Lower Suicidal Thoughts Risk Found in Ozempic and Wegovy Users, Study Shows

The study, analyzing over 1.8 million patient records, comes amid regulatory investigations into anecdotal reports of suicidal thoughts linked to GLP-1 drugs.

People taking the diabetes and obesity drugs Ozempic and Wegovy have a lower risk of suicidal thoughts compared to those taking other medications for the same conditions, according to a new study funded by the National Institutes of Health.
The study analyzed electronic medical records from more than 1.8 million patients prescribed semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy) or another drug to treat obesity or diabetes between 2017 and 2022.
Patients taking semaglutide had a 49% to 73% lower risk of first-time or recurring suicidal thoughts than those taking another drug for those conditions during a six-month follow-up period.
The study comes as European and U.S. regulators investigate anecdotal reports of suicidal thoughts or actions in people taking GLP-1 drugs, including semaglutide.
Millions of people in the U.S. are taking semaglutide, which has soared in popularity since Wegovy was approved to treat obesity in June 2021.