Ozempic and other GLP-1RAs - impact on ME/CFS
Been on Wegovy for 6 months and I do have 10% less weight to carry so obviously I’m using a bit less energy moving around. but it hasn’t had any noticeable impact on my pain, sleep, orthostatic, cognitive symptoms.
To give an example my rule is to not go back upstairs during the day as it uses a lot of energy. Since losing some weight i find it doable to get back upstairs if needed only when I’ve not done anything much during the day. But If I’ve been out or done some house chores I still find I’m semi crawling having to make a big effort to get upstairs at the end of my day.
To give an example my rule is to not go back upstairs during the day as it uses a lot of energy. Since losing some weight i find it doable to get back upstairs if needed only when I’ve not done anything much during the day. But If I’ve been out or done some house chores I still find I’m semi crawling having to make a big effort to get upstairs at the end of my day.
Dr. Ruhoy runs a concierge medicine service where the top tier membership is $102,000 annually.
https://www.anthurium.org/#faq
Yet she and Kauffman used to charge patients to listen to their podcast. What else do you need to know…
https://www.anthurium.org/#faq
Yet she and Kauffman used to charge patients to listen to their podcast. What else do you need to know…
Given that a whopping one in eight American adults have now tried a GLP-1 agonist, we have a huge sample size for these type of drugs already, which means their side effects are already quite well understood.
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/05/10/health/ozempic-glp-1-survey-kff
If GLP-1 Drugs Are Good For Everything, Should We All Be on Them?
If GLP-1 Drugs Are Good For Everything, Should We All Be on Them?
Studies show that the obesity and diabetes medication also reduces heart attacks, cancer risk, migraines, and memory loss. How is that even possible? And at what point should we all be on it?
www.derekthompson.org
Funnily enough one of the people mentioned here w.r.t. to studies showing dramatic benefits across all different things is Ziyad Al-Aly. Given what we've seen in terms of his quality in epidemiolgical research in Long-Covid and his VA cohort, where we know his statements aren't very sensible, I wouldn't be surprised if something similar has occured here, but who knows.If GLP-1 Drugs Are Good For Everything, Should We All Be on Them?
If GLP-1 Drugs Are Good For Everything, Should We All Be on Them?
Studies show that the obesity and diabetes medication also reduces heart attacks, cancer risk, migraines, and memory loss. How is that even possible? And at what point should we all be on it?
A recent meta-analysis (https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-025-04200-0) suggested that these drugs essentially only work as long as you're on them in terms of reducing body weight and that as soon as people go off them they largely just gain the weight again (as is the case for many other body weight interventions).
Glucagon-like Peptide-1 receptor agonists as emerging therapeutics in bipolar disorder: a narrative review of preclinical and clinical evidence - Molecular Psychiatry
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic and disabling psychiatric illness characterized by complex pathophysiological mechanisms. Traditional treatments often fail to address these multidimensional processes, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic strategies. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor...
www.nature.com
Glucagon-like Peptide-1 receptor agonists as emerging therapeutics in bipolar disorder: a narrative review of preclinical and clinical evidence
Abstract
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic and disabling psychiatric illness characterized by complex pathophysiological mechanisms. Traditional treatments often fail to address these multidimensional processes, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic strategies. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), widely used for metabolic disorders, have emerged as promising candidates for a range of neuropsychiatric conditions due to their broad neurobiological effects. This narrative review synthesizes preclinical, clinical, and real-world evidence evaluating the therapeutic potential of GLP-1RAs in BD. These agents modulate neurotransmission, reduce neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, enhance mitochondrial and neurotrophic function, and improve insulin sensitivity and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulation. These mechanisms are implicated in the neurobiology of BD, and preliminary findings suggest benefits across core psychopathological domains and common comorbidities, including depression, anxiety, mania, cognitive dysfunction, weight gain, and substance use disorders. While human data—particularly in BD populations—remain limited, evidence points to potential adjunctive benefits, especially in individuals with metabolic or cognitive vulnerabilities. Given their pleiotropic actions and established safety profile, GLP-1RAs represent compelling candidates for drug repurposing in BD. Well-powered, controlled trials are needed to confirm efficacy and safety, identify optimal subgroups, and evaluate long-term outcomes.A lot of buzzwords in this abstract but no data.
