Ozempic and Wegovy have been linked to suicidal thoughts

A study has found a link between a drug used primarily for weight loss and reports of suicidal thoughts, prompting researchers to call for an “urgent” investigation.

The drug semaglutide is sold in Australia under the brand name Ozempic and is only approved for the treatment of diabetes.

Semaglutide is also marketed abroad for weight loss under the brand name Wegovy.

A new study published in analyzed data from the World Health Organization's adverse drug reaction database and found that a disproportionate number of people reported suicidal thoughts when taking semaglutide.

The researchers said the effect remained “significant” compared to other diabetes drugs.

The study also found evidence that people with anxiety and depressive disorders were more likely to report suicidal thoughts when taking semaglutide.

A “wake-up call”

The researchers said the results “urgently require clarification.”

Trevor Steward, a neurobiology researcher at the University of Melbourne, said the study should be a “wake-up call” and help support larger studies looking at the impact of semaglutide drugs on the brain.

“The study raises important questions about whether additional precautions are needed when prescribing semaglutide,” he said.

Margaret Morris, a professor of pharmacology at the University of New South Wales, said the JAMA Network study had several limitations, including consideration of factors such as alcohol and drug abuse and off-label use, as well as a lack of information on dosing.

The authors also acknowledged these limitations of the study and stated that no conclusions about causality could be drawn from the study and none of the reactions could be attributed to the effect of semaglutide.

However, they also said the findings should raise concerns, particularly among people who may be tricked into taking semaglutide through social media accounts and may be unaware of the risks.

Semaglutide and suicidal thoughts

Anecdotal reports from users and families who have lost loved ones to suicide have established a link between taking semaglutide and the occurrence of suicidal thoughts.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) released a statement in July last year saying that the authorities had received around 150 reports of self-harm and suicidal thoughts associated with semaglutide and liraglutide, another drug in the same class.

However, both the EMA and the US Food and Drug Administration stated this year that there was no evidence of a causal link between semaglutide and self-harm or suicidal thoughts.

However, in the US, Wegovy's product information warns users to be alert to depression or suicidal thoughts.

The new JAMA Network study also contradicts some previous findings that suggest taking semaglutide does not lead to a higher risk of suicidal thoughts.

Another study appeared in In January, semaglutide was found to be associated with a lower risk of suicidal thoughts compared to other drugs for obesity and diabetes.

Semaglutide use in Australia

The use of semaglutide for weight loss is considered ‘off-label’ use in Australia, meaning it is prescribed for a purpose outside its approved use.

Off-label prescription of Ozempic for weight loss has led to shortages that the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) estimates will last until 2025.

Due to high demand for semaglutide products, the government issued a warning about counterfeit medicines earlier this year.

The TGA said it did not have the power to regulate the clinical decisions of healthcare professionals and restrict the off-label prescribing of Ozempic, but it was trying to address shortages of the drug.