FDA finds no connection between weight loss drugs and suicide ideation

The FDA has been investigating reports among weight loss drug users of possible side effects, which include suicide ideation.

One week after the Food and Drug Administration published that it was investigating a link between popular weight loss drugs and suicidal ideation, the FDA said a preliminary evaluation found no evidence that the medicines cause suicidal thoughts or actions. 

The FDA said that it has been reviewing reports of suicidal thoughts and ideation among users of weight loss and diabetes drugs that use GLP-1 RAs. Suicidal thoughts were not considered a common side effect during clinical studies. 

"We determined that the information in these reports did not demonstrate a clear relationship with the use of GLP-1 RAs. Similarly, our reviews of the clinical trials, including large outcome studies and observational studies, did not find an association between use of GLP-1 RAs and the occurrence of suicidal thoughts or actions," the FDA said. 

The FDA added that it cannot definitively rule out that a small risk exists, so the FDA cautioned that its evaluation is preliminary. 

The FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System report last week included popular drugs such as Mounjaro, Ozempic, Trulicity, Victoza and Wegovy. In addition to suicidal ideation, the FDA said it was investigating a connection between the drugs and hair loss and aspiration (the act of having food or drinks go down the wrong tube).