Recent research has found that Ozempic and similar medications do not appear to increase the risk of suicide. A new study published in the British Medical Journal, conducted by scientists at McGill University in Canada, discovered no link between GLP-1 drugs and suicide.

The study, which tracked the health outcomes of hundreds of thousands of UK residents, compared individuals taking GLP-1 medications for diabetes to those taking other classes of diabetes drugs. The researchers found no association between GLP-1 use and an increased risk of suicidality, which includes suicidal ideation, self-harm, and completed suicides. These findings are consistent with other major reports from the US and European Union that have reached similar conclusions.

The investigation into a potential connection between GLP-1 use and suicide began nearly two years ago, when health regulators in the UK, Iceland, and the EU reported receiving case reports of suicidal ideation associated with GLP-1 drugs. In response, they announced a review of the medication class, which is primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. The FDA updated its list of potential new safety risks associated with approved drugs to include this potential risk in early January 2024.

However, conflicting evidence soon emerged. In late January 2024, the FDA announced that its preliminary investigation found no signal of an increased suicide risk. A February 2024 study also found that individuals who started taking GLP-1 drugs were less likely to be diagnosed with depression and anxiety, both key risk factors for suicide. Furthermore, the EU’s nine-month probe found no link between GLP-1 drugs, including semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy), and suicide or ideation in April 2024.

In the latest research, the McGill researchers analyzed medical records from hundreds of thousands of UK residents, comparing those who began taking GLP-1s for their diabetes to those taking other major classes of diabetes drugs. They found no increased risk of suicidality in those on GLP-1 therapy compared to other medications, even in individuals with a past history of psychiatric disorders or self-harm.

While it can be challenging to prove a negative in science, the accumulated data, including studies suggesting that semaglutide use is linked to a lower risk of suicidal thoughts, suggests that GLP-1 drugs do not increase the risk of suicide. Although these medications are not without side effects, the evidence collected so far indicates that they do not pose an added risk of suicidality.

According to the McGill researchers, “These findings should provide some reassurance with respect to the psychiatric safety of these drugs.”