MrMagoo
Senior Member (Voting Rights)
There is some thought and anecdotal evidence that GLP1 meds reduce impulsivity somehow. This seems to have possibilities for use with various addictions, possibly ADHD and I can see how it might help with bipolar.
People seem to want something which works for one thing to cure everything these days. It’s a weird phenomenon. Maybe because the snake oil sellers are always listing CBD/Mushrooms/crystals as a cure for all of - “Depression, tiredness, split ends, brittle nails, cancer, autism, HIV, inflammation, bad juju and dank vibes” now real meds also have to cure all ills?
People seem to want something which works for one thing to cure everything these days. It’s a weird phenomenon. Maybe because the snake oil sellers are always listing CBD/Mushrooms/crystals as a cure for all of - “Depression, tiredness, split ends, brittle nails, cancer, autism, HIV, inflammation, bad juju and dank vibes” now real meds also have to cure all ills?
MrMagoo
Senior Member (Voting Rights)
I think it relates to the “immediate reward/dopamine hit” parts of the brain, so not likely to help for pacing.
Pacing is more “stick” than “carrot” in the carrot or the stick motivator analogy.
I’d go and cheer myself up with a chocolate but I’m not bothered about them any more.
FicaR94
Established Member
It's interesting because some folks really do say their energy improves on Ozempic or Zepbound, and that lines up with how slowing digestion could reduce the "crash" after eating. But then I read about all the litigation, especially the Wegovy lawsuit updates, and it's clear people are running into serious complications too. It almost feels like we're experimenting on ourselves while the courts and doctors are still piecing together what's safe
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Malvaceae
Established Member
I heard these drugs reduce PEM for some.
Liraglutide is a similar drug but short acting, which I find interesting. If you have an adverse reaction, I’d rather not be on the long acting ones.
Metformin seems to have some effect on GLP-1, and I heard some pwME experience increased energy from taking it. It may also reduce inflammation.
Liraglutide is a similar drug but short acting, which I find interesting. If you have an adverse reaction, I’d rather not be on the long acting ones.
Metformin seems to have some effect on GLP-1, and I heard some pwME experience increased energy from taking it. It may also reduce inflammation.
ChronicallyOverIt
Senior Member (Voting Rights)
Micro dosing GLP1 seems to be making a wave in local Canadian groups due to naturopathic doctors being able to prescribe. The joys of a underfunded system that unloads onto quackery
Yet to see a positive experience
Yet to see a positive experience
Sid
Senior Member (Voting Rights)
According to ambulance-chasing lawyers, yes. But not according to this large meta-analysis in JAMA Psychiatry:
Results: A total of 27 of 144 RCTs meeting inclusion criteria systematically recorded suicide and/or self-harm-related events and included 32 354 individuals receiving GLP-1 RAs and 27 042 treated with placebo, over 69 653 and 63 853 person-years of exposure, respectively. Event incidence was very low in the GLP-1 RA (0.047 per 100 person-years) and placebo (0.042 per 100 person-years) groups, with no statistically significant difference (rate ratio [RR], 0.76; 95% CI, 0.48-1.21; P = .25).
Suicide and Self-Harm Events With GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Adults With Diabetes or Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis - PubMed
There is unlikely to be an increase in the very low incidence of suicide-related adverse events among individuals receiving GLP-1 RAs within the context of RCTs. While these findings may further ease concerns about these adverse effects, continued monitoring is warranted to identify particular...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Mij
Senior Member (Voting Rights)
I can understand why they feel it helps. My non ME sister takes these drugs and can walk further without feeling exhausted. When she came to visit a few years ago before taking the drug, she fell down on the sidewalk w/o any warning.
MrMagoo
Senior Member (Voting Rights)
I don’t have any science behind my belief, just that I feel my energy is more consistent, and so I can do more, but I also can easily overdo it as the usual signals like hunger, dizziness don’t come.
I still very clearly have ME, just “better managed”. I also sleep a lot more on the Mounjaro on jab day.
I still very clearly have ME, just “better managed”. I also sleep a lot more on the Mounjaro on jab day.