The British Medical Journal (BMJ) last month (February 26) published a study that revealed glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) “are not associated with an increased risk of suicidal ideation, self-harm and suicide...among patients with type 2 diabetes”.
It comes after previous reports linking the drugs – which are also used for weight loss - to suicidal ideation and self-harm “raised significant concerns”, the study said.
After initial concerns were raised in July 2023 and “owing to the increasing popularity of GLP-1RAs”, this study was launched to “estimate the average treatment effect” of the continuous use of the drugs among patients with type 2 diabetes, it added.
Read more: Revealed: Pharmacy weight loss consultations rocket twenty-fold
The study compared data from two cohorts – patients using GLP-1RAs such as dulaglutide and semaglutide and those taking either dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors or sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors.
It included 36,082 patients using GLP-1RAs and 234,028 using DPP-4 inhibitors between 2007 and 2020, as well as a second cohort of 32,336 GLP-1RA users and 96,212 SGLT-2 inhibitor users between 2013 and 2020.
Provide “reassurance”
While researchers found that GLP-1RA use was initially “associated with an increased incidence of suicidality” in “crude analyses”, this “decreased to a null value after confounding factors were accounted for”, the study said.
It concluded that “GLP-1RAs do not seem to increase the risk of suicidality among patients with type 2 diabetes”.
“These findings should provide some reassurance with respect to the psychiatric safety of these drugs,” it said.
Read more: New weight loss regs: Almost 50 concerns already raised with GPhC
It comes as another study revealed in January that GLP-1RAs were associated with a “reduced risk of substance use” and “neurocognitive disorders” including Alzheimer’s and dementia.
The drugs were also associated with a reduced risk of psychotic disorders, seizures, coagulation disorders, cardiometabolic disorders, infectious illnesses and several respiratory conditions, it found.
Meanwhile, a study of over half-a-million over-65s published in November found links between repeatedly taking paracetamol and complications including gastrointestinal bleeding and heart failure.
When life is difficult, Samaritans are here – day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit www.samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.
