Semaglutide and Panic Attacks: Active-Comparator Disproportionality Analysis, Temporal Assessment of Notoriety Bias and Evidence Triangulation in Post-Marketing Pharmacovigilance
Melamed B, Parsi-Zahabi M, Omrani MA, et al. (2026). Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety.
Summary
A pharmacovigilance database analysis by researchers at Western University of panic-attack reports for semaglutide in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), checked against other evidence. Reports rose about sixfold after a July 2023 regulatory announcement, and the adjusted signal before that announcement was not significant. Across 12 studies, including randomised trials and comparison studies, the authors found no consistent rise and read the pattern as notoriety bias from publicity. The analysis shows patterns in submitted reports and does not establish cause. No conflicts were declared.