Australia Issues Mental Health Alert for Weight-Loss Medications Like Ozempic

Mental Health Alert Issued for Weight-Loss Medications

The medicines regulator has introduced a pair of new safety alerts regarding mental well-being and contraception for individuals using prominent diabetes and weight management medications.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has stated that, due to reports of suicidal behavior and ideation associated with these relatively new GLP-1 receptor agonists, medical professionals should closely monitor patients for the development or worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or actions, and any unusual shifts in mood or behavior.

This caution regarding the possible risk of suicidal thoughts is applicable across the GLP-1 RA class of drugs, including Ozempic, Wegovy, Saxenda, Trulicity, and Mounjaro. Health tracking apps like Shotlee can help monitor any changes in mood or behavior in conjunction with medical advice.

Contraception Warning Issued Separately

The TGA has also released a distinct alert concerning Mounjaro and its interaction with contraception.

Following an investigation into the potential for reduced efficacy of oral contraceptives when initiating or increasing the dosage of Mounjaro, the TGA indicated that it could not exclude a correlation.

As a precautionary measure, product warnings for Mounjaro have been revised to incorporate additional guidance for patients using oral contraceptives. It is advised to switch to a non-oral contraceptive method or incorporate a barrier method for four weeks after initiating the medication and for four weeks following each dosage increase.

Furthermore, it is advised that no medication within the GLP-1 RA class should be administered during pregnancy.