Jelly Roll’s Wife Says Weight-Loss Drug Led Her to Worst Suicidal Depression

This story is about suicide. If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Bunnie XO, the wife of country singer Jelly Roll, talks about how a weight-loss medication may have led her to experience “dark” depression.

During an episode of her “Dumb Blonde” podcast, Bunnie, whose real name is Alyssa DeFord, revealed that she had been taking a new drug from Lilly called retatrutide (reta), which is currently in late-stage trials and is not approved by the FDA.

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Bunnie, 45, confirmed that she received her dose at a “reputable wellness center” in Nashville and felt sick for the first week. After two weeks, she noticed that she looked and felt slimmer. In the fourth week he increased his dose by one unit, which is when he noticed the “mental numbness.”

“I was literally sent into the worst suicidal depression I’ve had since 2020,” he said. “I talk like I was really scared. I didn’t think I was going to make it through the two weeks. Like I was praying to God.”

The podcast host shared that she had “no emotion” and couldn’t listen to music that would normally “bring me joy.”

“You could see like my eyes were black,” he said. “I just drove in silence because I couldn’t stand anything. It was either overstimulating or it got to the point where it just stole my joy. I had no joy, like I had nothing to live for. It was so dark.”

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After 20 days off the drug, Bunnie reported that her joy is “finally” returning and called the experience a “battle.”

“My story is not what is going to happen to you,” he shared with his listeners. “There are so many people who take reta and love it and all that. But something happened to me.”

Indiana-based drugmaker Lilly confirmed in a statement to News Digital that retatrutide is an “investigational molecule that is legally available only to participants in Lilly’s clinical trials.”

“No one should consider taking anything that claims to be retatrutide outside of a clinical trial sponsored by Lilly,” the spokesperson wrote. “This was not a Lilly product and the company continues to warn the public about the potential dangers of counterfeit medications.”

“This was not a Lilly product and the company continues to warn the public about the potential dangers of counterfeit medications.”

News Senior Medical Analyst Dr. Marc Siegel reacted in an interview with News Digital, warning that retatrutide should not be taken while it has not yet received FDA approval, unless it is part of a clinical trial.

“This drug is new and is known as a triple agonist (GLP-1, GIP and glucagon receptor agonist),” he said. “[It] “It has been potentially linked to depression and suicidal thoughts, as have GLP-1 medications, where some studies have shown increased psychiatric risks, so there is a potential link here.”

What is retatrutide?

The drug has been nicknamed “GLP-3” because it targets all three hormones, which experts say could lead to more substantial weight loss.

Lilly announced results from its Phase 3 TRIUMPH-4 trial in December, which tested retatrutide’s effect on weight loss and other health conditions.

Participants with obesity and knee arthritis who took a 12 mg dose of retatrutide experienced an average weight loss of 71.8 pounds (28.7%) at 68 weeks.

“We believe retatrutide could become an important option for patients with significant weight loss needs and certain complications, including knee osteoarthritis,” a Lilly spokesperson said in a statement to News Digital.

Seven additional Phase 3 trials for retatrutide are expected to conclude in 2026. The drug could gain FDA approval in 2027, according to GoodRx.

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Despite the limited availability of data on the drug, the drug could also be applied to treat other conditions such as type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, cardiovascular risk reduction and metabolic dysfunction, according to GoodRx and other experts.

Siegel confirmed that the side effects of retatrutide may be similar to those of other GLP-1s, including gastrointestinal symptoms and other rare reactions such as pancreatitis, gallstones, and cardiac arrhythmia.

Philip Rabito, MD, an endocrinology, weight loss and wellness specialist in New York City, shared in a previous interview with News Digital that this new class of weight-loss medications is positioned to “approach bariatric surgery-level results,” although it is not without risks.

“The new glucagon agonist component introduces less understood long-term safety considerations, so it is imperative that patients are followed closely by healthcare professionals experienced in this class of medications, with cautious and gradual use, despite its impressive efficacy,” he warned.

The connection with mental health

According to Siegel, the potential link between mental health symptoms and weight loss medications is likely due to the impact on the brain’s reward system.

“Dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine affect mood and appetite, reduce cravings and can have a positive effect on mood, but they can also be negative,” he said. “Something unpredictable.”

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Dr. Peter Balazs, a hormone and weight loss specialist in New York and New Jersey, noted that any presentation of significant depressive symptoms, particularly those that include “psychotic features and suicidal ideation,” requires a full clinical evaluation.

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“It is essential to understand the patient’s complete medical and psychiatric history, including other medical conditions, the precise dynamics of weight change, concomitant medications, and psychosocial stressors,” he said. “Major depressive episodes are multifactorial; attributing them to a single agent without this context is premature.”

Anyone experiencing these symptoms should “seek immediate professional help,” Balazs said.

“We are still learning about the psychiatric effects of these medications, even those that have already been approved,” he added.

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Bunnie’s age would normally place her in the perimenopausal stage, which can include “significant fluctuations” in reproductive hormones such as estrogen, Balazs noted.

“Estrogen has well-documented neuroprotective and mood-stabilizing effects,” he said. “Its impairment can make the brain more vulnerable to stress and dysregulation, which could precipitate or exacerbate depressive episodes.”

Obesity can also cause hormonal changes and inflammation that can interfere with normal brain function, sometimes affecting mood and emotional balance, the expert noted.

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Balazs stressed that experts must be “vigilant” in monitoring the symptoms of people taking these medications.

“Until a protocol is established, patients outside of clinical trials should not be injected with these medications,” he warned. “Dose and dose-related responses can change the entire experience.”