Patients using popular weight-loss medications report a peculiar side effect: they are no longer plagued by the worry and depression that used to control their lives.
Users from all across the nation claim that after starting to use Ozempic, their worried feelings became less acute. Others claim that they are no longer depressed.
The medication promotes weight loss by imitating the GLP-1 hormone, which suppresses appetite and decreases the rate at which the stomach empties, making a person feel fuller for longer.
Experts acknowledge that it may also help reduce anxiety, although it’s not clear if this is due to the weight loss caused by the medication or some other factor.
It’s estimated that one in 60 U.S. adults now has a prescription for Ozempic, the larger-dose version of Wegovy, and another weight-loss drug called Mounjaro.
Ozempic works by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone, which suppresses hunger and slows the rate at which a person’s stomach empties, helping them feel full for longer
Researchers from Taiwan found that diabetic patients taking GLP-1 medications are less likely to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder compared to diabetics not taking GLP-1 medications
A 2020 overview of studies research on GLP-1 hormone’s ability to alleviate depression found that “GLP-1 is a useful therapeutic modulator of depression.”
Dr. Mary Jacobson, chief medical officer at the telemedicine company Hello Alpha, based in Palo Alto, Calif., told DailyMail.com that her patients on Ozempic have reported a decrease in anxiety.
She said: ‘About 20 percent of our patients who see us for obesity also see us for psychological complaints.
“The patients taking Ozempic seem to have improving symptoms with respect to their validated questionnaire score for depression and anxiety.”
But Dr Jacobson admitted it’s not known why this is the case, as some users may feel better because they’ve lost weight and, as a secondary effect, their anxiety has been reduced.
She said, “Are they feeling better about the weight loss so they’re less anxious in terms of stigma, for example, in terms of going out in public, in terms of being self-conscious?”
She added: ?Some studies show a decrease in social anxiety or social phobia, as well as binge eating disorder and panic attacks.
It could be that they just feel better about themselves, but [there’s] no way to say if it’s how they feel in regards to the actual weight loss and the effect Ozempic has on the neural circuits in the brain.
“We haven’t teased that yet, but it certainly seems possible and likely.”
A 2020 study conducted at the China Medical University Hospital in Taiwan looked at diabetic patients who were on GLP-1 medication and those who were not.
They found that those taking GLP-1 medications were less likely to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.
But some users report increased anxiety.
Dr. Jacobson said: ‘If you think about people who are severely obese, how does that change their lives if they lose all that weight? Are they prepared for that?
“That’s why behavior change is so important and working with coaches and others is so important because it really is a big change in your life.”
Users on TikTok have reported a significant decrease in anxiety.
One user commented, ?I have had so much relief from my anxiety and Ozempic. It’s unbelievable like it’s noticeable.’
Another said: ?Pain and fear disappeared on Mounjaro. I participate [a] Facebook group of over 90,000 members. Many say fear is better.?
There are also numerous negative side effects of using Ozempic and Wegovy.
Recently, a growing number of patients have been reporting embarrassing and debilitating stomach and toilet symptoms – from severe constipation to loss of bowel control.
The issues have become so common that a Reddit group with over 30,000 members has been created where users share their most embarrassing stories.
A user wrote in a thread, ?I quite literally s**t myself while sleeping. That’s a first. I had diarrhea for a few days after my first semaglutide injection.’
Meanwhile, a 43-year-old anonymous man who took Wegovy said, “I’m just so embarrassed to be a grown adult who messed his pants!”
The drugs slow down the digestive process, making people feel full for longer periods of time. This can lead to constipation. However, it can also send a signal to the brain that the stomach contents need to be emptied sooner, resulting in diarrhoea.
Patients on Ozempic are reporting reductions in anxiety and depression