Sweet Cravings on Reta?

H

Hank64

Well-known member
So, I'm taking 2mg of reta every four days. I've been on this dose for a few weeks, and it's definitely helping with my appetite and making me feel full. But lately, I've noticed I'm getting these little sugar cravings in the afternoons. It's like, I really want a cookie, just one. Then I'm good. Anyone else experiencing this?
 
No matter what dose I'm on, from 1 to 12mg, I always crave that sweet and citrusy flavor combo like a chocolate orange biscuit. The good news is that now I might only eat one or two instead of the whole package in one sitting! Moderation is key!
 
I've found that since starting Reta, my sugar cravings are finally "normal". They don't happen often, they actually feel like my body telling me it needs sugar, and I can easily satisfy them with some nonfat yogurt and a little bit of honey. It's kinda nice!
 
Oh, I have a serious sweet tooth. Today, I decided to try to get through the day without a bag of assorted candies. I walked into the grocery store, and right at the entrance, my favorite brand was on sale! Oh well, maybe tomorrow 😆.
 
Even before Reta, I was doing intermittent fasting where I'd eat two meals a day plus a small protein snack (like cottage cheese with berries, chia seeds, carrots with hummus, a Greek yogurt smoothie, or an apple with nut butter). I switched to a Mediterranean-style diet in 2021 after my cholesterol came back high on labs. But even then, I would sometimes crave sweets in the evenings.

Now that I'm on Reta, I've been having some afternoon sweet cravings, so I switched my snack to an apple and a chocolate protein bar. I'm still figuring out the right meal timing and snack choices now that Reta is suppressing my appetite. I'm still trying to figure out the food/macros/calorie intake to make sure I fuel my body properly and avoid fatigue or lightheadedness since I have orthostatic hypotension.
 
Thanks everyone for responding! It's a little strange because I really didn't crave sugar much before starting Reta. I mean, occasionally, sure, but it seems worse now.
 
Made a huge error yesterday. Found myself stuck in a car with two tubs of fancy chocolate chunks with sea salt and caramel. Stopped myself after eating half of one tub. I would've finished both tubs, easy, before Reta. I'm only on half my usual Tirz dose right now because I'm dealing with some possible side effects, so I'm cutting myself some slack.
 
I'm on 12.5mg and have been for over 7 months. I've only had occasional and minor side effects. People usually don't post when things are going smoothly! Like, why would you?
Hank64 said:
So, I'm taking 2mg of reta every four days. I've been on this dose for a few weeks, and it's definitely helping with my appetite and making me feel full. But lately, I've noticed I'm getting these little sugar cravings in the afternoons. It's like, I really want a cookie, just one. Then I'm good. Anyone else experiencing this?
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Totally normal. Don't worry about it. Track and enjoy!
 
I completely agree with @A1C-Slayer - why would someone make a post when things are going just fine?! It's just like people only write reviews to complain, not when they're happy. So you get a skewed sense of reality from forums sometimes.

I never had any real side effects myself. And @Hank64 2mg is still a pretty low dose. Just be patient with yourself as you titrate up.
 
It's important to remember that everyone reacts differently to these meds. Just because @Jenny17 and @A1C-Slayer didn't have side effects doesn't mean others won't. And remember, side effects don't always mean the medication is working better. Actually, you *don't* want side effects!
 
Thanks, @King. I'm definitely trying to be patient. It's just odd since the cravings began AFTER starting the medication, not before. I'll keep monitoring and maybe try some low-sugar alternatives in the afternoons.
 
Body adjusts eventually and you can eat again. weeks 2–4 of 5mg i was glued to the toilet 😂. glad i worked from home. considered asking to bump up dose since food noise is back but still losing, just slower. not sure i can handle that adjustment again tho.
 
from what i've read and looked into, half-life is 7 days but stays active for over a month before real hunger kicks in. think you're fine pushing your next shot to midweek honestly.
 
focusing on protein now. too full for fiber-heavy stuff like broccoli. started miralax yesterday. how often can you take it? been drinking water constantly. any fiber supplement recs?
 
Make sure you're getting enough food overall. Persistent sweet cravings can mean your body isn't getting enough nutrients or certain vitamins so it's seeking quick calories.
 
Protein shakes have saved me from sweet cravings too. And frozen chocolate soy yogurt? That's a game-changer, especially when hormones kick in and the cravings get intense.
 
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