The Daily Aus Ozempic's mental health warning
Dec 2, 2025
A new safety alert warns of potential suicidal thoughts linked to Ozempic and similar weight-loss drugs. The hosts explore the mechanism of GLP-1s and their rise in popularity for treating diabetes and obesity. They discuss concerning reports of side effects, including suicidal ideation in one out of twenty cases. A patient shares a troubling story of her experience, raising questions about antidepressant effectiveness. Practical advice from health regulators is also provided, emphasizing the importance of monitoring mood changes.
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How GLP-1s Cause Weight Loss
- GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic (semaglutide) were approved for type 2 diabetes and slow gastric emptying which causes reduced appetite and weight loss.
- Their appetite effect explains why these diabetes drugs have surged in off-label weight-loss use globally.
Private Use Is Largely Invisible
- GLP-1 prescriptions for non-diabetes uses aren't tracked in Australia, making the scale of private weight-loss use unknown.
- Most private users may pay up to about $400 a month, driving huge global demand and profits for pharma companies.
Suicidal Ideation Appears In Reports
- TGA adverse event reports (July 2023–July 2025) show GI complaints dominate but suicidal ideation appears in about 1 in 20 GLP-1 reports.
- There were seven deaths linked to psychiatric disorders in that period, with Ozempic suspected in two suicides.