Association between glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists and risk of suicidality: A comprehensive analysis of the global pharmacovigilance database

Abstract

AbstractAimTo evaluate the potential association between suicidality and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists (GLP‐1RAs), as well as other medications used for obesity and diabetes, using comprehensive global data.Materials and MethodsThis study utilized the World Health Organization's pharmacovigilance database, encompassing adverse drug reaction reports from 1967 to 2023, from 170 countries (total reports, N = 131 255 418). We present the reported odds ratios (RORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and information component (IC) with IC025 regarding the association between GLP‐1RA use and suicidality.ResultsAlthough reports of GLP‐1RA‐associated suicidality increased gradually from 2005 to 2023 (n = 332), no evidence of an association was observed (ROR 0.15 [95% CI 0.13 to 0.16]; IC −2.77 [IC025 −2.95]). The lack of evidence of an association persisted regardless of whether GLP‐1RAs were used for diabetes treatment (ROR 0.13 [95% CI 0.11 to 0.14]; IC −2.95 [IC025 −3.14]) or obesity treatment (ROR 0.44 [95% CI 0.34 to 0.58]; IC −1.16 [IC025 −1.62]). However, an association was found between suicidality and other diabetes medications excluding GLP‐1RAs (ROR 1.13 [95% CI 1.10 to 1.15]; IC 0.17 [IC025 0.13]). Similarly, the potential association with suicidality was observed in medications used to treat obesity excluding GLP‐1RAs (ROR 1.08 [95% CI 1.01 to 1.14]; IC 0.10 [IC025 0.01]).ConclusionsThe suspected association between GLP‐1RA use and suicidality, as raised by the European Medicines Agency, was not found in our global analysis. This indicates that the sporadic reports of GLP‐1RA‐associated suicidality are likely influenced by factors such as comorbidities present in the GLP‐1RA user population.