EMA finds no link between use of weight loss drugs and suicidality

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced this Friday that the available evidence does not allow linking a risk of suicidal thoughts and self-harm with the use of GLP1 analogue drugs, including Ozempic, Saxenda and Wegovy, which are used for lose weight and treat type 2 diabetes.

The safety committee (PRAC) has concluded that “The available evidence does not support a causal association” between suicidal and self-harming thoughts and actions, and the use of GLP1 analogue drugs, used to treat diabetes and available in some medications for weight management under certain conditions in adults with obesity or overweight.

In July last year, the EMA began this review of the available data on this issue, after suicidal thoughts were reported in around 150 people in Iceland who had used GLP1 analogue drugs, including drugs available in the EU such as Ozempic ( semaglutide), Saxenda (liraglutide) and Wegovy (semaglutide).

Saxenda and Wegovy are authorized in the EU for weight control, along with diet and physical activity in overweight or obese people in the presence of at least one weight-related health problem.

Ozempic is authorized for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes, also as an adjunct to diet and exercise, but the EMA warns that “has been used unauthorized to lose weight”.

The PRAC committee reviewed several studies, including the results of one based on a large electronic health records database, which investigated the incidence of suicidal thoughts in overweight patients with type 2 diabetes treated with semaglutide or other non-GLP agonist drugs. -1 for diabetes or overweight.

The study did not find a causal association between semaglutide use and suicidal thoughts.

Although we have not found any evidence of causal association, pharmaceutical companies will continue to monitor this issue closely, including any new publications, as part of their pharmacovigilance activities, and will report any new evidence on this topic.