'I lost my spark'. What to know about 'Ozempic personality'.

Apparently there's a new way to describe the mental changes someone experiences when taking weight loss medication. It's called 'Ozempic personality' and, filed neatly beside 'Ozempic face', it's the new phenomenon people are connecting to unwanted changes to their mood and personality.

Because as weight loss medication becomes more widely used, we're beginning to see underlying issues we couldn't see before. Not just physically, but mentally, too.

Some users of the drug are reporting experiencing emotional or behavioural changes, including an increase in irritability, feeling emotionally flat, having low energy or motivation or a heightened sense of anxiety.

Enter the term: 'Ozempic personality'.

Watch: Here's nutritionist Lyndi Cohen talking about 90s body image. Post continues after video.

On Reddit, someone wrote: "Has anyone's personality changed since being on Ozempic or its counterparts? Personally, I've been on this for a year (no weight loss but helps regulate my T2) and I'm being told that 'I've changed'. TBH, I feel like I have. I have minimal passion for anything, [I'm] very monotone and [have] no enthusiasm. I hear good news and I respond with 'okay'. Things I enjoy now seem to be a chore — including relationships, sports, work, family time etc. Anyone's personality change?"

And the response was overwhelming, with other users reporting feeling more irritable, flat or emotionally drained.

"The first thing my wife noticed was that I was quieter. Then I stopped dedicating myself to hobbies. I used to love 3D printing and haven't touched it since Ozempic started. Then we noticed irritability, especially when I am interrupted. I feel like a droid, with a little emotion," one person responded.

Another shared a more positive shift to their mood and mindset, writing: "I am calmer overall. It's a relief not to go to battle with food noise throughout each day. Gone is the anxiety about what to eat, eating it, not eating it, beating myself up for eating it, the insane tension from not eating it, hating myself and my body and my brain. All that used to take up a lot of time and a big space in my mind, left me feeling depleted… I know I both feel and appear calmer to others. That might present myself being in a lower mood to some, but I am not experiencing it like that."

Of course, it's worth noting that Ozempic is a drug that essentially targets your brain and central nervous system. Meaning? It only makes sense why people would experience emotional and psychological changes.

However, it's just as important to note that this doesn't mean the medication is fundamentally altering your personality. Instead, these shifts in mood and cognitive function might be related to changes in your eating habits and how your brain responds to the drug.

So, is there any clinical evidence behind this? Or is it all anecdotal?

Here, we asked an expert everything to know about 'Ozempic personality' and if it's a real thing.

What is 'Ozempic personality'?

Mamamia spoke with Australian GP and author of Fake Medicine, Dr Brad McKay, who told us that shifts in mood and cognitive function when using these medications aren't as common as you might think — and the terminology doesn't have any scientific backing as such.

"You won't be surprised to hear that 'Ozempic personality' isn't a formal medical diagnosis," Dr Brad McKay told Mamamia.

"Millions of people around the world have been using GLP-1 receptor agonist medications without experiencing any mental health concerns, however, a small number of people have reported mood changes.

"It's too early to tell if these mood changes are directly caused by the medication, if the association is purely coincidental, or if something else going on.

"Any new medication undergoes rigorous testing to ensure it is safe and effective before being sold to the public. Once a drug is approved for use and more people start using it, we often see reports of unusual or unexpected side effects that may not have been identified during medical trials."

Can Ozempic affect your personality?

While there may not be a lot of scientific research on these types of drugs altering your personality, there is some clinical evidence on how significant changes in diet affect your mood and behaviour.

As Dr McKay explained, "The quantity and type of food we consume is well known to affect mood and cognitive function. For example, eating large amounts of fatty food can make you feel satisfied and sleepy, whereas skipping meals can cause you to be cranky and irritable."

"You're more likely to feel stressed and find it difficult to concentrate when you're hungry. However, the mood changes people have reported while using GLP-1 receptor agonists appear to be more significant than we'd expect from just eating less and having low blood sugar."

Meaning? The shifts in mood and behaviour can't simply be passed off as a change in what you're eating — it may actually be affected by the changes happening in your body.

What are the characteristics of 'Ozempic personality'?

As Dr McKay shared, mood and behaviour changes can vary between different people — an individual's reaction to GLP-1 medication depends on the dose, how often you take it and how your body reacts.

"It's common to feel anxious when starting a new medication because you don't know how it will make you feel. GLP-1 receptor agonists are known to cause side effects including nausea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting. Experiencing these side effects may further contribute to stress and anxiety," Dr McKay said.

"Most patients are able to tolerate side effects from these medications. If people start low and slowly increase the dose over a period of months, they are unlikely to experience significant issues. It's important to discuss any side effects with your doctor and consider decreasing the dose or stopping the medication completely if side effects become intolerable."

Read: it's not a one-size-fits-all kind of thing.

Mental health effects of Ozempic.

When it comes to the broader psychological effects of Ozempic, there have been studies finding an elevated risk of mental health issues amongst those using semaglutide, compared to those who used other weight loss drugs.

As Dr McKay told us, "GLP-1 receptor agonists are known to improve blood glucose levels, decrease appetite, alter eating habits, and decrease cravings for food. Research has mainly focused on these metabolic effects rather than mental health, but mood swings, anxiety, and depression have been reported by some patients after commencing GLP-1 receptor agonists."

"While these mood changes don't appear to be common, it's crucial for anyone using these medications to monitor their mental health and seek medical advice if any concerns arise."

"Early research showed these medications were actually associated with an improvement in mood, so it's interesting to see anecdotal reports of the opposite occurring."

This has called for the need for more research to clarify the relationship between the use of these drugs and mental health and whether these adverse effects are caused by the drug or by the underlying illness the drug is prescribed to treat.

It goes without saying, but if you notice significant changes in your behaviour and mood, make sure you speak with your doctor. They'll be able to offer you support and guidance on managing side effects and the right treatment plan for you.

What do you think of 'Ozempic personality'? Have you or has someone you know experienced this? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

Feature image: Getty.