GLP-1 medications have many positive health benefits.

Some people experience the unpleasant "Meh effect."

This effect is likely due to changes in the neurotransmitter dopamine.

One of my favorite movies of all time is Annie Hall, starring the late, great Diane Keaton. However, the original name of Woody Allen’s classic was “Anhedonia.” The studios didn't think that title was marketable because it means the inability to feel pleasure. Probably not the best choice for a rom-com.

Since the explosion in GLP-1 prescribing, I am hearing from more of my patients who take this class of drugs that they feel “Meh.” They are clear to point out that they are not depressed and do not feel sad or hopeless. Instead, they tell me they'd rather sit on the couch and watch Netflix than go to the gym or do any previously pleasurable activities. It's not quite depression. It's not exactly fatigue. Instead, it's a feeling of emotional flatness—a sense that life has lost some of its “color.” The foods they once loved no longer excite them. Shopping feels unnecessary. Hobbies become less engaging. Even celebrations can seem muted. Patients often describe themselves as emotionally "neutral," "disconnected," or simply "blah."

Sometimes referred to as the “Ozempic personality,” these feelings are thought to be related to changes in the brain’s reward center. The brain chemical most commonly affected appears to........

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