"Depression, Suicidal ideation..." Dr Chopra raises alarm over mental health effects of Ozempic

Oct 11, 2024

New Delhi, October 12, (ANI): Indian-American author and integrative medicine expert Dr. Deepak Chopra has expressed concerns about the mental health impact of Ozempic, a popular weight loss drug. Speaking on the drastic effects such drugs have on metabolism, Chopra highlighted the potential for side effects such as depression and suicidal thoughts. He compared the drug's impact to that of gastric bypass surgery, stating that the profound changes in metabolism can influence both body and mind. While acknowledging the drug’s role in treating severe metabolic conditions and diabetes, Chopra emphasized the importance of understanding its mental health risks. Dr Deepak Chopra says, "Anything that affects metabolism that drastically Ozempic and these weight loss drugs do that biologically, it creates a false sense of satiety, and it's almost like doing surgery to a patient, very dramatic surgery. People used to have gastric bypass and now Ozempic achieves the same process. So anything that interferes with metabolism in such a dramatic way can affect the mind because whatever happens, the body affects the mind and whatever happens in the mind affects the body. They're interrelated. We are now beginning to see some early signs of depression, suicidal ideation doesn't happen to everyone, but it's a risk. Having said that, these drugs do have a role in people who have a crisis or severe metabolic disease or diabetes and so on..."