Ozempic® and mood changes

Where mood appears in the Ozempic® documents

A full-text search of the US prescribing information, the EU product information and the Canadian monograph for Ozempic® finds no psychiatric adverse-reaction entry and no warning about depression or suicidal thoughts. Mood appears only as part of low blood sugar. The contrast with the weight-management semaglutide product is worth knowing, because many online articles mix the two.

What the regulators concluded

United States. In July 2023 the FDA began investigating reports of suicidal thoughts and actions in people taking GLP-1 medicines. Its January 2026 communication describes a meta-analysis of 91 placebo-controlled trials with 107,910 patients, in which neither suicidal thinking and behaviour nor anxiety, depression, irritability or psychosis were more frequent than on placebo ^[2]. In a separate claims-data study of 2,243,138 people with type 2 diabetes, intentional self-harm was no more likely of intentional self-harm with a GLP-1 medicine than with an SGLT2 inhibitor ^[2]. The FDA then asked for the warning to be removed from the three weight-management products that carried it, noting that labels for diabetes products such as Ozempic® did not include it ^[2].

European Union. In April 2024 the EMA’s safety committee concluded that the available evidence does not support a causal link between GLP-1 medicines, including semaglutide, and suicidal or self-injurious thoughts and actions, and that no product-information update was needed ^[3]. The review covered data from the makers of Ozempic® and other GLP-1 medicines ^[3].

Canada. The current Ozempic® monograph has no psychiatric warning, while the Canadian Wegovy® monograph authorised in December 2025 still contains one ^[5][6]. Different products, doses and populations explain why the documents differ.

What studies in people with diabetes show

A 2024 retrospective cohort followed adults with type 2 diabetes starting semaglutide and matched them with people starting sitagliptin, empagliflozin or glipizide ^[7]. Over 12 months, semaglutide was not associated with higher risk of depression, anxiety, suicidality or any of 22 neurological and psychiatric outcomes ^[7]. It used diagnoses in health records and was exploratory, so it cannot exclude effects in individuals.

Voluntary safety reports are weaker evidence and point the other way. Of 31,444 European reports for three GLP-1 medicines between January 2021 and May 2023, 372 (about 1 in 85) involved a psychiatric event, most often depression, then anxiety and suicidal ideation; nine deaths were among them, one linked to semaglutide ^[8]. Because anyone can file a report and nobody counts the people who had no problem, these numbers show neither cause nor frequency. The authors asked for more research ^[8].

How Ozempic® could still affect how you feel

What the label supports: low blood sugar can change mood. The Medication Guide lists anxiety, irritability or mood changes among its signs, and the risk is higher when Ozempic® is combined with insulin or a sulfonylurea ^[1]. MedlinePlus adds feeling cranky or acting aggressive, and feeling nervous ^[11].

Plausible but unmeasured links: feeling unwell with nausea, sleeping badly, or a sharp drop in appetite can all weigh on mood. Some people describe less pleasure in food, which can feel like a loss. None of these has been studied as an Ozempic® side effect.

Diabetes itself: MedlinePlus notes that chronic conditions such as diabetes are linked with depression, and that some medicines and medical conditions can cause symptoms that look like depression ^[9].

Other reasons mood can change

Depression, MedlinePlus explains, is a mood disorder that lasts beyond a few bad days, and it rarely has a single cause ^[9]:

• Genetic, biological, environmental and psychological factors, and a family history of depression.
• Trauma or stressful life events.
• Hormonal changes around periods, pregnancy, after childbirth and menopause.
• Thyroid disorders, viral illness and some medicines.
• Increasing use of alcohol or drugs.

What helps, according to the FDA and MedlinePlus

The FDA asks patients to keep taking their medicine as prescribed, to discuss concerns with their health care professional, and to report new or worsening depression, suicidal thoughts or unusual changes in mood or behaviour ^[2]. MedlinePlus says depression is best treated early, usually with talk therapy, medicines or both, and lists regular exercise, a consistent sleep schedule and controlling stress as helpful habits ^[9].

If someone close to you is on Ozempic®, changes in mood are often noticed by family first. MedlinePlus advises seeing a provider if you or someone you love is depressed, and getting help right away if there are thoughts of self-harm ^[9]. The 988 Lifeline in the US also supports people calling about a friend or family member ^[10].

If you are in crisis

Do not wait to work out whether Ozempic® is involved. If self-harm is on your mind, or staying safe feels out of reach, reach out straight away: dial 112 in Türkiye or 911 in the US, or go to the closest emergency department. The US 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline answers calls and texts free of charge, day and night ^[10], and it is the number the FDA communication gives ^[2].

Ozempic®, Wegovy® and Saxenda® are registered trademarks of Novo Nordisk A/S. Zepbound® is a registered trademark of Eli Lilly and Company. PepLabo is not affiliated with or endorsed by Novo Nordisk or Eli Lilly and Company.