Ideal weight loss is an infinite wish for everyone’s dreams, but it becomes way too slow if done in a healthy way.
People all over the world are experimenting with quick ways to lose their extra weight by undergoing medical procedures and surgeries or using weight loss medications.
Taking into account the harmful effects, medical drug regulators in Australia have added two new safety warnings for people taking weight-loss drugs.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) says these drugs cause serious damage to mental health.
TGA said that “physicians should monitor patients for the onset or worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior, and any unusual changes in mood or behavior.”
The report further informed that the warning about the potential risk of suicidal ideation applies to the GLP-1 RA drug class (often called semaglutides), which includes Ozempic, Wegovy, Saxenda, Trulicity and Mounjaro.
The warning came after a 2024 study analyzed the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global database of the side effects of these drugs and found reports that suicidal ideation was slightly higher for drugs containing semaglutide, compared with other drugs.
TGA has also asked its ACM Medicines Advisory Committee for independent expert advice.
The review of the adverse event reporting database for the GLP-1 RA class up to September 2025 revealed that there were 72 reports of suicidal ideation, six reports of depressive suicide, four reports of suicide attempts, two reports of successful suicide and one report of self-harming thoughts.
Data also showed that more than 2 million people used weight-loss drugs in 2023-2024, with more users expected.
Dr. Terri-Lynne South, chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners’ obesity management special interest group, said: “Studies of patients who have undergone bariatric surgery have also shown that significant or rapid weight loss can be a real trigger from a mental health perspective.”
TGA has also issued a separate warning around Mounjaro and contraceptive pills.
TGA warned that a link between the use of a GLP-1 type drug, ‘tirzepatide’ (Mounjaro), and the reduced effectiveness of oral contraceptives could not be excluded.
“The drug slows down food digestion and therefore affects the absorption of the contraceptive pill and possibly the effectiveness of the pill.”
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also reviewed reports of suicidal thoughts or actions in people taking GLP-1 medications, with a preliminary review finding “no evidence found that use of these medications causes suicidal thoughts or actions.”
“However, due to the small number of suicidal thoughts or actions observed in both people who use drugs and in the comparator control groups, we cannot definitively rule out that a small risk exists; therefore, the FDA continues to investigate this issue.”
TGA also reported that it had conducted an experiment with an extensive study using a small group, and after seeking advice from the ACM, they found that the available evidence was not sufficient to support a link between GLP-1 type drugs and suicidal or self-harm behavior.
It also said the final evaluation could be released after combining data from larger groups for more accurate results.
Additionally, GLP-1-based drugs are a groundbreaking class of medications that mimic the activity of a natural hormone, slowing digestion and helping people feel full longer.
Furthermore, these medications were originally developed to treat people with type 2 diabetes, but they have gained prominence in helping people manage obesity.
