Ozempic and Your Mood: What We Actually Know About GLP-1s and Mental Health

You started Ozempic or another GLP-1 to manage your weight. Now you're wondering if it's also affecting your mood. The headlines aren't helping: one says these drugs carry a suicidal-thoughts warning, while another says they may actually protect your mental health.  

Recent, high-quality research has not found that GLP-1s cause depression, though a small number of people do report mood changes.¹ This article covers what the studies found, why they seem to disagree, and what to do if your mood drops on a GLP-1.  

Do GLP-1s cause depression?

Current evidence does not show that GLP-1 medications, used for diabetes and weight management, cause depression.  

GLP-1s initially hit the market with a suicidal-thoughts warning: not based on these specific drugs, but rather inherited from older weight-loss medications. When patients taking GLP-1s did start reporting low mood and suicidal thoughts, regulators looked into it and found no evidence the drugs were the cause. In 2026, the FDA asked drugmakers to remove the warning, concluding it "did not identify an increased risk of suicidal ideation or behavior."¹  

That doesn’t erase every concerning study. One 2024 observational study, for example, found that people with obesity on GLP-1s had a 195% higher risk of major depression than others.² But observational studies can only show correlation, not cause.  

A small number of people do notice mood changes on these medications. In those cases, a psychiatrist can help figure out whether the cause is the drug itself or something else.  

Can GLP-1s actually improve your mood?

Recent studies suggest GLP-1s may have a neutral or even slightly positive effect on mood.^3,4,5

A 2026 Swedish national study found that for people who already had depression, the risk of self-harm was meaningfully lower on the drug than off it.³ A 2025 systematic review found no link between these drugs and higher suicidality, with some data suggesting a lower risk.⁵ And in a 2023 meta-analysis, GLP-1 users scored lower for depression than non-users.⁴

There are two important caveats here. First, GLP-1s are not approved to treat depression, and these benefit signals are still early. Second, the improvement may come from the weight loss and better metabolic health themselves, not from any direct effect on the brain.  

Why does the research look so contradictory?

The findings clash mainly because of how the studies were built, not because the science is unreliable.

People who take GLP-1s often have obesity or diabetes. Both conditions already carry higher rates of depression. So a study that simply counts depression cases among GLP-1 users can make the drug look like the culprit, when it’s actually the underlying condition.  

You can see this play out in a large 2025 study published in a leading medical journal. The raw numbers suggested higher suicidality among GLP-1 users, but once researchers adjusted for other factors, the increased risk disappeared.⁶

Why would a weight-loss drug affect your mood at all?

GLP-1s can affect your mood because they act on your brain’s reward system, which shapes motivation and pleasure.⁷ That’s likely how they quiet "food noise" and cravings. The same signals that dial down those cravings may also affect other rewards, showing up as emotional flatness or reduced interest.

But mood isn’t only about brain chemistry. Nausea and other stomach side effects wear people down, as do weight cycling and the stress of GLP-1 costs and access. Any of these can look like depression from the outside; telling them apart from the real thing is exactly what a psychiatric evaluation is designed to do.

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What should you do if your mood changes on a GLP-1?

If your mood drops on a GLP-1, do not stop the medication on your own. This can worsen side effects and reduce long-term effectiveness.⁷

What to do instead:  

• Tell your prescriber what you’re experiencing so they can adjust your plan or coordinate your care.

• Watch for signs that point to treatable underlying depression. Some people describe a low mood that lasts for two weeks or longer. Others notice a loss of interest in things they used to enjoy, or changes in sleep or appetite beyond the drug's usual effects.

• Consider a psychiatric evaluation if these symptoms interfere with your daily life. An evaluation looks at your history, symptoms, and medications to sort out what’s driving the change.

• If you have thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 right away.

A Talkiatry psychiatrist can evaluate and treat depression in coordination with both your GLP-1 prescriber and your primary care physician, so that everyone is on the same page regarding your care. (Note: Talkiatry psychiatrists cannot prescribe GLP-1s.)  

The bottom line

The evidence on GLP-1s and depression is mixed, but it does not show that these drugs cause depression.¹ Recent studies lean toward a neutral or even positive effect on mood.^3,5 A small number of GLP-1 users may notice low mood or flatness, which may or may not come from the drug itself. If your mood changes on a GLP-1, talk to your prescriber and consider a psychiatric evaluation.  

Getting started with Talkiatry

Talkiatry is a national psychiatry practice that makes it easier to get care from doctors who listen. Start by answering a few questions online, then get matched with a psychiatrist based on your needs. From there, you can schedule a visit, often within days, and meet with your provider from home. First visits are 60 minutes, so there's time to talk through what's going on and build a treatment plan together. Talkiatry is in-network with most major insurers, and you can check your coverage during the free online assessment.

Take our free online assessment

Medical disclaimer and sources

The information in this article is for informational and educational purposes only and should never be substituted for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. If you or someone you know may be in danger, call 911 or the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 right away.

Sources:

1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “FDA Requests Removal of Suicidal Behavior and Ideation Warning from GLP-1 RA Medications.” FDA Drug Safety Communication. April 2026. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-communications/fda-requests-removal-suicidal-behavior-and-ideation-warning-glucagon-peptide-1-receptor-agonist-glp
2. Kornelius E, et al. “The risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidal behavior in patients with obesity on glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonist therapy.” Nature. October 2024. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-75965-2
3. Taipale H, et al. “Association between GLP-1 receptor agonist use and worsening mental illness in people with depression and anxiety in Sweden: a national cohort study.” The Lancet Psychiatry. April 2026. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(26)00014-3/fulltext‍
4. Chen X, et al. “The Antidepressant Effects of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. January 2024. https://www.ajgponline.org/article/S1064-7481(23)00394-9/fulltext
5. Bushi G, et al. “Association of GLP‐1 Receptor Agonists With Risk of Suicidal Ideation and Behaviour: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis.” Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews. February 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11823376/
6. Shapiro S, et al. “Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and risk of suicidality among patients with type 2 diabetes: active comparator, new user cohort study.” BMJ. February 2025. https://www.bmj.com/content/388/bmj-2024-080679
7. Medaris A. “A new era of weight loss: Mental health effects of GLP-1 drugs.” Monitor on Psychology. July 2025. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2025/07-08/weight-loss-drugs-mental-health

Frequently asked questions

Do GLP-1s cause depression?

Current evidence does not show that GLP-1 drugs cause depression.  Some observational studies have reported higher depression rates in users, but this type of study can't prove the drug is the cause.²

Does GLP-1 depression go away?

There’s limited evidence on whether GLP-1 depression goes away on its own. Some people may see an improvement with time, a dose change, or added support. Do not stop the medication without talking to your prescriber first.  

Can I take a GLP-1 with my antidepressant?

There’s no known major interaction between GLP-1 drugs and common antidepressants. Many people take both. Your prescribers should know about every medication you take so they can coordinate your care.  

Why do GLP-1s affect mood?

GLP-1s can affect your mood because they act on your brain’s reward system, which shapes motivation and pleasure.⁷ That’s likely how they quiet "food noise" and cravings. The same signals that dial down those cravings may also affect other rewards, showing up as emotional flatness or reduced interest.

Should I stop my GLP-1 if I feel depressed?

No, not on your own. Stopping abruptly can worsen side effects and reduce long-term effectiveness.⁷ Tell your prescriber what you’re experiencing so they can adjust your plan. If you have thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 right away.