'Deadly Risk' of Fat-Loss Drugs

Diabetes treatment Ozempic has become popular among dieters due to its weightloss side effect, but a study warns of a link between the drug and suicidal thoughts

- PANDORA DEWAN

"MIRACLE" FAT-MELTING DRUG OZEMPIC HAS been linked in a study to a series of rare but potentially fatal psychiatric episodes, scientists have warned.

The injectable prescription drug was developed to manage blood sugar levels in patients with Type 2 diabetes, but it has gained popularity and gone viral on social media due to one sought-after side effect: weight loss.

Ozempic is based on a naturally occurring human hormone called glucagon-like peptide 1, which plays an important role in regulating appetite and blood sugar levels. Its active ingredient is a molecule called semaglutide, which mimics the structure of this GLP-1 hormone and activates its receptors.

In doing so, semaglutide induces feelings of fullness while delaying the emptying of our stomach, making us less hungry and therefore less likely to overeat.

Semaglutide is also used in Ozempic's sister drug, Wegovy, which has been approved by the FDA for chronic weight management. Between the start of 2020 and the end of 2022, prescriptions of GLP-1 mimic medications like semaglutide increased by 300 percent across the U.S., according to health care analytics firm Trilliant Health.

The drug has since been endorsed by celebrities and influencers, with #ozempic reaching over 1.4 billion views on TikTok. However, when used as a weight-loss drug, semaglutide has been shown to have some uncomfortable side effects.

Most studies into these have focused on gut problems, but a new study, published in the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy, has highlighted a concerning association between semaglutide and adverse psychiatric events, including depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. Pharmaceutical manufacturer Novo Nordisk, which produces Ozempic and Wegovy, cited the FDA saying that no evidence was found regarding suicidal thoughts or actions caused by these medicines.