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Experts believe they've figured out why Ozempic has caused serious personality changes.
The popular medication, which helps patients rapidly lose weight, has an impact on dopamine levels responsible for various functions, which causes changes to users' emotional and physical drive for food, as well as brain chemical impacts for feelings of reward, pleasure, motivation and movement. Dr. Kent Berridge, a psychology and neuroscience professor at the University of Michigan, told the Daily Mail that food activates the same dopamine signals as other addictive substances, which he believes explains the sudden change in personalities for users in other areas.
“Cravings for addictive drugs are also amplified by hunger," Dr. Berridge said.
“When researchers are trying to get animals to learn to self-administer cocaine, they often will keep them hungry for a little while, as this helps them learn."
“Hunger is specifically for food but it’s more general than that, it activates craving for a lot of things. If you’re hungry, the motivational value of things, even that are not food, seems to increase," Dr. Berridge added.
Ozempic had previously been linked to several other strange side effects amid its recent increasing popularity. Last June, numerous users claimed to have suffered from 'Ozempic butt,' which included a sagging and/or flattening of the buttocks, in posts shared on social media. One user, who claimed they had previously undergone a Brazilian butt lift, said their buttocks was now "like a pancake."
Numerous Ozempic users also claimed to have experienced shrinking finger and wrist sizes as side effects that same month. Jessica, 40, a part-time preschool teacher in Houston who began using the drug in October 2022 and claims to have shed 17 lbs in a span of just six weeks, said she noticed her ring was suddenly too big for her finger.
“I never realized weight loss also happened in your hands, but my ring suddenly didn’t fit,” she told the New York Post. “I noticed it was flipping and it almost fell off. I was worried I would lose it.”
Jessica said she took her wedding ring to a jeweler LeMel to be resized for $75 in January amid the surprising finger shrinking and apparently she isn't alone. LeMel co-founder Melanie Fitzpatrick said she's seen a 150% spike in women resizing their rings and bracelets during the past year.
“Usually the summer is a very quiet time for jewelers, but this year we are seeing a huge influx of jewelry repairs due to clients losing weight,” Fitzpatrick told the Post. “Customers are coming in left and right, getting their rings sized down and bracelets shortened.”
“Weight loss doesn’t just happen in your stomach or butt — it’s your full body,” Fitzpatrick added.
Jessica said she recently refilled her Ozempic prescription and has since lost an additional eight pounds, which caused her to drop another half of ring size. LeMel Jewelers charges between $50 and $100 per ring for resizing and a minimum of $40 for shortening bracelets, which adds on more fees for patients already paying up to $1,000 monthly on the weight-loss drug.
Ozempic is also reported to have other concerning visible side effects, which includes 'Ozempic face' resulting in facial skin sags from drastic weight loss. Semaglutide, which is sold under the brand name Ozempic, as well as Wegovy and Rybelsus, is intended to treat type 2 diabetes and anti-obesity.
The drug first hit the market in December 2017 and has since become one of the top 130 most commonly prescribed medications in the United States.