CONTENT WARNING: This article discusses mental health issues.
The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has issued a safety warning for Ozempic and its variants, saying those who use the weight-loss drugs can be at risk of depression or suicidal thoughts.
The TGA published the safety alert earlier today after investigations by international regulators. As a result, product warnings for multiple weight-loss drugs have been updated to include the new associated risks.
The drugs now with an updated safety warning are:
- Ozempic (semaglutide)
- Wegovy (semaglutide)
- Saxenda (liraglutide)
- Trulicity (dulaglutide)
- Mounjaro (tirzepatide)
There have been 72 reports of suicidal ideation from people using these medications, the TGA said.
“Patients taking these medicines should tell their health professional if they experience new or worsening depression, suicidal thoughts or any unusual changes in mood or behaviour,” the agency said.
All of the drugs are known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which have in some cases been linked to psychiatric side effects such as increased risk of conditions like OCD, depression, and self-harming behaviours.
The updated product information for the drugs will now include the message: “Suicidal behaviour and ideation have been reported with GLP-1 receptor agonists. Monitor patients for the emergence or worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or behaviours, and/or any unusual changes in mood or behaviour.”
The TGA asked for advice about the updates from the Advisory Committee on Medicines, which stressed that the new information “should not imply a causal association” but should “reflect a class level awareness” of the drugs’ risks.
The same investigation looked into reports that Mounjaro — the brand name of another commonly used GLP-1 — can reduce the effectiveness of oral contraception (i.e., the pill), with the TGA saying that side effect could not be ruled out.
“Our investigation into the potential for reduced effectiveness of oral contraception when first taking or increasing the dose of Mounjaro has found that this association could not be ruled out,” the TGA said.
In line with that update, the TGA urged Mounjaro users to switch to non-oral contraceptives, including “barrier methods” like condoms.
It comes after data revealed in June that calls to the NSW poison centre in relation to potential Ozempic overdoses had spiked to over 1000 per cent over the last four years.
Drugs like Ozempic are typically used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, but can be prescribed as anti-obesity medication for long-term weight management. A report revealed last month that over half a million Aussies used GLP-1 medications in 2025.
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