I’m read that psych meds were contraindicated with Ozempic and the like. I think there’s a huge amount of overprescrition if psych meds so see this as an added benefit to society in addition to the weight loss. Anyone have any anecdotal info?
Is Ozempic getting people off psych meds?I think most likely it can and is doing so. I'll go a step further than simply suggest anecdotal information and instead suggest proven medical literature as to a reason why Ozempic is likely getting people to want to come off the psychiatric medications.
How does Ozempic work? Ozempic is a
GLP-1 receptor agonist. GLP-1 receptors are essentially gatekeepers that activate numerous types of cells in the body and allow them to display their various inherent functions. Think of receptors much like antennas to old TV or cell phones, if a signal hits that antenna, the image on your TV or quality of your phone call improves. In other words, the right messenger binding with that receptor (i.e. antenna) causes the quality of the cell (TV or phone) to truly shine.
Ozempic activates the GLP-1 receptors that exists throughout the
BRAIN and also within the
PANCREAS. For weight loss purposes, Ozempic activates GLP-1 receptors in beta cells of the pancreas and this in turn causes insulin secretion, which then leads to delayed emptying of food content in your stomach (makes you feel full for longer) and produces weight loss through reduction of hunger and consequent food intake. In the brain, Ozempic activates GLP-1 receptors which results in the release of several neurotransmitters including
serotonin, dopamine, GABA, and glutamate, which may regulate depressive-like behaviors.
That which I mentioned above is the mechanism as to why Ozempic can possibly lead to reduced use of psychiatric medications.
For instance, SSRIs (Prozac/Fluoxetine, Sertraline/Zoloft, Fluvoxamine/Luvox, Escitalopram/Lexapro, Citalopram/Celexa, Paroxetine/Paxil) cause your brain to have more Serotonin available, which is a chemical that regulates mood, anxiety, sadness, happiness, impulsivity and even sleep. Ozempic can possibly (postulating here) reduce the need to take an SSRI. You can also add the same postulation to SNRIs (Venlafaxine/Effexor, Duloxetine/Cymbalta, Desvenlafaxine/Pristiq etc) as these medications increase Serotonin and Noradrenaline. Wellbutrin/Bupropion increases Noradrenaline and Dopamine, well Ozempic might help patients that take that medication as it also promotes Dopamine release. Take a Benzodiazepine for anxiety or panic attacks? Well, Ozempic promotes the release of GABA which activates GABA receptors and that in essence is what Benzodiazepines do as they allow GABA to bind more easily to the GABA receptors.
Moreover, since the stuff makes you lose weight, you start to feel better by default, as when we look better we naturally feel better. Last thing, I am not trying to sell anyone on the drug. I don't use it, nor do I know anyone that does. I have read up on the mechanism of action particularly with respect to receptors throughout the brain. Do your own research.
For the direct medical literature behind much of this, feel free to check out the following:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7456867/#:~:text=These%20studies%20indicate%20that%20GLP,may%20regulate%20depressive%2Dlike%20behaviors.Sorry for the long post, but things like this interest me during the weekend.
"
1"
