Could Ozempic Increase Suicidal Thoughts?

“A detected signal of suicidal ideation associated with semaglutide requires urgent clarification,” academic researchers noted in the study.

Using an extensive World Health Organization database of individual adverse drug reactions reported, they performed a disproportionate analysis of the GLP-1 RA semaglutide and liraglutide, looking for observations of suicidal thoughts and found that these thoughts were higher than wait.

What they found was a 45% higher rate of reports of suicidal thoughts associated with semaglutide than with all other drugs in the database.

Mixed findings in semaglutide studies

It is worth noting that the findings were small, representing only 0.35% of all reports associated with the diabetes drug. There was also no evidence about these drugs RISE suicidal ideation.

It is also worth noting that in January 2024, separate researchers reached the opposite conclusion: in a study published in the journal. Nature’s Medicine Analyzing 240,618 patients prescribed semaglutide, researchers found that patients taking semaglutide compared to other non-GLP1R agonist antiobesity drugs had a below risk of suicidal ideation.

Earlier in July 2023, according to the latest study, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) started an ongoing review after a number of reports of suicidal thoughts or self-harm associated with liraglutide or semaglutide. The UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) then announced similar investigations.

Both the EMA and the FDA stated that they did not find a clear relationship between GLP-1 RA and suicidal thoughts.

In the latest study, researchers clarified that the risk of suicidal ideation is increased for people with anxiety disorders and depression or other psychiatric disorders. They urge caution for use in patients with psychiatric disorders or at psychological risk, and suggest adding a warning to all semaglutide packaging (semaglutide’s FDA label for Wegovy currently warns to monitor for depression or suicidal thoughts).

Patients without a history of psychiatric disorders may not be at high risk for suicidal thoughts, the researchers write.

In particular, the researchers found through the study that another diabetes drug, liraglutide, was not linked to suicidal thoughts or ideas.

If you need immediate mental health support, get in touch 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

For more on mental health: