The European Medicines Agency (EMA) will start an investigation into the medicine Ozempic and other similar drugs used in treatments for weight loss.
The reason behind this decision is that reports from users report that these drugs are allegedly associated with cases of suicidal thoughts, self-harm and depression.
see more
Research reveals that teenage brains are 'wired' to…
PicPay will now charge a fee for inactivity; see how it will work
The investigation aims to reassess the need for changes in the package inserts of medicines that contain the active semaglutide It is liraglutide. The idea is to alert users of the risks of this type of drug.
Although the possibility of depressionis known as a side effect of certain weight loss drugs, cases are considered rare.
According to information released by the BBC, the investigation was launched after the Icelandic government reported three cases of suicide in the country.
The suspicion is that these deaths may be related to the use of injectable drugs used to reduce appetite in order to promote weight loss.
Ozempic, which contains semaglutide and is originally administered for the treatment of people with diabetes, has been used by some people for weight loss, a practice frowned upon by the manufacturer as it was not designed for that purpose. In addition to Ozempic, Saxenda and Wegovy will also be examined during the investigation.
As much as this news has shaken some of the habitual users of drugs with these principles assets, it is important to emphasize that the sale of these drugs, such as Ozempic, will not be affected during the analysis.
The company responsible for manufacturing the drug, Novo Nordisk, is collaborating with the EMA on the investigation to ensure patient safety. In direct quote, this is the company's position:
“Always concerned about patient safety, Novo Nordisk continuously monitors reports about the use of its medicines. Currently, more than 6.3 million people worldwide use the company's drugs based on GLP-1 analogues (liraglutide and semaglutide). Based on evaluation of safety data obtained through extensive clinical trial programs involving more than 25,000 people worldwide, post-marketing surveillance and other relevant sources of information, a causal association between semaglutide or liraglutide use and suicidal thoughts or self-harm has not been proven. communicated.
The expectation is that, in a short period of time, the EMA will be able to prove or refute the accusations about the medicine. With this, it will be possible to think about the new steps, including the change in the leaflets of these medicines.
