Why Doesn’t Ozempic Warn About Mental Health?
While many people are in the know when it comes to Ozempic and Wegovy, they may not know the difference regarding the possible mental health side effects of these medications. Wegovy’s label lists adverse mental health side effects, yet Ozempic’s label does not. But both drugs contain semaglutide, which, according to Wegovy’s warning label, could raise the risk of:
- anxiety
- depression
- suicidal ideation and attempt
According to Dr. Sethu Reddy, president of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology, there’s a valid reason. “It’s not that the FDA or [drug company] are lying to the public or hiding stuff,” he told Healthline. Reddy explained that when drug companies conduct clinical trials to get FDA approval, they must collect and report all adverse events that occur more in patients receiving the drug than those in the placebo group.
Still, mental health side effects should not be omitted or minimized, noted Dr. Raafat Girgis, psychiatrist and clinical director at Moment of Clarity. “The consumer should always maintain the right to know the consequences as well as the benefits of using any medication or product,” Girgis told Healthline.
Excerpted from Healthline
