Wegovy and depression: is there a link?

GLP-1 medications like Wegovy (semaglutide) have changed how we treat obesity. These drugs help people lose weight by mimicking the effects of natural hormones that influence appetite.

They've been life-changing for many people who previously struggled to lose weight. But like all medications, they can cause side effects – and one area that still raises questions is their impact on mental health.

Recently, concerns have been raised about a possible connection between GLP-1 medications and depression or suicidal thoughts. 

Let's explore what the evidence shows.

What do we know so far?

In 2023, three isolated reports from Iceland described people experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm while taking GLP-1 medications such as semaglutide or liraglutide. These cases were flagged by Iceland's medicines authority and passed to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) as part of routine drug safety monitoring.

While it's understandable that these reports got people worried, they were indicative of a very rare phenomenon. GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Mounjaro have been safely used by millions of people worldwide.

After reviewing the available data, the EMA concluded that no causal link has been found between GLP-1 medications and suicidal thoughts or self-harm.

To explore the issue further, a large real-world study in Sweden and Denmark followed 298,553 adults who started GLP-1 treatment between 2013 and 2021. The study found no increased risk of suicide, self-harm, or new diagnoses of anxiety or depression compared with people taking another type of diabetes medication (SGLT-2 inhibitors).

Does SemaPen monitor mental health?

Yes. At SemaPen, we take your mental health very seriously. We ask every patient to regularly complete a self-assessment questionnaire that tracks their mood, anxiety and overall well-being throughout the programme. This helps us notice if you're struggling so we can check in and adjust your treatment when needed.