Medicine & healthcare

FDA Calls for Removal of Suicide Warnings from Weight-Loss Drugs

Do GLP-1 drugs reduce suicide risk, or do they increase it by 45% as some international research suggests?

Published JAN 14

FDA Calls for Removal of Suicide Warnings from Weight-Loss Drugs

Story

Above: A weighing scale in a bathroom in Berlin, Germany on April 1, 2022. Image credit: Annette Riedl/Picture Alliance/Getty Images

The Facts

The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday instructed Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to remove warnings about the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior from the labels of their GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, such as Wegovy, Saxenda, and Zepbound.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
The FDA's comprehensive review found no increased risk of suicidal ideation or behavior associated with the use of GLP-1 drugs. The decision follows more than a year of studies into reported side effects in people taking the injectable medications.
Newsmax
CNBC
At the time of the original FDA approvals, the labeling for the weight-loss products included information about such risks based on reports of events observed with older medicines used or studied. Versions of the drugs approved for diabetes don't carry the warnings.
Bloomberg Law News
Axios
The FDA conducted further analyses of placebo-controlled clinical trials involving GLP-1 drugs, which did not show an increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior versus placebo. The review covered 91 trials involving 107,910 patients.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
GLP-1 receptor agonists were originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes. They mimic a gut hormone that suppresses appetite, creating a feeling of fullness and helping to reduce weight.
Mezha
CNN
The FDA said its action will ensure consistent messaging across the labeling for all FDA-approved GLP-1 RA medications. A preliminary review in January 2024 showed no link between the drugs and suicidal thoughts or actions.
Independent
Breitbart

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Large-scale research definitively shows GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide pose no increased suicide risk. Studies of over 60,000 patients found those on semaglutide actually reported lower rates of suicidal ideation than patients on other weight-loss medications, with zero suicide attempts versus 14 in comparison groups.

Science

BMJ

Good Morning America on Youtube

Narrative B

International research reveals that semaglutide carries a 45% higher risk of suicidal ideation compared to other medications, particularly dangerous for patients with anxiety or depression. The 107 reported cases and two completed suicides demand urgent clarification and warrant precautionary warnings on medication labels.