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People who take the popular weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are 45% more likely to have suicidal thoughts than people taking other drugs, according to a study published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

Researchers from the Zucker School of Medicine in New York reviewed a World Health Organization global database of adverse drug effects between November 2000 and August 2023.

They compared reporting rates for semaglutide — the active ingredient in the blockbuster drugs — to other similar weight-loss drugs and all drugs in the database. They found that semaglutide was associated with "disproportionately increased reporting of suicidality."

The researchers also found a higher risk for suicidal thoughts among people on antidepressants or benzodiazepines, likely prescribed for depression or anxiety, who were also taking semaglutide. class of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist drugs

The Injectable prescription drugs were originally developed to manage blood sugar levels in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, but they became wildly popular over the last several years for their ability to help people lose weight. GLP-1 receptor agonists are chemicals derived from lizard venom that can change people's metabolism and eating behaviors as long as they continue to take the drugs.

When people stop taking the drugs, they typically regain most or all of the weight they lost.

The drugs have been touted by Oprah Winfrey and other celebrities as a key to overcoming the obesity epidemic.

And medical organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics rushed to recommend the drugs for children as young as 8, Just weeks after they were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for children.

And in October 2023, Novo Nordisk announced that it is testing semaglutide in children as young as 6. Between 2020 and 2023, GLP-1 receptor agonists use increased by 594% in young people, particularly among women. Despite the hype, serious concerns have been raised about the safety of the drugs. They've been linked to cancers in the digestive system, thyroid cancer, stomach paralysis, a wide range of other gastrointestinal disorders, among other issues and the drugs pose a serious but little- known risk for pregnant women.

-by Brenda Baletti, Ph.D. CHILDRENS HEALTH DEFENSE AUGUST 23, 2024