The Mental Health and Brain Benefits of Semaglutide

Semaglutide and Tirzepatide, which are the generic forms of Ozempic/Wegovy and ZepBound/Mounjaro, are shown to have unexpected effects on the brain, opening up potential new ways to treat depression, anxiety, addiction, and even Alzheimer’s.

We have had several patients on our Semaglutide program at The Natural Path who struggle with alcohol, nicotine, and food cravings.   We hear all of the time how hard it is to stay away from these addictive chemicals. Then, once they began treatment with Semaglutide, the “noise” of addiction fell silent. “

SEMAGLUTIDE and TIRZEPATIDE for weight loss and beyond

After being prescribed Semaglutide or Tirzepatide for weight loss, we find our patients have a great experience with slow but steady weight loss over time. We were not expecting all of the other amazing benefits we continue to find in using these medications.  It is incredible to see cravings disappear entirely for many of our patients. We also were not expecting so many patients to report improved mental clarity and a sharp decrease in depression and anxiety symptoms.

New research is revealing the surprising brain and mental health benefits of semaglutide and Tirzepatide. In essence, these medications were thought to mimic a gut hormone released after eating. We are all quite surprised and inspired by the research that continues to be put into these medications. There are hints in the research that these drugs could potentially be repurposed to treat depression, anxiety, addiction, and even certain eating disorders – as well as neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s.

Research Outcomes with Depression and Anxiety

• Non-diabetic patients who took semaglutide reported rates of depression 37% lower than non-diabetic patients who didn’t take semaglutide.
• For participants with diabetes, anxiety rates were 60% lower among those who took tirzepatide and Semaglutide than among those who didn’t.
• In the diabetes group, patients who took semaglutide or tirzepatide were 65% less likely to receive a diagnosis for a depressive disorder than patients who didn’t.
• Participants with diabetes who took semaglutide were 44% less likely to receive a diagnosis of depression and 45% less likely to report depression compared to patients with diabetes who didn’t take semaglutide.
• Non-diabetic patients who took semaglutide reported rates of depression 37% lower than non-diabetic patients who didn’t take semaglutide.
• Semaglutide use correlated with a 31% reduction in anxiety diagnoses among non-diabetic patients.

“The results suggest a potentially new therapeutic benefit of GLP-1 medications beyond their established use for glucose control and weight management.”

Categories: General Wellness