Cases of suicidal thoughts or self-harm have skyrocketed, sparking concerns among regulators. The drug Ozempic or Wegovy, hailed as a ‘game-changer’, has been linked to this alarming trend. Recently, the number of individuals plagued by such thoughts while taking this popular weight-loss jab has quadrupled within a span of two months. Initially used to treat diabetes, Ozempic or Wegovy has proven to be highly effective in combating obesity.
In June, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak lauded the medicine as a ‘game-changer’ and announced a pilot program permitting GPs to offer the weekly injection to obese patients. However, in July, health authorities decided to review the medication, which contains semaglutide, the active ingredient, along with other similar weight-loss drugs, following reports of patients experiencing suicidal thoughts.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) launched the review after receiving five reports of semaglutide patients who had suicidal or self-harming thoughts. In addition, since 2010, it received 12 reports of these side effects in patients taking a similar drug called liraglutide. Shockingly, the MHRA has now disclosed that the number of reports of patients with suicidal or self-harming thoughts has surged to 23 in just two months. It has also received six further reports related to liraglutide.
Meanwhile, the US Food and Drug Administration has received a staggering 265 reports since 2010 of suicidal thoughts or behavior in patients taking this type of weight-loss drug, with 36 of them describing death by suicide or suspected suicide. The MHRA did not disclose the number of deaths or suspected deaths in the UK.
Experts argue that the potential link between these drugs and suicidal thoughts likely stems from the underlying mental health issues that often contribute to obesity. Professor David Strain, a diabetes expert at the University of Exeter Medical School, explains, “This rise in reports of suicidal or self-harming thoughts comes as no surprise. These drugs suppress the desire to eat, meaning you’re taking away the pleasure obese patients relied on to stave off their depression. It’s logical that, when you do that, you’re going to see previously repressed suicidal thoughts bubbling up.”
Semaglutide belongs to a class of drugs known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, which were originally developed as a treatment for type 2 diabetes. These drugs mimic the GLP-1 hormone in the gut, which aids in insulin release and blood sugar regulation. However, scientists discovered that they also suppress appetite, leading to weight loss. Studies have consistently shown that obese patients using semaglutide lose about ten percent of their weight and can maintain the loss while on the drug.
Semaglutide has been available in the UK as a treatment for diabetics since 2019. Although NHS spending regulators approved it as a weight-loss treatment in March, it has not yet been fully implemented due to supply issues caused by the immense hype surrounding the drug’s use by celebrities and models.
Experts are concerned that the rise in patients experiencing suicidal thoughts may be linked to the surge in individuals purchasing these drugs online without consulting a doctor. Professor Strain warns, “Semaglutide is really effective, but you can’t entirely solve obesity by relying solely on medication. Obese patients need psychological support, which online companies cannot provide.”
Trials suggest that the drug is safe, although side effects such as stomach pains and nausea are commonly reported. Novo Nordisk, the Danish developer of Wegovy, asserts that its “large clinical trial programs” and ongoing drug surveillance have not revealed a causal association between semaglutide and suicidal or self-harming thoughts.
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