Hormonal
GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are associated with an emerging signal of suicidality, including suicidal ideation, attempts, and completed suicide, based on pharmacovigilance data, though large randomized controlled trials have not demonstrated a statistically significant causal increase in risk.
GLP-1 medications (like Ozempic or Wegovy) have been linked to reports of suicidal thoughts in pharmacovigilance databases, creating a safety signal. However, large clinical trials involving thousands of patients have not found a statistically significant increase in psychiatric events compared to placebo. The absolute risk appears to be very low. Clinicians should monitor patients, especially those with a history of mental health conditions, but the proven benefits for weight loss and heart health generally outweigh this rare risk for most users.
The presence of a signal, defined narrowly as ‘a new or known adverse event that may be caused by a medicine and requires further investigation’, is clear. Whether and how GLP-1RAs may cause suicidality remains unclear.
Why this rating
Based on heterogeneous case reports and FAERS data (signal) plus reassuring but underpowered RCTs; causality is not established.
Source
Suicidality among users of glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists: An emerging signal?
Darren Lau et al. · Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism · 2024
DOI 10.1111/dom.15459
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