Compared to other medications for similar conditions, the use of semaglutide medications—Ozempic for type 2 diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss—is not linked to an increased risk of suicidal ideation, according to a comprehensive review of U.S. health records funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Consoling Outcomes Despite Regulatory Review
This analysis dispels worries expressed by European authorities last summer, which prompted inquiries into semaglutide‘s possible associations with suicidal thoughts. It is based on a database of more than 100 million patient records. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States is presently carrying out its investigation.
The review, which was published in the journal Nature Medicine, gives hope for the safety profile of semaglutide medications despite ongoing inquiries by US and European regulatory bodies. Study author Dr. Rong Xu, a biomedical informatics professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, initiated the experiment in response to European regulatory scrutiny.
Contrary to claims that semaglutide may be associated with suicidal thoughts, the results indicate a lower prevalence of suicidal thoughts about other medications for diabetes and weight loss.
Positive Mental Health Effects and Anecdotal Reports
The study, involving more than 240,000 people with obesity and over 1.5 million with type 2 diabetes, suggests potential positive effects on mental health associated with semaglutide. Anecdotal reports mentioned a reduction in addictive behaviors among users, raising questions about whether these medications might have broader positive impacts.
Although the study does not yet support off-label treatment for suicidal ideation, it sparks interest in future clinical trials exploring semaglutide’s potential role in treating depression.
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