BRUSSELS: The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is conducting a review of weight-loss injections following reports linking the jabs to suicidal thoughts and self-harm among users, according to BBC.
Iceland, a member state, alerted the European drug regulator after witnessing three cases, prompting the EMA to investigate medications such as Wegovy, Saxenda, and similar drugs known to reduce appetite.
Although product leaflets already list suicidal thoughts as a potential side effect, specific mention of suicidal behavior is absent from the information provided for these prescription drugs.
Risks Associated with Weight-Loss Medications
The EMA’s Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) is spearheading the review and will assess whether other treatments within the broader category of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists require examination as well, as reported by the British broadcaster.
Initially, the regulator will focus on assessing the risks associated with medications containing semaglutide or liraglutide.
An EMA official stated, “The review is being carried out in the context of a signal procedure raised by the Icelandic Medicines Agency, following three case reports. A signal is information on a new or known adverse event that is potentially caused by a medicine and that warrants further investigation.”
The case reports submitted included two instances of suicidal thoughts—one associated with the use of Saxenda and the other with Ozempic. Another case reported thoughts of self-injury related to Saxenda.
