Ozempic shows positive impact on mood, safe for people taking psychotropic medication for mental illness

People juggling mental health conditions and weight loss attempts can safely use Ozempic and its equivalents without negative effects on any existing medication, research has found. And researchers say it may even go a step further and have a positive effect on mood and mental wellbeing. There’s a strong, existing association between mental ill-health and weight gain, with an estimated 60 per cent of people managing mental illness being overweight or obese. Weight gain is also a common side effect of several mood-altering drugs, including antidepressants and antipsychotics. With the emerging success of Ozempic and other glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) use for weight loss, researchers from the University of Bern in Switzerland wanted to investigate whether this treatment could be safely used alongside psychotropic drugs. GLP-1 RAs work by mimicking the natural GLP-1 hormone released in the gut after eating, which helps to regulate blood sugar levels. It slows digestion and increases feelings of fullness, therefore reducing hunger. Common types include liraglutide (brand name Victoza), semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy), exenatide (Byetta and Bydureon), and dulaglutide (Trulicity). But evidence of their interactions with psychotropic medications is limited, alongside concerns such medication could increase suicide risk. Researchers reviewed data from 36 studies between 2010 and 2024, involving more than 25,000 adults across 19 countries. Half of those studies examined the effect of GLP-1RAs on weight loss and mental illness outcomes in those with severe mental disorders such as major depressive disorder, bipolar effective disorder and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The other half looked at the emotional wellbeing and quality of life in overweight or obese adults with no history of severe mental illness following treatment with Ozempic or others. An important finding was the lack of association between Ozempic and a worsening of mental state, suicidal behaviour, new mental illness diagnose or increased psychiatric admissions. They also found treatment with Ozempic can have a beneficial effect on mood, wellbeing, and quality of life in adults both with and without mental disorders. “Our findings suggest that GLP-1RAs might be just as safe and effective in adults with mental illness as they are in mentally healthy individuals, significantly reducing psychotropic drug-induced weight gain and improving glucose control, while protecting cardiometabolic health,” lead author Sigrid Breit said. “These results are particularly important for people with severe mental disorders who are three times more likely to be living with obesity than the general population.” It shows a promising pathway to reducing the burden of managing obesity among those already managing mental ill-health. “GLP-1 RAs may have antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects, potentially due to their anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties, which can also help reduce neuroinflammation,” Dr Breit said. “This research provides much-needed evidence in support of GLP-1RAs to help safely address the burden of obesity in people with mental illness.” Further research on the long-term efficacy of GLP-1RAs and studies exploring whether they could be useful for directly treating mental health disorders is required, she added. Lifeline: 13 11 14