Novo Nordisk weight loss med semaglutide linked to suicidal thoughts

Individuals taking Novo Nordisk’s GLP-1 medication semaglutide, marketed as Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss, appear more likely to report having suicidal thoughts compared to those taking other drugs.

Researchers examined reports of adverse events associated with semaglutide from a World Health Organization database. They compared those events with those seen with liraglutide (Victoza, Saxenda), an older GLP-1. Those taking semaglutide had a disproportional risk of suicidal thoughts compared to those on liraglutide.

Suicidal thoughts and behavior linked to semaglutide were also 45% higher compared to what was seen with the other medications, according to the results published in JAMA Network Open.

Also, the risk was nearly four times higher in those taking semaglutide as well as an antidepressant.

However, in a commentary on the article, two French researchers not involved with the study say caution is warranted.

“From a general perspective, evaluating the role of appetite suppressants in depression and suicidality risk is particularly challenging because of the bidirectional association between obesity and depression: patients with obesity are at increased risk of depressive disorders, while depression increases the likelihood of obesity,” they wrote.

In April, the European Medicines Agency concluded that there was no link between suicidality and GLP-1 meds.