Australia Adds New Mental Health Risks to Ozempic and Other Rapid Weight Loss Drugs
- by Natasha Hobley
- Published
- Environment
The government of Australia has added two new safety warnings about mental health and contraception for the popular GLP-1 agonist drugs like Ozempic designed to facilitate rapid weight loss. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), which regulates pharmaceutical products for Australia, issued the new safety warnings in December.1
Health professionals say that, while there is no proof of a causal association between GLP-1 drugs and adverse mental health outcomes, the risks are significant enough that a precaution is warranted. Previous research had found “reassuring” conclusions that the drugs don’t directly increase the risks of depression or suicide.2
Weight Loss Drugs Reduce Effectiveness of Oral Contraceptives
The Australian regulating agency issued a separate warning that tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro and Zepbound, may reduce effectiveness of oral contraceptives. The United Kingdom’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency issued the same warning earlier this year.2
Because GLP-1 drugs slow digestion, everything ingested is affected, including oral contraceptives and other medications. There is no evidence that GLP-1 drugs affect non-oral birth control such as intrauterine devices (IUDs).2
It is not recommended that pregnant women take GLP-1 drugs since safety data is scarce. Some human studies suggest there is no harm if taken in first trimester, however animal testing has demonstrated the drugs can increase risk of miscarriage and birth defects, according to the New York Post.2
WHO Database on GLP-1 Users Finds Reports of Suicidal Thoughts
A 2024 study that analyzed the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global database of adverse reactions found that reports of suicidal thoughts were higher than expected for the GLP-1 semaglutide, even when compared to similar drugs. After investigating reports of suicidal thoughts or behavior by GLP-1 users in 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states they found no evidence supporting the correlation.2
But some experts are suggesting that particular populations of users may be more susceptible than others. “At the moment, [patients who may be more vulnerable to a worsening of their mental health] seem to be people who might already have a past or current history of depression or anxiety or on an antidepressant type medication,” Terri-Lynne South, chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners’ specific interest group for obesity management, told The Guardian.1
GLP-1 drugs were initially used as a drug for diabetics but have surged as weight loss drugs.1 In the U.S. alone, some 10 million Americans are using GLP-1 drugs.2
WHO Endorses Use of GLP-1s for Obesity
In late November 2025, the WHO endorsed the use of GLP-1 drugs for obesity, conditionally recommending them as part of long-term treatment for the condition which affects more than one billion people worldwide. The recommendation advises use of GLP-1 drugs by adults, followed by interventions such as a healthy diet and physical activity offered alongside medication.3
WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the new guidance “recognizes that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong care.” He added that medication alone cannot solve the global health crisis, but the medication could help millions reduce the associated harms. The WHO stated that the economic toll of obesity is rising sharply, with the annual global cost to reach $3 trillion by 2030. The agency also said it will work with governments and stakeholders in the upcoming year to help prioritize access for people at highest risk.3
While WHO endorses the drugs for weight loss, a wave of lawsuits against Ozempic and other GLP-1 agonists are on the rise, with plaintiffs suing the pharmaceutical companies for side effects such as loss of eyesight and paralysis of the gastrointestinal tract. There are currently 30 optic neuropathy lawsuits pending in federal course, more than 40 in state court, and nearly 3,000 gastroparesis lawsuits according to court records reported by Reuters.4 The lawsuits all emphasis the failure to provide adequate informed consent, claiming the drug labels do not sufficiently warn patients and doctors about potential side effects.5
FDA Approved Pill Version of Wegovy for Obesity Treatment
In mid-December, the FDA approved a daily pill version of Novo Nordisk’s weight loss drug Wegovy as an obesity treatment. The pill uses the same active ingredient known as semaglutide as the original Wegovy shot. The pill should be available in the U.S. in January.6
Pharma spent Over $360 Million on GLP-1 TV Ads
A few years ago, names like GLP1 drugs, Ozempic, and Semaglutide were unknown to most. Now, most people would easily recognize at least one of the names. Worldwide, use of the rapid weight loss drugs has surged. According to data from health policy group KFF, one in 8 adults in the U.S. is taking a GLP-1 drug.
Pharmaceutical drugs are heavily advertising to continue the popularity and normalize turning to pharmaceutical drugs for weight loss. The drugs have generated a massive revenue, with sales nearing $72 billion in 2023. GLP-1 medications dominated television ad spending for prescriptions in the U.S., accounting for 35.7 percent of the top prescription TV ads— a whopping $360.9 million worth of ads.7
Legal settlements paid out by pharmaceutical companies over the years for the harms they have caused demonstrates the unintended consequences of heavy drug marketing, without full disclosure or understanding of potential dangers.
“It’s actually not unusual for rare new side effects to emerge, or drugs to get slapped with new safety warnings years after they’re first approved. “It is more common than you think,” says Mahyar Etminan, a drug safety expert at the University of British Columbia.5
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