GLP-1s, depression and suicidal thoughts: what changed in 2026
For two years the question was formally open. FDA closed it in January 2026, and the labels changed the month after.
Do GLP-1 drugs cause depression or suicidal thoughts?
FDA says no increased risk has been found. On 13 January 2026, after what it called a comprehensive review, the agency asked the makers of Saxenda, Wegovy and Zepbound to remove the suicidal behavior and ideation warning from their labels. Those three were the only GLP-1s carrying it. FDA says the language had come from reports with older weight-loss medicines rather than from GLP-1 data, and the current labels list the section as removed.
Two weight-loss drugs still carry such warnings, for reasons unrelated to GLP-1s. Contrave has a boxed warning on suicidal thoughts and behaviors because it contains bupropion, an antidepressant. Qsymia warns about suicidal behavior because topiramate is an antiepileptic, a class with that finding across 199 placebo-controlled trials. If thoughts of self-harm come up on any medicine, in the US call or text 988.
Last updated 2026-09-02 — the newest FDA label version quoted below. Read and dated by Alex Seot.
Label by label
The removals appear under Recent Major Changes at the top of each label; the two warnings that remain are quoted from their own sections.
Removed, February 2026
“Suicidal Behavior and Ideation (5.10) … (Removed) 02/2026”
Removed, February 2026
“Suicidal Behavior and Ideation (5.9) … (Removed) 02/2026”
Removed
“Suicidal Behavior and Ideation (Removed)”
Kept, as a boxed warning, because of bupropion
“Increased risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults taking antidepressants for major depressive disorder and other psychiatric disorders. … CONTRAVE contains bupropion, a dopamine and norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitor that is similar to some drugs used for the treatment of depression”
Kept, because of topiramate
“Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), including topiramate, increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior in patients taking these drugs for any indication.”
Labels that say nothing on it
These never carried the warning:
The FDA decision
FDA requested removal of suicidal ideation and behavior language from the labels of Saxenda, Wegovy and Zepbound after a comprehensive review found no increased risk with GLP-1 drugs. The language was based on reports with older weight-loss medicines; GLP-1 labels for type 2 diabetes never carried it, and the change makes the class consistent. Patients are told to continue as prescribed and raise concerns with their prescriber.
GLP-1s and depression, answered
- Can Ozempic cause depression?
- Its label has never carried a warning about depression or suicidal thoughts, and FDA's 2026 review found no increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior across GLP-1 drugs. Depression is common in people living with obesity, so some people taking these drugs will have it; the review is what separates that from an effect of the drug.
- Why did Wegovy have the warning and Ozempic not?
- Because of which drugs they were grouped with at approval. FDA says the warning came from older weight-loss medicines and was applied to GLP-1s approved for weight — Saxenda, Wegovy, Zepbound — while the same molecules approved for diabetes never had it. The 2026 removal made the labels consistent.
- What should I do if my mood changes on a GLP-1?
- FDA's advice is to keep taking the medicine as prescribed and raise the concern with the prescriber. Thoughts of self-harm are a reason to get help now: in the US, call or text 988.
- Does Contrave still carry the warning?
- Yes, as a boxed warning, because bupropion is an antidepressant and antidepressants carry an increased risk of suicidal thinking in children, adolescents and young adults. The 2026 FDA action applied to GLP-1 drugs only.