Semaglutide anxiety

[Zeegoman]

Should be plenty places to walk in central scotland




What type of hypo - did it need an ambulance? What action did you take to regain hypo awareness? Just running high, as you have been doing, should be enough to regain hypo awareness so that isn’t a barrier to using insulin

I would take insulin if it was deemed appropriate by my physician.

I not clear what you mean by what type of hypo.

On both occasions others were able to intervene and deal with the situation. Not everyone can achieve hypo awareness as you call it and not always every time.

The results also had an impact on my drivers licence.

The circumstances were specific at the time and my treatment regime was changed. Since then I have not experienced a hypo but the fact that I was unaware of the state was dangerous and that bothers me.

 

[Zeegoman]

Is there anything more you could do with your diet which would mean you may then not need to take that additional medication. It is easy over time for diet to slip and if you have been diagnosed for some time then ideas have changed about how powerful diet can be. Even with your existing medications a low carb approach of around 130g carbs per day should be OK especially if you are testing to keep a check on your blood glucose.
Have a look at this link as it may give you some ideas for moving forward and you can compare with what you are doing now, https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/

My diet is impeccable even if I say so myself.

I eat a very healthy largely plant based diet. I live with 2 vegetarians. Over the years I have essentially excluded foods that have caused an unacceptable increase in blood sugar. Comically something my dentist described as taking the joy out of eating.

Despite all of this my diabetic control went haywire over the last year. For example increasing gliclazide dose by 25% to its maximum saw a 5 point increase in my Hba1c.

Unfortunately it's not all about diet and exercise.

 

[JITR]

One possibility is the balance of macro and micro nutrients in your diet is not optimal. Something may be lacking or overabundant. If I were you I would discuss all possibilities of all kinds with your medical team and ask to be referred to appropriate specialists. On the other hand I would keep an open mind, as you appear to be, just in case someone else can put a finger on your problem and a solution.

 

[Zeegoman]

One possibility is the balance of macro and micro nutrients in your diet is not optimal. Something may be lacking or overabundant. If I were you I would discuss all possibilities of all kinds with your medical team and ask to be referred to appropriate specialists. On the other hand I would keep an open mind, as you appear to be, just in case someone else can put a finger on your problem and a solution.

You seem to be assuming that I am passive in this process. I am a retired health care professional.

I do have contact with specialists when required.

I am currently doing pretty much everything that I can to control my diabetes but it's not all about diet and exercise.

My original post was about anxiety associated with Semaglutide. This is a relatively new third level prescription drug so side effects will be emergent with large scale prescription.

There hasn't been a response so far about this specifically. Maybe there isn't anyone with similar issues on the forum. However, perhaps my experience may be useful to someone else if they encounter similar difficulties.

I will post any outcomes both positive and negative.

So to reiterate, currently my average blood sugars are on the decline which is good but increased anxiety, which I believe is caused by the drug, is prolonged and unpleasant.

 

[Alan44]

Can we please try and keep this thread on track and answer if possible, the OP's original question

Thank you

Alan

 

[silentsquirrel]

You seem to be assuming that I am passive in this process. I am a retired health care professional.

I do have contact with specialists when required.

I am currently doing pretty much everything that I can to control my diabetes but it's not all about diet and exercise.

My original post was about anxiety associated with Semaglutide. This is a relatively new third level prescription drug so side effects will be emergent with large scale prescription.

There hasn't been a response so far about this specifically. Maybe there isn't anyone with similar issues on the forum. However, perhaps my experience may be useful to someone else if they encounter similar difficulties.

I will post any outcomes both positive and negative.

So to reiterate, currently my average blood sugars are on the decline which is good but increased anxiety, which I believe is caused by the drug, is prolonged and unpleasant.

I think the number of regular posters on the forum taking semaglutide is probably low, though increasing. I do not recall anyone else posting about anxiety as a side effect.

I have never taken it or been offered it, but remain very relieved that I was put on insulin before flozins and glutides became part of the Type 2 treatment pathway. For me insulin, particularly a basal/bolus system that I eventually moved to after a mixed insulin, was the best thing ever. More time and effort needed, but no side effects other than avoiding hypos.

 

[Zeegoman]

I think the number of regular posters on the forum taking semaglutide is probably low, though increasing. I do not recall anyone else posting about anxiety as a side effect.

I have never taken it or been offered it, but remain very relieved that I was put on insulin before flozins and glutides became part of the Type 2 treatment pathway. For me insulin, particularly a basal/bolus system that I eventually moved to after a mixed insulin, was the best thing ever. More time and effort needed, but no side effects other than avoiding hypos.

I have friends and colleagues who take insulin and manage well. A couple of type 2s feel happier on it. Both manage to keep their weight down and to have a less restrictive diet.

I'm just not ready for it, particularly given my past experience in managing my own hypos.

 

[JITR]

Can we please try and keep this thread on track and answer if possible, the OP's original question

Thank you

Alan

I suspect the OP is right and no one on the forum has had a similar experience. In any case, given that 'everyone is different', their experience may or may not be relevant.

Presumably the OP asked the original question in the hope of alleviating prolonged anxiety resulting from medication. That is a matter for discussion with physicians who know the facts not us.

@Zeegoman I make no assumptions about you or your role. When faced with a seemingly intractable problem a review of all the possibilities makes sense. You never know where an answer may come from

 

[JITR]

https://www.drugs.com/sfx/rybelsus-side-effects.html says:
Along with its needed effects, semaglutide may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking semaglutide: anxiety ...

