GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide have changed how millions of people approach weight loss and blood sugar management. But as these drugs have grown more common, a harder question has surfaced alongside the good news: what do they do to mental health? If you or someone you love is taking a GLP-1 medication and noticing changes in mood, you’re not imagining things, and you’re not alone in asking whether there’s a connection.
The honest answer is that the science is still developing, and the findings so far are mixed rather than one-sided.
Some studies have raised real concerns. A 2024 study published in Scientific Reports found that people with obesity taking GLP-1 medications had a somewhat higher risk of anxiety and suicidal behavior compared with those who weren’t on the drugs, along with a notably higher risk of major depression. In 2023, the European Medicines Agency issued a formal statement flagging the risk of suicidal thoughts and self-harm associated with GLP-1 receptor agonists, including semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide.
At the same time, other large studies point in the opposite direction. Research from Epic Research found that most GLP-1 medications were actually correlated with a lower likelihood of anxiety and depression diagnoses. A 2025 study in JAMA Psychiatry and a post hoc analysis of the STEP clinical trials, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, similarly found no clear signal that semaglutide worsens psychiatric symptoms in people without a prior history of major mental health conditions.
So why the disagreement? Part of it may come down to who is included in each study. People who already live with depression or anxiety before starting a GLP-1 medication may respond very differently than people without that history. A 2025 paper in Current Neuropharmacology even suggested that genetics could play a role, with people who have a certain predisposition toward low dopamine function potentially facing a higher risk of mood changes on these medications. In short: this isn’t a simple yes-or-no situation, and anyone who tells you it is may be leaving out half the picture.
Even without a direct chemical explanation, it’s worth remembering that weight loss itself is an emotional experience. Rapid changes in body image, eating habits, energy levels, and social dynamics can bring up a wide range of feelings, including some unexpected sadness or anxiety, even when the physical results are positive. Add in the pressure many people feel around dieting, health, and appearance, and it’s easy to see how mood and metabolism become tangled together.
This doesn’t mean GLP-1 medications are automatically off the table for someone managing depression. It does mean that mental health should be part of the conversation with your prescribing doctor from day one, not an afterthought if symptoms show up later.
If you’re taking a GLP-1 medication, it’s worth paying attention to a few warning signs and bringing them up with your care team right away:
None of these should be brushed off as “just part of losing weight.” Your mental health matters just as much as the number on the scale.
For people who are already managing depression, whether or not they’re on a GLP-1 medication, the good news is that effective, well-studied treatment options exist beyond medication changes alone.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, or TMS, is one option worth knowing about. TMS is a non-drug, FDA-cleared treatment for depression that uses gentle magnetic pulses to stimulate the areas of the brain involved in mood regulation. Because it doesn’t circulate through the body the way oral medications do, it doesn’t add to the kind of drug interactions or side effects that can complicate a treatment plan already involving GLP-1 medications, insulin, or other prescriptions.
At Advantage TMS, we work with people who are managing depression alongside other health conditions every day. Many of our patients come to us because they’ve tried medication, felt frustrated by side effects, or simply want an approach that doesn’t add another prescription to the list and supports more holistic lifestyle changes to combat depression. TMS sessions take about 20 minutes, patients can drive themselves to and from appointments, and most people return to their normal routine right afterward.
If you’ve started a GLP-1 medication and noticed your mood shifting, the most important step is talking to your doctor honestly about what you’re experiencing. Weight loss and mental health are both worth taking seriously, and neither one should be sacrificed for the other.
And if depression has been part of your life longer than any prescription has, know that there are ways to find relief that don’t rely on trial and error with medication alone.
Find Relief with Advantage TMS. Our team is here to help you find out if TMS is right for you, in a comfortable, supportive setting designed around your needs.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
Kornelius, E., Huang, JY., Lo, SC. et al. The risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidal behavior in patients with obesity on glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonist therapy. Sci Rep 14, 24433 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-75965-2
Miller A, Joyce B, Bartelt K, Deckert J. Most GLP-1 Medications Correlated with a Lower Likelihood of Anxiety and Depression Diagnoses. Epic Research. https://epicresearch.org/articles/most-glp-1-medications-correlated-with-a-lower-likelihood-of-anxiety-and-depression-diagnoses. Accessed on July 15, 2026.
Pierret, A. C. S., Mizuno, Y., Saunders, P., Lim, E., De Giorgi, R., Howes, O. D., McCutcheon, R. A., McGowan, B., Sen Gupta, P., Smith, D., Ismail, K., & Pillinger, T. (2025). Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists and Mental Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA psychiatry, 82(7), 643–653. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2025.0679
Wadden, T. A., Brown, G. K., Egebjerg, C., Frenkel, O., Goldman, B., Kushner, R. F., McGowan, B., Overvad, M., & Fink-Jensen, A. (2024). Psychiatric Safety of Semaglutide for Weight Management in People Without Known Major Psychopathology: Post Hoc Analysis of the STEP 1, 2, 3, and 5 Trials. JAMA internal medicine, 184(11), 1290–1300. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2024.4346
Li Z. (2025). Thematic Selection: The Comorbidity of Mental Disorders and Metabolic Disorders (Part I). Current neuropharmacology, 23(7), 755–756. https://doi.org/10.2174/1570159X2307250221124221
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