United States: The European drug regulator confirmed no increased risk of suicide thoughts and actions associated with the most popular diabetes and weight drop-out drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.
On Friday, the European Medicines Agency’s regulatory committee finally announced the findings of their review. It is this group that finds that there is no documented link between the most recent range of obesity medications and suicide, as reported by the Associated Press.
FDA’s Preliminary Review
The previous month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said a preliminary review showed no link but stated that it could not rule out a small risk that “might exist” and would still be looking into the matter. A recent study, funded by the U.S. government, yielded the same results: patients taking semaglutide or an analog of it, as the active ingredients in Ozempic and Wegovy, had a lower risk of suicidal thoughts than those on older diabetes and obesity medication.
The regulator’s review, which started in July last year, was launched because people who were using the drugs reported that they were having suicidal thoughts. Authorities scrutinized research, post-marketing reports, and various studies intended for medications utilized in nearly a dozen medications prescribed for these illnesses. The unit did not cover details about tirzepatide, the drug constituent included in eligible medications like Mounjaro and Zepbound.
Continued Vigilance
Both agencies indicated that they would also be watching closely for reports including suicidal thoughts or actions from people who are taking the type of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. Patients on such medicines are advised to immediately bring forth any mental or other concerns to the clinic, officials stated, as reported by the Associated Press.
While the Health and Science Department of the Associated Press relies on the support from the Science and Educational Media Group of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the final AP is solely accountable for the content of all aspects.