Can Wegovy Cause Depression, Anxiety, and Other Side Effects?

Wegovy works by acting on GLP-1 receptors involved in appetite regulation, insulin secretion, and — importantly — pathways that also play a role in mood and cognition. This broad mechanism means the range of reported side effects goes beyond the digestive system, though gastrointestinal effects remain the most common.

Mood and mental health

Some people report low mood, depression, or anxiety while taking Wegovy. Mood-related effects are listed in the official product information as effects to be aware of. If you notice persistent sadness, feelings of hopelessness, increased anxiety, or any thoughts of self-harm, contact your healthcare professional without delay. These symptoms warrant prompt clinical attention — they should never be managed by adjusting your dose yourself.

Digestive side effects

Nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, stomach cramps, and indigestion are among the most frequently reported effects, particularly in the earlier weeks of treatment or after a dose increase. Hiccups are also occasionally reported, linked to the medicine's effect on gastric motility. For most people these effects ease over time, though their intensity and duration vary.

Other commonly reported effects

Brain fog — a sense of mental cloudiness or difficulty concentrating — is noted by some users, especially early on. Muscle cramps and general fatigue are also reported. These experiences are worth logging and discussing at your next prescriber appointment, as they can sometimes be connected to factors like hydration, protein intake, or the body adjusting to appetite changes.

Serious effects requiring urgent attention

Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) is a rare but serious concern associated with GLP-1 receptor agonists including semaglutide. Symptoms to watch for include severe, persistent abdominal pain that may radiate to the back, sometimes accompanied by vomiting. If you experience this, seek medical attention immediately — do not wait for a scheduled appointment. You can find factual information on semaglutide's side-effect profile on the electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC), where the full patient information leaflet is available. See also our overview of what Wegovy is and how it works, and for comparison, information on whether Mounjaro can affect the kidneys illustrates how different GLP-1 medicines carry their own specific safety considerations.

One of the most useful things you can do when you notice a new symptom — whether it is low mood, digestive discomfort, brain fog, or muscle cramps — is to record it consistently so you can have an informed conversation with your prescriber rather than relying on memory.

GLP Trackr's side-effect tracker lets you log exactly how you are feeling each day, including mood, energy, and specific symptoms, so patterns become visible over time. If low mood or anxiety appears to correlate with certain points in your weekly injection cycle, or with changes in sleep or food intake, the app's insights tools can help surface that connection. You can also use the daily check-in to record mood and energy alongside your other wellbeing data — making it easier to bring a clear, timestamped picture to your next appointment rather than trying to reconstruct weeks of experience from scratch.

GLP Trackr also supports a doctor report feature, which lets you compile your logged data into a summary useful for prescriber visits — particularly helpful when discussing something as nuanced as mood changes, where patterns matter as much as individual episodes.

GLP Trackr is an informational tracking tool; it is not a substitute for clinical care. If you are experiencing depression, significant anxiety, thoughts of self-harm, or any symptom that feels serious or is worsening, please contact your healthcare professional promptly — your logged data can support that conversation, but the conversation itself should not wait. Any changes to your dose or treatment are decisions for your prescriber, not something to determine on your own. You can also report side effects through your national reporting scheme (such as the UK's Yellow Card scheme) and to your prescriber directly. For a broader look at GLP-1 medicines and the journey they involve, visit our guide to Mounjaro and GLP-1 treatments, or read more about Wegovy and semaglutide.

Want to start logging your mood, symptoms, and weekly patterns in one place? GLP Trackr is free to try for 7 days — download it on the App Store or Google Play and see what your own data reveals.