{"id":631981,"date":"2025-04-29T09:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-29T13:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=631981"},"modified":"2025-04-17T19:34:46","modified_gmt":"2025-04-17T23:34:46","slug":"ozempic-and-antidepressants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/ozempic-and-antidepressants\/","title":{"rendered":"What to know about Ozempic and antidepressants"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ozempic<\/span><\/a> (semaglutide) is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, or GLP-1. It was originally approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2017 to help people with Type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels. The <\/span>injectable drug’s<\/span><\/a> popularity soared when it was discovered that weight loss was an added bonus. Eventually, the FDA also approved another form of <\/span>semaglutide<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Wegovy<\/span><\/a>, specifically for weight management.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the latest KFF Health Tracking Poll, about 12% of the adult population has taken a GLP-1, like Ozempic or Wegovy. It\u2019s become important to ask if these medications interact with antidepressants\u2014since the rate of antidepressant use is also on the rise.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Can you take Ozempic with antidepressants?<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cIt is generally safe to take both antidepressants and a GLP-1 medication,\u201d says Asha Shajahan, MD, a primary care provider with Corewell Health in Rosewell, Michigan.<\/span><\/p>\n

Zaid Fadul, MD,\u00a0 a family practice provider and CEO of <\/span>Bespoke Concierge MD<\/span><\/a> in Scottsdale, Arizona, agrees that it should be safe to take both meds at the same time. \u201cBut this combination does require careful monitoring,\u201d he says.<\/span><\/p>\n

That may be reassuring, especially to people with diabetes, as <\/span>depression occurs more often in people with diabetes<\/span><\/a> than in people without diabetes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Do antidepressants affect the weight-loss effects of Ozempic?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Antidepressants may affect the weight loss potential of GLP-1 drugs, but it may depend on your dosage.<\/span><\/p>\n

The authors of a <\/span>retrospective study<\/span><\/a> found that antidepressants can reduce the weight-loss effect of GLP-1 receptor agonists. However, a more recent study in the journal <\/span>Obesity<\/span><\/i><\/a> found that a 2.4 mg dose of semaglutide still causes meaningful weight loss in people with obesity who are taking antidepressants.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The highest weekly dose of Ozempic for Type 2 diabetes is 2 mg. Since a higher dose\u2014the dose given with Wegovy\u2014was tested in the study, it\u2019s possible that people on lower-dose Ozempic may experience reduced weight loss.<\/span><\/p>\n

What to expect when taking both medications<\/span><\/h2>\n

All medications have some potential side effects. If you\u2019re taking <\/span>Ozempic<\/span><\/a>, you could potentially experience gastrointestinal <\/span>side effects<\/span><\/a> such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, or abdominal pain. Most side effects lessen with time as your body adjusts to the medication. Less common but more serious are side effects such as pancreatitis, hypoglycemia, changes in vision, and dehydration that can lead to kidney problems.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Antidepressants also can cause side effects, although they can vary, depending on which specific medication you\u2019re taking. Some antidepressants can even cause weight gain. For example, one <\/span>study<\/span><\/a> found that Lexapro (escitalopram), Paxil (paroxetine), and Cymbalta (duloxetine) were associated with <\/span>a higher risk of weight gain<\/span><\/a> than some other antidepressants. Meanwhile, Wellbutrin (bupropion) was associated with a reduced risk of weight gain.<\/span><\/p>\n

When taking both medications, some side effects could be worse. \u201cWhile clinical studies have not found significant interactions between these medications, potential side effects from either drug can overlap,\u201d Dr. Fadul says. \u201cFor instance, both semaglutide and some antidepressants (particularly SSRIs or SNRIs) can cause gastrointestinal issues such as nausea or diarrhea, which may intensify when taken together.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t