss drug to suicide risk with researchers urging further investigation

Experts have called for an urgent investigation into a potential link between a popular weight loss drug, available in Australia, and increased mental health risks.

Experts are urging for an investigation into a potential link between a popular weight loss drug and mental health risks.

Semaglutide is sold under the brand name Ozempic when it’s prescribed for diabetes and Wegovy when it’s prescribed for weight loss.

A study in JAMA Network Open examined the link between semaglutide use and suicidality, using a World Health Organisation database of adverse drug events from 140 countries.

Researchers found there was an elevated risk of suicidal thoughts among an already vulnerable group using semaglutide, compared to those who used other weight loss drugs.

Semaglutide is sold under the brand name Ozempic when it’s prescribed for diabetes. Picture: AFP.

The study authors identified 107 reports of patients experiencing suicidal thoughts while using semaglutide out of over 30,500 total cases.

In comparison, 162 similar reports were found among more than 52,000 patients using liraglutide, a related older diabetes medication.

When comparing reports of suicidal thoughts among semaglutide users to those associated with other drugs in the database, researchers found a 45 per cent higher risk in individuals taking semaglutide.

The higher number of reports for liraglutide reflects its longer time on the market and greater patient exposure.

“The results of this study show that a person taking semaglutide in this database of reported adverse drug reactions is 1.45 is times as likely to mention suicidal ideation than any other adverse drug reaction in all other drugs,” University of Oxford’s senior researcher Dr Nerys Astbury, who wasn’t involved in the research, said.

Novo Nordisk recently advised Australia’s medicines watchdog TGA that Ozempic supply will remain limited for the rest of 2024. Picture: AFP

“In people who also take antidepressants in this database suicidal ideation is reported 4.45 times as likely for semagulatide than for any other adverse drug reaction in all other drugs.

“Because of this disproportionality, these results suggest further close investigation is needed to explore possible effects of popular weight loss medications on adverse mental health outcomes.”

Although researchers have yet to establish that the medication specifically increases suicidal thoughts compared to other diabetes and weight loss drugs, they do emphasise that further investigation is needed.

Their findings also suggest that individuals without existing mental health conditions may not be at risk for suicidal thoughts while using semaglutide.

“This is not the first time that anti-obesity medications which target the reward responses to food (and other substances) have been associated with adverse side effects,” Dr Astbury said.

“Rimonabant, was originally approved medication which helped suppress appetite.

A study in JAMA Network Open examined the link between semaglutide use and suicidality. Picture: AFP.

“It was withdrawn in 2008 due to the risk of serious psychiatric problems, including suicide because the European Medicines Agency determined that these risks outweighed the benefits.”

Concerns about the mental health side effects of semaglutide drugs have been previously raised, with one report even suggesting the drug might be associated with a reduced risk of suicidal thoughts.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) reviewed 150 cases of self-injury and suicidal thoughts associated with Ozempic and concluded in April that there was no evidence linking these issues to semaglutide.

Their nine-month investigation found that the available evidence does not support a causal connection between glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, including semaglutide, and suicidal or self-injurious thoughts and actions.

Over the past couple of years, the skyrocketing popularity of the diabetic drugs has seen Australians admitted into emergency over their misuse.

Novo Nordisk recently advised Australia’s medicines watchdog TGA that Ozempic supply will remain limited for the rest of 2024.

The TGA has warned the weight loss company to not initiate new patients on Ozempic unless there are no suitable alternatives or there is a compelling clinical reason to do so.

If you or someone you know needs help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636

Originally published as Study links weight loss drug to suicide risk with researchers urging further investigation