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Safety Alerts for Weight Loss Drugs: Australia has issued a mental health warning regarding the most popular weight loss drugs Ozempic and Monjaro. It has been told that by taking these medicines, there is a risk of depression, suicidal thoughts and the effect of contraceptive pills may reduce. Although no connection has been confirmed yet, as a precautionary measure, doctors and patients have been advised to take special precautions. Due to this, discussions have started again regarding these medicines.
Weight Loss Drugs & Suicidal Thoughts: Currently, medicines like Ozempic and Monjaro are in discussion all over the world. These medicines have been made for type 2 diabetes and are also considered very effective in weight loss. Apart from this, many weight loss drugs have come in the market, which play an important role in controlling weight. Medicines like Ozempic and Monjaro are also available in India. There have often been discussions about the benefits of these medicines, but now Australia has issued a warning regarding weight loss drugs. It has been told that by taking semaglutide medicines like Ozempic, people are experiencing abnormal behavior, depression and suicidal thoughts. Whereas taking Monjaro can make contraceptive pills ineffective.
Suicidal thoughts, depression, or abnormal behavior have been reported in some people taking GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as semaglutide, according to the warning. Analysis of a global database from the World Health Organization (WHO) also found that there were more reports of suicidal ideation associated with semaglutide than with other diabetes medications. Although experts have clarified that the cause is medicine, the evidence is not yet sufficient to say this. More than 2 million prescriptions for semaglutide are recorded in 2023–24 and the number of unsubsidized users is even higher. Therefore, experts believe that monitoring of such risks is extremely important as use increases in the larger population.
Expert Dr. Terry-Lynn South believes that in terms of mental health, those people who already have depression, anxiety or mental health problems are at the highest risk. Rapid or massive weight loss can destabilize mental health in many patients. This has also been seen in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Therefore, mood swings should be monitored during the use of medicines. The second major warning is related to Monjaro injection, taking which is expected to reduce the effectiveness of contraceptive pills. Monjaro slows down the emptying of the stomach, which may delay absorption of food as well as medicines. This effect may be greater after initial use or after increasing the dose. The TGA has advised that patients using this medicine use non-oral contraception for 4 weeks.
