Anecdotal Reports Suggest Suicidality Risk in Weight Loss Injections, Ozempic and Wegovy
Published: 19:47 03 Nov 2023, Updated: 20:28 03 Nov 2023
Recent anecdotal reports have raised concerns about the risk of suicidality associated with the weight loss injections, Ozempic and Wegovy. Although these reports lack concrete data, they are considered credible by some experts.
The trials for both Ozempic and Wegovy excluded individuals with a history of suicidal thoughts, which means the potential link between the injections and suicidality has not been thoroughly studied.
Some psychiatrists have started prescribing Ozempic as a way to counteract the weight gain side effects caused by antipsychotic and antidepressant medications. In a probe into mental health facilities, nearly half were found to be recommending these diabetes drugs for weight loss.
Certain medications used to treat mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, anxiety, and depression can affect the brain and hormones, leading to changes in appetite control. In extreme cases, patients may gain up to 70 pounds.
However, there are growing concerns about the side effects of Ozempic and Wegovy, which have been tentatively linked to an increased risk of suicidal thoughts. Simultaneously, the high demand for these injections for weight loss has resulted in a dangerous shortage for diabetic patients who require them to manage their condition.
A mother-of-four from Ohio, Dawn Heidlebaugh, reported feeling suicidal while taking Ozempic.
Wegovy is a sister drug to Ozempic, initially approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, Wegovy is a higher dosage specifically approved for weight loss in overweight and obese individuals.
In a survey of 13 mental health facilities, seven reported that their clinicians were not yet prepared to prescribe these obesity treatments due to concerns about safety and side effects.
One patient who was prescribed Wegovy is Amanda Romero from North Carolina. She was previously taking the antidepressant Lexapro, which was later switched to Prozac. Although these medications helped with her intrusive thoughts, she struggled to lose the weight she had gained, which amounted to 70 pounds in total.
“I just felt like, what happened to me?”
In February, she was prescribed Wegovy for her medication-related weight gain. Despite experiencing nausea, she eventually lost all the weight.
Clinical trials for both Wegovy and Ozempic excluded patients with depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts, meaning these specific populations were not studied. However, Wegovy’s drug label does include a small section advising monitoring for depression, suicidal thoughts, or any unusual mood or behavior changes.
Reports of the drugs’ association with suicidality are currently anecdotal. However, over the summer, the European Medicines Agency initiated an investigation into the link between obesity drugs and suicidality following reports from three patients in Iceland.
Dr. Ilana Cohen, a psychiatrist at Sheppard Pratt in Maryland, expressed her reluctance to prescribe these injections due to the existing link unveiled in Europe and the inadequate study of these medications in this specific population.
In the US, similar reports have gained attention in recent months and are piling up in the Food and Drug Administration’s adverse reactions reporting database.
A total of 265 reports of suicidal thoughts and depression have been received by the FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) from individuals taking these medications or related drugs. Of these reports, 36 describe death by suicide or suspected suicide.
The FDA is carefully analyzing these reports to identify any patterns and determine if the suicidality is directly linked to the medications or caused by other factors.
Weight loss often boosts confidence and mental well-being, leading to improved mental health. However, individuals with obesity are estimated to have a 55% higher risk of developing depression compared to non-obese individuals.
One patient, Lisa Wood from North Carolina, lost 70 pounds while taking Wegovy but experienced suicidal thoughts throughout the process.
Another patient, Dawn Heidlebaugh from Ohio, a 53-year-old mother of four, felt lethargic, depressed, and at times suicidal after taking Ozempic, particularly a few days after each injection. She only experienced relief when skipping a dose.
Dr. Eric Turner, a former medical officer at the FDA, expressed concern over Heidlebaugh’s experience due to her lack of a history with mental health problems. He stated that this lack of history makes it harder to explain away the suicidality and lends more credibility to any safety concerns associated with the drugs.
The reasons behind weight gain from antidepressants and antipsychotics are not fully understood. Researchers believe that these medications can increase appetite, especially for sweet or fatty foods, by altering the way the brain and hormones such as insulin and leptin work together to control hunger.
Additionally, evidence suggests that these medications can alter the body’s metabolic processes, affecting calorie storage and energy expenditure. Food may also serve as a coping mechanism for individuals with mental health issues, further contributing to weight gain.
Weight gain can discourage individuals from taking their psychiatric medications, leading to untreated mental illness and exacerbation of symptoms.
Many clinicians are hesitant to prescribe these medications to patients also taking psychiatric drugs, as it may potentially result in a lifetime of injections. The hope is that future generations of these injections will be available in pill form.
Despite their high price tag, with a cost of over $1,000 per month, these injectable medications remain extremely popular. In 2022 alone, more than five million prescriptions were written in the US.
