Preliminary evaluation does not suggest a causal link for GLP-1s and suicidal thoughts, says FDA

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been evaluating reports of suicidal thoughts or actions in patients treated with a class of medicines called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists.

These medicines are used to treat people with type 2 diabetes or to help those with obesity or overweight to lose weight. The FDA's preliminary evaluation has not found evidence that use of these medicines causes suicidal thoughts or actions.

Although the FDA did not name specific products, there largely concern drugs that include semaglutide, which has been linked to an increase in suicidal and self-harming thoughts, marketed by Danish diabetes care giant Novo Nordisk (NOV: N) as Ozempic and for weight management as Wegovy. The European Medicines Agency is similarly investigating a link between GLP-1 agonists and the risk of suicidal thoughts.