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Association of semaglutide use with depressive symptoms and suicidal behavior in a patient with type 2 diabetes: A case report.

J Int Med Res · 2025

Last updated 2026-05-28

A 78-year-old man with type 2 diabetes developed restlessness and depression shortly after starting semaglutide, a drug used to treat diabetes and obesity. His symptoms improved after he stopped taking the medication, and he later attempted suicide. The report suggests monitoring for depression and suicidal thoughts in patients using semaglutide.

AI summary of the abstract below.

JournalJ Int Med Res, 2025
Citations2
Molecules semaglutide
Conditions studied Type 2 Diabetes, Depression

Abstract

Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and management of obesity. Associations of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist use with psychiatric adverse events and suicidal behavior have been reported. A man in his late 70s with type 2 diabetes and no history of psychiatric illness or cognitive deficits was admitted to our clinic after his first suicide attempt involving the impulsive ingestion of brush cleaner liquid. A month before his presentation, he reported restlessness and depressive mood without any apparent trigger. This period was consistent with the time of semaglutide introduction. His psychiatric symptoms improved after semaglutide discontinuation. This case report highlights the importance of regular monitoring of depression and anxiety symptoms and the possibility of suicidal ideation in individuals with type 2 diabetes treated with semaglutide. This may enable early detection and prevention of serious psychiatric adverse events.

Verbatim abstract via PubMed 40652323 ↗

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