Diabetes drug Ozempic linked to “suicidal thoughts” in patients

Over time, Ozempic, an injectable prescription drug that fights type 2 diabetes quite well, has gained popularity due to its purported weight loss benefits. Recently, however, patients have reported suicidal thoughts after taking the injectable drug.

The drug is essentially based on the molecule semaglutide, which mimics the structure of glucagon-like peptide 1.

GLP-1 is a human hormone that helps regulate appetite and blood sugar levels through specific receptors in these channels. Due to similar structures, semaglutide can promote satiety, reduce hunger, and prevent people from overeating.

Between 2020 and 2022, semaglutide was quite popular and was prescribed by more than 300% in the United States. However, the problem arises when people use this drug solely for weight loss, which is sure to bring some side effects.

New study links Ozempic to increased suicidality, but researchers remain cautious

According to the researchers, many patients reported intestinal problems. Psychological problems, including suicidal thoughts, occurred after taking the drug.

A new study published in the journal JAMA Network Open reported on patients taking semaglutide with suicidal thoughts. The researchers discovered 107 reports from patients, of whom around 30,500 reported wanting to kill themselves while taking the drug.

In addition, about 52,000 people taking an older diabetes drug, liraglutide, reported no such incidents. However, when researchers compared reports of suicidal thoughts with the earlier drug, they found that the risk was increased by about 45%.

They even stated that this group of people was about four times more vulnerable to risks than their peers. Dr. Mahyar Etminan, a drug safety expert at the University of British Columbia, said: “Basically, it is difficult to conclude from this study whether the cause is the drug or the mood disorder.”

At this point, researchers were still debating the accuracy of the study. The researchers themselves stated that the study had its own limitations.

Researcher Ian Douglas said: “This article provides weak evidence at best for a link between semaglutide and suicidality.”

Experts urge caution as debate over Ozempic's potential psychiatric risks continues

Despite all the backlash from the medical community, there are several doctors who agree with this statement. Some of the most common names include Dr. Francesco Salvo and Dr. Jean-Luc Faillie from France.

They assume that this drug is a widely used drug and that in most cases their conclusion may vary depending on the database used or the methods used to conduct the study.

“Depression or suicidality are rare but extremely serious events and must be prevented and treated as far as possible,” wrote Salvo and Faillie.

As of now, more information and much more research is needed to find out whether the claims are true or not. Although there is solid evidence to support the negative side effects of consuming the drug, some gray areas still remain.

For example, there are a number of researchers who do not agree with the study at all. With this in mind, patients must stop taking the medication immediately if symptoms persist, say doctors.