Depression / Low Mood / Sadness (new onset or worsening)
Users on Reddit report a mixed range of experiences regarding Depression, Low Mood, or Sadness while on GLP-1 medications, with some experiencing new onset or worsening of these feelings, while others report mood improvements or no negative impact. The perceived causes and recommended remedies also vary.
Experiences with Depression / Low Mood / Sadness:
A user with a pre-existing history of anxiety and depression stated, "This medication made my anxiety and irritability extremely terrible. "[25]
Another individual described their experience on Wegovy and then Mounjaro: "Also gave me depression, and anhedonia... But it takes away all of my motivation, joy and reward for doing anything at all... It's like you are skinny but add on a complete new struggle of a joyless life. "[35]
One user explicitly said, "Ozempic made my depression worse too. "[22]
An "uptick in depression symptoms" was noted by another user after starting GLP-1 medication. [24]
Temporary depression is also reported. A user with bipolar disorder shared, "I get depression as a side effect -- which is especially worrisome for me because I have bipolar. But so far I only get it occasionally, and it is always just for the day after the shot, or occasionally the second day, and then I'm fine again. "[13] Similarly, someone on Wegovy experienced "a day or occasionally two or depression right after my shot. "[15]
A psychologist taking tirzepatide personally experienced "one day of pretty intense depression following my first two shots. "[14] Their patients also had mixed impacts: "some worsening depression, some improving it. "[14]
Dose adjustments can trigger mood changes: "since my last titrate up, I've really noticed a little bit more of a depressed mood... it also feels like the medication suppresses emotions a bit. "[27]
For some, initial negative mood effects may subside. One user found that Tirzepatide "made me incredibly depressed at first but those effects diminished over time and I ended up happier. "[34]
Clinicians have observed an "'apathy' syndrome at the highest doses where people complain of low motivation and difficulty concentrating. "[1]
Anhedonia (loss of pleasure) is a significant concern. A psychiatrist mentioned, "Anecdotally, I’ve had a few patients who stopped these medications secondary to anhedonia/depressed mood. "[7] Another user referred to this feeling as a "flat line life. "[21]
Malnutrition and Caloric Intake: Severe calorie restriction is a suspected culprit. One user shared, "when I take my calories too low, like less than 1,000 calories a day, I become extremely depressed and dangerously suicidal. But when I bring my calorie intake up, even just to 1300-1500 a day, the depression vanishes. "[8] Another user theorized that "sudden states of severe malnutrition... can cause malfunction in the brain. "[11] Deficiencies in "B vitamins and electrolytes" were also suggested as contributing to mood issues. [18]
Interactions and Pre-existing Conditions: Negative mood side effects were anecdotally correlated with pre-existing conditions like "MDD or BPAD" and concurrent use of "SSRI or SGA" medications. [4] More complaints were also noted from individuals "taking medications to increase dopamine (stimulants, dopamine agonists). "[10] The slowed digestion caused by GLP-1s might also "slow down absorption of [other] medications as well," potentially affecting their efficacy and, consequently, mood. [22]
Type of GLP-1: There's some anecdotal discussion about differences between medications: "Patients who feel better are on tirzepatide/Mounjaro and those who feel worse are on semaglutide/Ozempic. "[12] However, experiences vary, as one user reported depression and anhedonia on both Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide). [35]
A user with Bipolar 1 on Zepbound said, "There have been no effects to my mood or sleep, and in fact I finally feel positive about my body... my soul feels good for now. "[17]
Significant weight loss itself can be a mood booster: "I’ve never been happier , losing 90 lbs helps . "[26] Another simply stated their "depression better. "[28]
For a user with Binge Eating Disorder (BED) on Saxenda, there was a rapid positive shift: "It was wild to me how quickly it stopped the binging and how quickly my mood rebounded. "[9]
Some users experienced profound improvements. One on Ozempic for two years claimed, "I swear it cured my 20 year struggle with persistent major depression. Before the weight loss even. "[32] Another shared a similar sentiment: "Since ozempic, my depression is completely gone... Every time I come off it for a few weeks, depressive episodes creep back in, near instantly. "[33] Both speculated this could be due to anti-inflammatory effects of the medication, independent of weight loss. One user on Semaglutide for 8 weeks, who struggled with overeating due to mental health challenges, found "The sense of peace this medication has brought is incredible. "[36]
Remedies and Preventions Recommended by Users:
Supplementation: It's suggested that "Daily supplementation with a good B Complex and electrolytes can do wonders. Many folks perk up right away with this change. "[18] Ensuring adequate protein intake is also mentioned as potentially helpful, though some find it challenging. [35]
Adjusting Other Medications: When Ozempic worsened a user's depression, their doctor reportedly "upped the dose" of their antidepressant (implied). [22] Another user who experienced an "uptick in depression symptoms" started an antidepressant and saw "some improvement. "[24]
Choosing a Specific GLP-1: A doctor chose liraglutide (Saxenda) for one patient due to its shorter half-life, meaning it "would get out of my system quickly if I started to have depression/anhedonia or worsening symptoms. "[9]
Users emphasize the importance of doctors telling patients "what to look out for so they can tell you" if mood changes occur. [31]
Experiences with Depression / Low Mood / Sadness:
- New Onset or Worsening Mood:
- Some users report developing or experiencing a worsening of depression and related symptoms.
- Potential Mechanisms and Contributing Factors Discussed:
- Dopamine and Reward System: A common theory among users is that GLP-1s affect mood by altering "dopaminergic transmission"[2] or the brain's "reward system.
- Improvement in Mood or No Negative Impact:
- It's important to note that many users report positive mood changes or no adverse psychological effects.
Remedies and Preventions Recommended by Users:
- Dietary and Nutritional Strategies:
- Ensuring Adequate Calorie Intake: A user found that increasing daily calories from under 1,000 to the 1,300-1,500 range resolved their medication-associated depression.
- Medication Adjustments (often in consultation with doctors):
- Lowering GLP-1 Dose: If mood changes appear dose-dependent, a user shared their doctor's approach: "if someone on Ozempic/Wegovy 1 mg starts getting depressed I drop them down to 0.
- Awareness and Monitoring:
- Some psychiatrists, as shared by users, "warn my patients ahead of time" about potential mood effects.
- Discontinuation:
- In some cases, users report that patients "had to stop GLP-1 because of its effect on mood.