According to a recent research, individuals with diabetes who were taken GLP-1 medications, such as exenatide, dulaglutide, tirzepatide, and semaglutide, had a decreased chance of receiving a depression diagnosis once they started taking the medicine as opposed to those who did not. Zepbound and Mounjaro are two brand names used to sell tirzepatide. Ozempic and Wegovy are two brand names used to sell semaglutide. Epic Research released the results this month.
Semaglutide and Tirzepatide: Promising Results in Anxiety and Depression Management
The active component of Wegovy, a medication used to help people lose weight, and Ozempic, a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes, is semaglutide. The study found that diabetic individuals on semaglutide had a 44% lower risk of anxiety diagnosis and a 45% lower risk of depression diagnosis. The active component of Zepbound, a medication for weight reduction, and Mounjaro, a treatment for type 2 diabetes, is tirzepatide. The study found that diabetic individuals using tirzepatide had a 65% lower chance of receiving a depression diagnosis and a 60% lower chance of receiving an anxiety diagnosis. It is possible to administer type 2 diabetes medications “off-label” in order to help patients lose weight.
Exploring Potential Benefits and Considerations
Researcher Kersten Bartelt conveyed that the findings suggest these medications might have a secondary benefit for patients. However, Barfelt emphasized the need for further understanding before recommending them as treatments for anxiety and depression beyond their primary uses in diabetes or weight management. Researchers looked at 929,174 individuals without diabetes and 3,081,254 people with diabetes. Once the medicine was started, they examined the relationship between GLP-1 treatments and diagnosis of depression.
Other than liraglutide, diabetic individuals who received any of the GLP-1 drugs had a lower incidence of depression than those who did not get the GLP-1 medication. Scholars have been examining if GLP-1 medications are associated with a higher risk of mental health problems. The FDA has looked at the possibility of depression as a side effect of the medicine Wegovy, but they were unable to find any causal proof.
Assessing the Impact and Considerations of GLP-1 Medications on Mental Health
“This is an interesting study that provides foundational data for future studies,” said David Creel, Ph.D., psychologist with Cleveland Clinic’s Endocrinology and Metabolism Institute. “One strength of the study is that the sample size is very large and includes data from all 50 states, and over 1,300 hospitals.” Creel pointed out that a significant portion of the data provided establishes correlations, indicating a connection between the usage of this medication class and a decreased likelihood of depression or anxiety in individuals with diabetes and obesity.
However, Creel cautioned against automatically attributing the reduced risk solely to the medications themselves. Despite the promising nature of the research, Creel highlighted various factors such as weight loss, physical activity, reduced medical burden, nutritional status, hopefulness, and sleep, which could potentially influence depression in individuals with obesity who are prescribed these medications.
The interplay Between Weight Loss, Mental Health and Quality of Life
According to experts, losing weight alone may cause physiological and social changes that have an effect on mental health. Additionally, some obese persons experience increased social isolation as a result of their weight, which can lower their mood. According to Creel, being obese might make exercising more difficult, and not exercising is linked to higher levels of worry and despair. Emotional and unhealthy eating are two poor coping mechanisms that can result from depression. Numerous illnesses, including chronic pain, limited mobility, social stigma, higher use of medical services, and sleep difficulties, are linked to obesity.
According to Creel, these problems typically get better with weight loss, which raises quality of life. Consequently, there may be an improvement in mood. Treatments for obesity and diabetes that are effective frequently provide their patients a sense of control over their condition, and this optimism can have a significant positive impact on their emotional state.
Although there is encouraging evidence linking diabetes medications that reduce weight loss to a decreased risk of anxiety and depression, it’s crucial to keep in mind that every patient is different. Consequently, it is essential to collaborate closely with medical specialists to develop a treatment plan that best meets each patient’s needs and circumstances. This intriguing association will surely be clarified by more study, which will improve our knowledge of and capacity to manage illnesses related to both physical and mental health.
