Europe’s drug regulator is investigating the risk of suicidal thoughts and thoughts of self-harm in patients using some weight loss and diabetes jabs. The European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) safety committee said it is looking at cases among people who use a semaglutide or liraglutide-containing medicine for weight loss.
The safety assessment will examine Wegovy (semaglutide), Saxenda (liraglutide) and other similar drugs used to control appetite. Another drug also under investigation, Ozempic (also semaglutide), is currently licensed for adults with poorly-controlled type 2 diabetes, as an add-on to diet and exercise. The review is being carried out after concerns – or a “signal” – were raised by the Icelandic Medicines Agency following three case reports, the EMA said.
“A signal is information on a new or known adverse event that is potentially caused by a medicine and that warrants further investigation,” the EMA added. “The case reports included two cases of suicidal thoughts, one following the use of Saxenda and one after Ozempic. One additional case reported thoughts of self-injury with Saxenda.
