The European Union’s drug regulator is probing a possible link between diabetes drugs, popular for weight loss, and suicidal thoughts. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is assessing 150 reports of possible cases of self-injury among people taking a class of medications called GLP-1 agonists, which play a role in regulating metabolism and hunger. The EMA…

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has issued a drug safety signal (pdf) regarding the potential risk of thyroid cancer associated with certain classes of medications that include semaglutide, the active ingredient in the widely used drugs Ozempic, approved for Type 2 diabetes, and Wegovy, approved for obesity. The medications in question are glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)  warned consumers not to use off-brand versions of weight-loss drugs Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy because they may not have the same ingredients. Those off-brand versions of the drugs are possibly unsafe or ineffective, the federal regulator said in a notice this week. Officials said they received reports of…

Amidst the relentless pursuit to combat obesity, a recent study has emerged, shedding light on pills that could offer a convenient solution to address this epidemic. By introducing an oral alternative to the currently available injections, this development may provide millions of individuals with a more accessible means of managing their weight. Novo Nordisk—the  Danish…

The use of prescription drugs for weight loss has been controversial, and it is essential to consult with a doctor before considering their use. Two medications in particular—Wegovy and Ozempic—have skyrocketed in popularity over the last few years. Despite their fame, these medications can have potential risks and side effects that need to be evaluated…

As of 2019, the latest year for which data are available, more than 37 million people in the United States—or 11.3 percent of the country’s population—are living with diabetes, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Among them, 8.5 million are adults who are undiagnosed or unaware that they have the condition….

Canada’s federal health minister says he’s working with provinces to prevent the mass exportation of essential medications after thousands of doses of the diabetes and weight-loss drug Ozempic were shipped from British Columbia to the United States. Jean-Yves Duclos says the level of “abuse” was “outrageous” after a Texas-based doctor with a licence to practise…

Canada’s pharmacists worry a lack of data about prescription management could see a repeat of the situation with diabetes and weight-loss drug Ozempic, in which thousands of doses have been mailed over the border to Americans. Canadian Pharmacists Association vice-president of public affairs Joelle Walker said Americans buying cheaper Canadian drugs is nothing new. But…

The College of Physicians & Surgeons of Nova Scotia has suspended a doctor it says was responsible for thousands of prescriptions of the diabetes and weight-loss drug Ozempic that were mailed to Americans by two British Columbia pharmacies. Dr. Gus Grant, registrar and CEO of the college, said Thursday the regulator first heard about the…

You’ve probably heard about the medication Ozempic, used to manage Type 2 diabetes and as a weight loss drug. Ozempic (and the similar drug Wegovy) has had more than its fair share of headlines and controversies. A global supply shortage, tweets about using it from Elon Musk, approval for adolescent weight loss in the United…