Medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, which contain the active ingredient semaglutide—a GLP-1 receptor agonist—show promise in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression, according to recent research.
Main Study Insights
Researchers analyzed health registry data from Sweden spanning 2009 to 2022, focusing on over 95,000 patients diagnosed with anxiety or depression who were prescribed anti-diabetic drugs. This group included 22,480 individuals using GLP-1 receptor agonists.
Published in The Lancet Psychiatry, the findings reveal that semaglutide and liraglutide (marketed as Saxenda) correlate with a lower risk of mental health deterioration compared to other anti-diabetic treatments. Specifically, semaglutide links to a 44% reduced risk of worsening depression, a 38% drop in anxiety progression, and decreased substance abuse risks. Liraglutide also associates with lower depression worsening.
“For anxiety and depression co-occurring with diabetes and obesity, semaglutide and, to a lesser extent, liraglutide might serve as effective dual-purpose treatments,” stated the authors from the University of Eastern Finland, Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, and Griffith University in Australia.
Possible Explanations
Markku Lahteenvuo, research director at the University of Eastern Finland, noted: “This registry-based study cannot pinpoint exact mechanisms, but the links are robust. Factors such as reduced alcohol intake, improved body image from weight loss, better blood sugar control in diabetes, or direct brain reward system changes may contribute.”
Separate Pregnancy Risk Analysis
A companion study from Danish researchers examined GLP-1 use during early pregnancy using national health registries covering 480,231 women and 756,636 pregnancies. Of these, 529 involved unintentional exposure to liraglutide or semaglutide.
Results indicate heightened preterm birth risk—delivery before 37 weeks—among those using the drugs for diabetes management, but not for weight loss. This points to underlying diabetes as the primary driver rather than the medication itself.
