Diabetes Medications May Alleviate Anxiety and Depression

Research suggests that diabetes medications might help in preventing the worsening of anxiety and depression symptoms. Type 2 diabetes affects over 800 million individuals worldwide, and studies indicate that those with this condition are roughly twice as likely to experience depression compared to the general population.

GLP-1 receptor agonists, like semaglutide, are typically prescribed to manage diabetes and obesity. Although these medications show promise in terms of weight loss and improved blood sugar levels, their impact on mental health has remained ambiguous.

An international team of researchers analyzed Swedish health records from nearly 95,000 patients diagnosed with anxiety or depression who were on various diabetes medications between 2009 and 2022.

The study contrasted periods when patients were using GLP-1 medications against times they were not. Indicators of deteriorating mental health, such as psychiatric hospitalizations, mental health-related sick leave, self-harm hospitalizations, and suicide rates, were reviewed. The study, published in the Lancet Psychiatry, also looked at new cases of anxiety and depression.

Findings indicated that semaglutide, found in diabetes drug Ozempic and weight-loss medication Wegovy, as well as liraglutide (Saxenda), were linked to a reduced risk of mental health deterioration among patients. Specifically, semaglutide was tied to a 42% lower risk of worsening mental health, while liraglutide showed an 18% reduction. Other GLP-1 drugs, like exenatide and dulaglutide, didn’t exhibit the same benefits.

Moreover, semaglutide was associated with a 44% lower risk of worsening depression, a 38% lower risk of anxiety, and a 47% lower risk of worsening substance use disorder.

The researchers concluded that for those dealing with anxiety and depression alongside diabetes and obesity, semaglutide and, to a lesser extent, liraglutide could serve as potentially effective treatment options.

Dr. Markku Lähteenvuo from the University of Eastern Finland remarked that factors like reduced alcohol consumption, weight loss, and improved self-image, or perhaps even direct changes in the brain’s reward system might play a role in these findings.

However, experts advised caution in interpreting the results. For instance, Prof. David Nutt from Imperial College London noted that while it’s known that improved physical health can positively impact mental health, it’s doubtful that GLP-1 receptor agonists alone would effectively treat depression or anxiety.

Prof. Eduard Vieta from the University of Barcelona added that while these results are promising regarding the psychiatric safety of GLP-1 receptor agonists, they should not be seen as proof of a direct therapeutic effect on anxiety or depression.

In a related study, it was revealed that women taking semaglutide for diabetes before discovering they were pregnant faced an 84% greater relative risk of preterm birth compared to those not on GLP-1 medication. The risk was found to be 70% higher for those on liraglutide.

This study looked at Danish health registries for nearly 500,000 women, of whom 529 had used liraglutide or semaglutide during early pregnancy. It found that unintentional exposure to GLP-1s during this time was linked to higher preterm birth rates when the drugs were taken for diabetes treatment, yet there was no increased risk noted for those using them for weight loss.

In fact, semaglutide raised the absolute risk of preterm birth by about 11%, while liraglutide was associated with a 9% increased risk.