Family blames weight loss drug for man’s suicide, seeks black box warning.
The family of a man who tragically took his own life is pointing the finger at the weight loss drug Ozempic for his untimely death.
According to his sister Merlene Hall, Mr. Anthony, whose full name is withheld for privacy reasons, underwent a noticeable change in behavior after starting Ozempic in February to manage his Type 2 diabetes. By early May, he appeared fatigued and his mood became increasingly somber.
When he tragically ended his life on May 14, his family attributed the blame to Ozempic. “I believe that Ozempic was putting these suicidal thoughts in his mind,” Ms. Hall stated.
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In June, Ms. Hall reported her brother’s death to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic. However, she is not pursuing legal action.
The family is advocating for a black box warning from the FDA, which would alert users to the risk of suicide associated with Ozempic. Black box warnings are reserved for serious safety concerns.
Carolyn Hasty, Mr. Anthony’s fiancé, expressed her thoughts on the matter, saying, “I’m not trying to say that I believe this medicine is a bad medicine overall. I think that it probably offers a lot of benefits to a lot of people. But I believe that there is a subpopulation out there, a portion of this population that they’re giving it to, that has to be more highly monitored and decide whether or not it’s a good drug for them.”
Wegovy, a drug similar to Ozempic but marketed under a different name, already carries a warning about suicidal thoughts. However, unlike Ozempic, Wegovy is approved for weight loss rather than Type 2 diabetes. The FDA mandates weight loss medications to include such a warning.
Although Ozempic is used for weight loss, it is only FDA-approved for treating Type 2 diabetes.
The official Ozempic website cautions users about “serious side effects,” including pancreas inflammation, low blood sugar, vision changes, severe allergic reactions, kidney problems, and gallbladder issues.
It advises users to inform their healthcare provider if they experience neck lumps or swelling, difficulty swallowing, or shortness of breath, as these may be symptoms of thyroid cancer.
In an interview with The New York Times, Dr. Andrew Kraftson warned that some individuals taking Ozempic may experience a severe lack of appetite, leading to malnutrition if not closely monitored by their doctors.
People on Ozempic lose weight by consuming fewer calories, explained Dr. Kraftson. However, if they do not receive proper nutrition through regular check-ups, Ozempic use can contribute to or worsen eating disorders.
Ozempic Weight Loss, Reaction
Both Ozempic and Wegovy contain the same active ingredient—semaglutide. A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that Ozempic can lead to weight loss.
The study concluded that a weekly dose of 2.4 mg of semaglutide, combined with lifestyle changes, resulted in significant and sustained weight reduction among overweight and obese participants.
However, negative effects of this weight loss have also been identified. Health Canada issued a warning in June that using Ozempic for weight loss is not an approved indication.
Using Ozempic for weight loss can cause serious side effects, including pancreatitis, dangerously low blood sugar levels, gallbladder issues, severe allergic reactions, thyroid tumors, and kidney problems, including kidney failure.
In July, the European Medicines Agency announced a review of 150 cases involving suicidal thoughts and self-injury among individuals who had taken GLP-1 receptor agonists, the drug class to which Wegovy and Ozempic belong.
The U.K.’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is also reviewing the safety of this drug class.
As of June 30, the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) has received reports of 59 cases of suicidal ideation, six attempted suicides, and four suicides related to Ozempic.
Kate Hanna, Director of Communications at Novo Nordisk, responded to Mr. Anthony’s suicide in an email to The Epoch Times, emphasizing the company’s commitment to patient safety.
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