(Kaitlin Sullivan/ Health) — European regulators are reviewing data on suicidal thoughts in people taking GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA), including Ozempic, Wegovy, and Saxenda.
The European Medicines Agency started the review—which includes 150 reports of potential cases of self-injury and suicidal thoughts of people on the medications—earlier this month. The organization is expected to have a conclusion in November.
The investigation was prompted by three cases of suicidal thoughts and thoughts of self-harm reported to the Icelandic Medicines Agency.1
The agency is reviewing adverse effects and said that the presence of reports of self-harm or thoughts about self-harm, “does not necessarily mean that a medicine caused the adverse event.”
In the United States, only Wegovy and Saxenda are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss.
Food and Drug Administration. FDA approves new drug treatment for chronic weight management, first since 2014.
3 Ozempic is approved to treat type 2 diabetes (as is Wegovy) but is sometimes prescribed off-label as a weight loss medication (…)