r/science • u/Wagamaga • Feb 12 '25

Neuroscience The first clinical trial of its kind has found that semaglutide, distributed under the brand name Wegovy, cut the amount of alcohol people drank by about 40% and dramatically reduced people’s desire to drink

https://today.usc.edu/popular-weight-loss-diabetes-drug-shows-promise-in-reducing-cravings-for-alcohol/
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u/JigglymoobsMWO Feb 12 '25

I have a question for you guys: besides the positive benefits, has it brought any downsides in your mood?

I have a friend who is experiencing good positive effects on weight loss, but I've noticed a decline in his zest for life roughly correlated with his start of the medication.

Note that as far as I know he's never been a heavy drinker (not even occasionally), smoker nor is he a drug user.

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u/kpain1433 Feb 12 '25

If he is on it for weight loss it might be lethargy from not getting enough calories. It can make you so disinterested in food that getting over a thousand calories has to be a conscious decision.

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u/aragost Feb 13 '25

a thousand! that must be a really strong effect. especially for larger people it's not going to be easy to adjust and still be able to ingest the "right" (whatever that means) amount of calories

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u/GayboyBob Feb 12 '25

Yes. Both myself and my friend have reported the same thing. I believe it is because the binge eating and drinking were coping mechanisms. I'm currently in therapy and I feel like my zest for life is slowly returning. It's more like the drug is revealing the underlying problem than it is creating a new one.

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u/omggold Feb 13 '25

Yeah I think the way it affects dopamine could have an effect on “the zest of life”, especially if that’s tied to the things you pointed out. I feel like I felt that way a bit when I started taking it, but if anything it has also reduced my usual bouts of depression. Perhaps because of the connection to gut health. I’ve seen many people have similar experiences as well in the Mounjaro subreddit

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u/Far-Ring743 Feb 13 '25

If the majority of social activity and hobbies was related to eating and drinking, it could be boredom/FOMO and a need for replacement hobbies!

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u/Pregxi Feb 13 '25

Nope! Not at all. I think u/kpain1433 is right though. I've made a concerted effort to make sure I am still getting plenty of calories so my body doesn't feel icky and I'd rather lose wait slowly.

I had that happen a few times with my ADHD meds back in the day where I just wouldn't eat much for several days. That would just end in me eating a ton for several days later. I'd be in a bad mood until then and feel mad after for over eating. This feels very different.

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u/CryGhuleh Feb 13 '25

I have to say I’ve had the opposite. I’m diagnosed with depression and PTSD and take antidepressants and was significantly happier on GLP-1s than off of them. Since coming off the medication it’s been a rough few weeks but my mood as since stabilised, but is still lower in average than when I was taking Mounjaro