Ozempic Personality Changes

Celebrities, influencers, and the entire internet have been raving about a recent weight loss drug - Ozempic. If you’re an active social media user, then you must have come across Ozempic at least once in the last five years.

The weight-shedding capability of the active ingredient in Ozempic, semaglutide, has made the drug quite popular today. However, there is a growing concern regarding its impact on the body, especially as regards personality changes. There is even a term dubbed around the drug, Ozempic personality, referring to mood changes believed to have been caused by the drug.

As the days go by, many people are being open about the changes in personality they’ve experienced while using Ozempic. Like every drug, Ozempic has side effects–this includes those documented on the drug’s website as well as anecdotal experiences with the drug. So, let’s dive in and see if Ozempic-related personality changes are truly real, especially since the officially documented side effects don’t include personality changes.

What Is Ozempic?

Ozempic belongs to a class of medications referred to as GLP-1 agonists used to manage blood sugar in type 2 diabetes patients. It is approved by the FDA, which explains that the drug mimics the GLP-1 hormone released in the GIT when ingesting food. This hormone stimulates the body to produce more insulin, ergo reducing blood sugar, and it can also help reduce appetite. Furthermore, when taken in higher amounts, GLP-1 is known to signal a feeling of fullness.

Common Side Effects of Ozempic

Ozempic, like every other medication, can have side effects, although that doesn’t mean everyone will experience them. Nevertheless, if you experience severe side effects you should promptly seek medical attention. Ozempic has a wide range of side effects–for this reason, it is advised to familiarize yourself with them so as to have an idea of what to expect. For easier understanding, we’ve grouped the side effects into two: the physical and mental health side effects.

Physical Side Effects

While Ozempic has several physical side effects, some are more common than others. A few examples include:

• Nausea or vomiting

• Abdominal pain

• Diarrhea

• Constipation

Less common physical side effects include:

• Belching

• Bloating

• Gaseous stomach pain

• Excess gas in the intestines

• Heartburn

• Indigestion

• Yellowness of the skin or eyes

• Tenderness in the stomach area

• Blurred vision

• Chest tightness

• Darkened urine

• Headache

• Hives and itching

• Seizures

• Shakiness

• Skin rash

• Insomnia or trouble sleeping

• Trouble breathing

• Unusual weakness

Mental Health Side Effects

As more people use Ozempic, reports of the possible mental side effects of the drug are rampaging the internet. However, these symptoms are very rare and have not been linked directly to Ozempic use.

Some of the mental health side effects reported online and offline include:

• Anxiety

• Depression

• An intense feeling of discouragement

• Confusion

• Feeling sad or empty

In addition to these side effects, scientists have also documented a very rare adverse effect: Increased risk of thyroid cancer. Although in most cases this shouldn’t be a concern, this means the drug is contraindicated in patients with personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer.

Exploring the Concept of Personality Changes

The change in personality commonly reported with Ozempic is generally attributed to changes in the brain’s reward center: dopamine. The drug’s influence on dopamine most likely holds the key to understanding the unusual personality changes that some patients experience. While addictive tendencies can prompt dopamine release and therefore perpetuate this addiction, Ozempic may decrease the amount of dopamine released into the system when this happens. 

Thus, Ozempic subtly works by suppressing dopamine systems, recalibrating the reward-learning regions of the brain. This goes beyond helping us stop eating bad foods; it can also alter feelings and experiences of pleasure and reward in daily life.

Discussion of How Ozempic Works in the Brain

Upon its first-ever release, scientists indicated how the Ozempic medications work and what their effects are. However, according to NIHR, the active ingredient in Ozempic, semaglutide, does not negatively impact brain health. In addition, it is associated with less nicotine dependence and lower risk of cognitive problems.

Ozempic is a synthetic mimic of the GLP-1 hormone produced in the gut when you eat food. This hormone signals the pancreas to produce insulin and also signals the brain to influence food intake and satiety. However, unlike the GLP-1, Ozempic has a burlier structure that doesn’t break down as easily and stays longer in the body.

Potential Effects on Neurotransmitters

Although Ozempic is known to act on GLP-1 receptors in the brain, the exact effect is not yet understood. Semaglutide works directly and indirectly to produce its effect on appetite, weight loss, and mood. Some studies, conducted on mice, showed that semaglutide crossing the blood-brain barrier might increase the ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine neuron activity, thus reducing appetite and cravings for other activities like drinking. However, the potential effects of Ozempic on neurotransmitters that may influence mood and personality have not been discovered.

While the relationship between Ozempic and your brain’s neurotransmitters has not been fully confirmed, Ozempic has been found to improve cognitive function. So, rather than an Ozempic cognitive decline, users have a decreased risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Other Psychological Effects That Might Influence Mood or Behavior

Several psychological effects can influence mood, behavior, or personality in Ozempic users. First, most users have type 2 diabetes and are concurrently overweight or obese, putting them at a higher risk of depression or personality changes. A 2010 study revealed that people with obesity have a 55% percent chance of developing depression. Likewise, people with diabetes also have an increased risk of developing depression and other mood disorders.