 

[jimbob99]

@Zeegoman I’m on Mounjaro not semaglutide. Similar though.
After a low calorie day, I get early morning waking and anxiety. I have had anxiety in the past. This is different. I put it down to my body trying to wake me up to eat. If I was a hunter gatherer to get up and go hunt some meat I don’t see it as a return of anxiety and depression, as I feel good during the day.
Hope this helps!

 

[Leadinglights]

My diet is impeccable even if I say so myself.

I eat a very healthy largely plant based diet. I live with 2 vegetarians. Over the years I have essentially excluded foods that have caused an unacceptable increase in blood sugar. Comically something my dentist described as taking the joy out of eating.

Despite all of this my diabetic control went haywire over the last year. For example increasing gliclazide dose by 25% to its maximum saw a 5 point increase in my Hba1c.

Unfortunately it's not all about diet and exercise.

Absolutely, it looks as if you have done all you can on the diet front. Have you considered you may be mis diagnosed and actually be Type 1 if all those medications are not being effective at reducing your blood glucose and you saw an increase.

 

[Zeegoman]

Absolutely, it looks as if you have done all you can on the diet front. Have you considered you may be mis diagnosed and actually be Type 1 if all those medications are not being effective at reducing your blood glucose and you saw an increase.

Definitely type 2. It's only recently that blood glucose control has been beyond me with 'life style' measures and medication. Hence the Semaglutide.

 

[Zeegoman]

I suspect the OP is right and no one on the forum has had a similar experience. In any case, given that 'everyone is different', their experience may or may not be relevant.

Presumably the OP asked the original question in the hope of alleviating prolonged anxiety resulting from medication. That is a matter for discussion with physicians who know the facts not us.

@Zeegoman I make no assumptions about you or your role. When faced with a seemingly intractable problem a review of all the possibilities makes sense. You never know where an answer may come from

I think it's entirely appropriate to ask for any similar experience on a forum such as this.

Commonality of experience can help others, particularly any stratagies for dealing with it and possible time scale or limitations to side effects. The novelty of this drug is however an issue.

I will be discussing this with my diabetic nurse in due course. Hopefully this will be to say that whilst initial experience of starting the drug was difficult it has settled.

In my experience clinical staff will readily admit limitations to their knowledge and have been happy to negotiate treatment regimes with me. Given the novelty of the drug they may also not have sufficient anecdotal infirmation to offer a view.

To this end the views of anyone who has had a similar experience with this class of drug would be appreciated.

 

[jimbob99]

I did above but you didn’t respond!!

 

[Zeegoman]

@Zeegoman I’m on Mounjaro not semaglutide. Similar though.
After a low calorie day, I get early morning waking and anxiety. I have had anxiety in the past. This is different. I put it down to my body trying to wake me up to eat. If I was a hunter gatherer to get up and go hunt some meat I don’t see it as a return of anxiety and depression, as I feel good during the day.
Hope this helps!

Early morning wakening accompanied by anxiety is common. Whilst there can be many causes raised cortisol levels, which are normal, is a prime suspect. This should dissapate quickly, as it has done so until recently for me.

Whilst this may be getting into diagnostic esoterics, there is a qualitative difference in the anxiety produced in my experience of semaglutide. There is no obvious precursor to this. I am incedentaly going to do a trial of a remote glucose monitoring patch to see if that throws up anything blood sugar wise.

It is not energising, at least at first, but more of an emotional flattening experience. It develops into common or garden type throughout the day. I also have a degree of fatigue, a side effect of semaglutide but also common in anxiety disorders.

 

[Zeegoman]

I did above but you didn’t respond!!

I have now I believe.

 

[JITR]

I think it's entirely appropriate to ask for any similar experience on a forum such as this.

I agree. Jimbob may have put his finger on it?

One thing though. Did you qualify for the oral semaglutide as your BMI was >= 35 or as an exception? In other words, have you weight to lose to (hopefully) restore liver and pancreatic function?

 

[Zeegoman]

@Zeegoman I’m on Mounjaro not semaglutide. Similar though.
After a low calorie day, I get early morning waking and anxiety. I have had anxiety in the past. This is different. I put it down to my body trying to wake me up to eat. If I was a hunter gatherer to get up and go hunt some meat I don’t see it as a return of anxiety and depression, as I feel good during the day.
Hope this helps!

I believe that Monjaro has warnings published on possible psychiatric effects but not semaglutide.

Anyway these drugs probably have impacts on the reward centres in the brain so it would not be astonishing if some there were adverse psychiatric effects. They are even looking at using them in drug and alcohol addiction.

My point is seeking information about my current experience.

As an aside, there is public access to the 'yellow card' adverse reaction, reporting site online. I would advise anyone to use it.

 

[Zeegoman]

I agree. Jimbob may have put his finger on it?

One thing though. Did you qualify for the oral semaglutide as your BMI was >= 35 or as an exception? In other words, have you weight to lose to (hopefully) restore liver and pancreatic function?

 

[Zeegoman]

I am not over weight and did not qualify for injectables a number of years ago because of BMI restrictions.

I have never been anything more than just into the overweight category by BMI. I have also in the past got into serious glucose control issues through weight and loss and exercise.

All bloods are within normal parameters.