Some psychiatrists have started administering Ozempic to offset weight gain caused by antipsychotics and antidepressants.
A survey of 13 leading psychiatric facilities across the country found that nearly half recommended the diabetes medicine that became fat loss to their patients.
Some medications used to treat schizophrenia, anxiety and depression change the way the brain and hormones work together to control appetite – in extreme cases, patients can gain up to 30kg.
But there are growing concerns about the side effects of Ozempic and its sister drug Wegovy, which have been linked to a small but unproven risk of suicidal thoughts.
At the same time, the enormous enthusiasm for weight loss injections has led to a dangerous shortage of diabetics who need them to treat their disease.
Dawn Heidlebaugh, an Ohio mother of four, said taking Ozempic caused her to have suicidal thoughts (pictured)
Wegovy is a sister medication to Ozempic that was originally approved to treat type 2 diabetes. Wegovy is a higher dose medicine specifically approved for the treatment of overweight and obesity
According to the New York Times, seven of the facilities reported that their doctors were not yet ready to prescribe the injectable obesity treatments, citing unknown data on safety and side effects.
One of the patients who was prescribed it by her doctor is 35-year-old Amanda Romero from North Carolina.
She took the antidepressant Lexapro before switching to Prozac and said the medication helped quell her intrusive thoughts about the well-being of her daughter, who was undergoing cancer treatment.
But no matter how many miles she logged on her Peloton or on walks in her neighborhood, she couldn’t reduce the weight she gained from the medication, which ended up totaling 75 pounds.
She said, “I was just thinking, what happened to me?”
The Wegovy she was prescribed in February for her medication-induced weight gain made her so nauseous that she took a pregnancy test. Despite the discomfort, she eventually lost all her weight.
Clinical trials of Wegovy and Ozempic, both versions of semaglutide but at different doses, examined the study for depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts or behavior, meaning all patients with these conditions were excluded.
At the same time, Wegovy’s drug information label includes a small section that reads: “Suicidal behavior and suicidal ideation have been reported in clinical trials with other weight management products.” Monitor patients treated with WEGOVY for emergency and worsening depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior and/or unusual changes in mood or behavior.”
The label also advised patients to stop taking the medication immediately if these symptoms occur.
Novo Nordisk, maker of Ozempic, says in its warning that patients taking the drug may also experience suicidal thoughts
Reports that the drugs increase suicide are purely anecdotal, but last summer the European Medicines Agency launched an investigation into the link between obesity drugs and suicide after three patients in Iceland reported suicidal thoughts or thoughts of self-harm.
Dr. Ilana Cohen, a psychiatrist at Sheppard Pratt in Maryland, told the New York Times that neither she nor her colleagues would prescribe the shots to their patients because a link had been discovered in Europe, adding that “these drugs really don’t “worked” well.” studied or designed”. for this population.’
Similar reports in the US have gained more attention in recent months and have been collected in the Food and Drug Administration’s adverse event reporting database.
A total of 265 reports of suicidal thoughts and depression from people using this or related medications have been received through the FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), and 36 of those reports describe a death by suicide or suspected suicide, according to Reuters.
Ozempic’s links to suicidal thoughts become ‘more credible’
Hundreds of Americans have reported experiencing suicidal thoughts and depression while successfully using weight loss medications. European regulators are investigating.
The FDA carefully analyzes the reports to find a possible pattern between suicide and the medication or to determine if these symptoms are caused by another factor.
Weight loss usually increases self-confidence and pride. In most cases, physical health improves mental health. At the same time, obese people are estimated to have a 55 percent higher risk of developing depression during their lifetime compared to non-obese people.
One of those patients was 22-year-old Lisa Wood, also from North Carolina. With Wegovy, she lost 30 pounds but suffered from constant suicidal thoughts.
Ms Wood said: “I was driving and thinking, ‘What if I just pulled the steering wheel on this bridge?’ “It didn’t occur to me that it was Wegovy.”
Another patient who said the drug drove her to suicide was 53-year-old Ohio mother of four Dawn Heidlebaugh.
Ms Heidlebaugh, who works in real estate, revealed she started using the drug every Sunday and by Tuesday felt lethargic, depressed and sometimes suicidal – believing her family would be better off without her.
Her symptoms persisted for several days and returned shortly after the next injection. It was only when she missed a dose that the bothersome symptoms stopped occurring.
Because she had no history of depression, Ms. Heidlebaugh said, “I knew it was the drug.”
Dr. Eric Turner, a former FDA medical official who reviewed psychiatric drugs, said Ms. Heidlebaugh’s experience was significant because she had no history of mental health problems.
He said: “It makes it harder to explain away suicide. It makes any appearance of these safety signals more credible.”
The reason for weight gain when taking antidepressants and antipsychotics is not fully understood.
But researchers think it’s a function of the drugs that stimulate appetite, especially for sweet or fatty foods, because they change the way the brain and hormones like insulin and leptin work together to control hunger.
There is also evidence that the drugs alter the body’s metabolic processes, changing the way it stores calories and uses energy. People may also use food as a way to deal with their mental health issues, which also contributes to weight gain.
Weight gain can significantly discourage people from taking their psychiatric medications, which can lead to untreated mental illness and distressing symptoms ranging from hallucinations to mania.
There is also concern about weight gain after stopping the medication.
Many doctors are reluctant to prescribe it to people who are also taking psychiatric medications because these people may receive injections throughout their lives. Or at least until the next generation of vaccinations come on the market in pill form.
Despite the high price – more than $1,000 a month – the injectable drugs are enjoying great popularity and by 2022 will be prescribed more than five million times in the US alone.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