Scientific Research: What Does the Data Say?

The FDA-approved drug Ozempic is primarily used for glycaemic control in type 2 DM patients but is also being used off-label for its weight loss properties. Several trials and studies, such as the SUSTAIN, SELECT, Seino, and other prominent studies, have been conducted on Ozempic to evaluate its efficacy and safety and identify some of the major side effects.

Data reveals that Ozempic resulted in a significant decrease in hemoglobin A1c and body weight and is excellent for people who are unable to achieve good glycemic control on first-line treatments. A 2021 study revealed that the active ingredient, semaglutide, reduced cardiovascular events/risk by over 20% in 3 years and resulted in over 9.4% weight loss in overweight and obese individuals.

On the other hand, the FDA indicates that more than 5% of Ozempic users may develop mild, transient gastrointestinal disturbances, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. More adverse side effects, such as personality and mood changes, have not been linked directly to Ozempic use. In fact, some studies suggest that Ozempic may provide some protection from depression.

Expert Opinions: What Do Healthcare Providers Say?

Healthcare providers have been grossly interested in Ozempic because of its dramatic effect on glycemic control, HBA1C, weight loss, and its cardioprotective properties.

John Deanfield, a professor of Cardiology who championed the Companion study at University College London, while speaking to the press, said that semaglutide “has other actions that lower cardiovascular risk beyond just reducing unhealthy body fat. It does this through alternative mechanisms like direct effects on heart muscles and blood vessels, positive impact on blood pressure or inflammation, or a combination of these.”

An obesity medicine physician-scientist and associate professor of medicine and pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, Fatima Cody Stanford M.D., in an interview described Ozempic as a safe medication with several benefits. According to her data, approximately 80% of patients with type 2 diabetes also have obesity. So, these patients get dual benefits for the treatment of their diabetes and obesity.

Recognizing Personality Changes: Signs to Watch For

Whether or not Ozempic causes noticeable personality changes has been a controversy. However, many users have confirmed that they have experienced Ozempic-related personality changes. This side effect consists of a number of mental health problems that manifest as mood disorders. Make sure to reach out to your healthcare provider if you experience any of the following:

1. Increasing anxiety

2. Worsening depression, which may manifest as poor sleep, weeping spells, etc.

3. Withdrawal from friends and family

4. Loss of interest in your favorite activities

5. Trouble thinking clearly

These symptoms could be linked to the effect of Ozempic on the dopamine systems in the brain. However, the exact role of semaglutide in these changes has not been identified.

What to Do If You Notice Personality Changes

Personality changes may be subtle or pronounced. Whether you’re experiencing subtle or noticeable mood or personality changes, be sure to check with your physician immediately. If you can’t contact your GP or specialist at that point, you can bring it up during your next healthcare appointment.

However, in case of severe or sudden life-threatening mood or personality changes, you may need to stop Ozempic immediately and visit the nearest emergency room.

Alternatives to Ozempic: If Personality Changes Are a Concern

Ozempic-related personality changes are very rare and only occur when there are preceding underlying risk factors. However, if you are worried about personality changes associated with Ozempic use or notice unpleasant personality changes, speak to your GP immediately. Your GP may suggest or place you on alternatives such as: 

1. Saxenda: Saxenda also belongs to the Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist group of medications. Although it performs similar functions as Ozempic, its active ingredient is liraglutide.

2. Victoza: This drug may be prescribed with other anti-diabetic medications to help control your sugar levels, and it is even suitable for children as young as 10 years old. Its active ingredient also makes it an excellent choice for controlling hemoglobin A1c levels after about six months to 1 year of use.

3. Rybelsus: Contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic, semaglutide, but comes in pills and is given orally rather than subcutaneously. This makes it an easy alternative to Ozempic as users are less predisposed to anxiety, depression, and any other personality changes.

4. Trulicity: It contains dulaglutide as its active ingredient and belongs to the GLP-1 receptor agonists group of drugs. Like Ozempic, Trulicity is also used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and has also been recommended by the American Diabetic Association for individuals with type 2 diabetes who have heart disease because of its cardioprotective properties. Unlike Ozempic, Trulicity hasn’t been linked to any reports of mood or personality changes. 

Conclusion

The buzz about Ozempic continues to grow. However, while it is widely marketed as a weight-loss drug, the FDA has yet to approve it for this purpose. It is mainly used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Like every other drug, Ozempic has side effects such as abdominal pain and nausea, but recent online reports reveal some personality changes experienced by Ozempic users. However, these side effects are extremely rare and have not been directly linked to Ozempic use. Moreover, several clinical trials and studies reveal that these changes are often influenced by multiple factors, such as concurrent drug or medication use, and they could also be related to a personal history of obesity. 

Nevertheless, if you experience any personality or mood changes while on Ozempic, do not hesitate to inform your physician.