Did Ozempic Play A Role In A Man's Suicide? Family Seeks Warning Label

The family of a man who died by suicide is seeking a warning label on the ‘miracle’ weight loss drug Ozempic, claiming it contributed to his death, NBC News reported.

The family believes the man’s mood changes were linked to his use of Type 2 diabetes medicine.

The man, identified only as Anthony for privacy reasons, started taking Ozempic in February. By May, his family noticed a change in his usually outgoing personality, claiming he appeared fatigued and sullen. Anthony died by suicide in his Indiana home on May 14.

While Anthony had a history of depression, his family was shocked by his death and attributed it to his use of Ozempic.

“I think the Ozempic was putting these suicidal thoughts in his mind,” said Anthony’s sister.

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While Ozempic and Wegovy have seen a surge in popularity, with a few patients reporting suicidal thoughts, believed to be a side effect. The European Medicines Agency and the U.K.’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency are reviewing similar cases.

As of June 30, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s adverse event reporting system had received 59 reports of suicidal ideation, six reports of suicide attempts, and four reports of suicide-related to Ozempic. However, these numbers are self-reported and have not been verified.

Despite the family’s claims and the ongoing reviews, clinical trials did not find an association between Ozempic and suicidal thoughts. The FDA and the drug’s manufacturer, Novo Nordisk NONOF said they are monitoring the safety of the drug and will take appropriate actions if a new safety signal for suicidal ideation/behavior is identified.

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