GLP-1s: Bye bye cravings?

Cat_Life

Cat_Life

Well-known member
Published: March 4, 2026

I had a veteran patient trying to give up smoking for about 12 years. He started on a GLP-1 med for his type 2 and, all of a sudden, he didn't want to smoke anymore. No gum, no patches, nothing. He wasn't even trying! It just happened.

And another patient using these meds for weight loss said booze just lost its charm - and this was after many attempts to quit.

I'm hearing similar stories in my practice, online, everywhere. People are reporting a decrease in cravings for everything: gambling, opioids, you name it. None of them were even trying to quit using these drugs. There's no precedent for this in the medical world.

My patients started talking about this "food noise" just disappearing. Then they mentioned it wasn't just food. Smoking, drinking, drugs... the constant need for them quieted down, too.
 
A week after starting Mounjaro, I stopped smoking. Like, after almost 4 decades and 2 packs a day. I tried so often before and failed. It's been almost a year and a half now. No symptoms at all. It's like I never did it.

I've only dropped about 30 pounds - but not smoking is the best thing! And I save so much money, it more than pays for the shots even with the higher price!
 
Same here. After about 15 years of failing to quit, I stopped using tobacco pretty much on accident. I forgot to grab some after work one day, then just never felt the need to have it again. It's been about 3 years now.
 
I have a colleague who used to drink a lot. She said when she started the shots, she lost interest in alcohol.

We were all just glad, nothing else worked, so anything that helps people struggling with addiction is a win.
 
I was hoping to cut back on my weed use, but after a month, I've only cut out junk food and soda. Maybe later on in the journey.
 
This will be a lifetime med for me. I'm finishing up rehab for alcohol, and this drug just eliminates the cravings. I have diabetes, but my insurance won't pay for it. I spend money on dumber stuff, so paying out of pocket to reduce my suffering is worth it.
 
I didn't even think about it, but I don't shop online as much. That's a good thing, because I have to pay about £270 each month for the 12.5mg here in the UK. Saving money on junk food, too.
 
It's strange how it affects everyone differently. For me, the biggest change has been with alcohol. Before starting Mounjaro I was drinking, like, 3-5 drinks every single night. A few weeks in I just...stopped. And the hangovers were brutal. Now eating enough feels like a job.
 
Alex90 said:
Now eating enough feels like a job.
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I've heard that. Have you looked into "mechanical eating"? Setting alarms and eating small amounts at set times to make sure you get enough calories and protein?
 
Wow, these meds are really doing some amazing things for people! I'm also on sema and have a personal trainer, but the biggest thing for me is that I barely drink alcohol anymore. It's been life changing!
 
TransformMe said:
Wow, these meds are really doing some amazing things for people! I'm also on sema and have a personal trainer, but the biggest thing for me is that I barely drink alcohol anymore. It's been life changing!
Click to expand...

Some addiction psychiatrists are studying how these meds might treat the part of the brain responsible for addictions. I think these could be some of the most effective treatments we've ever had! I'm grateful for the research done by the pharmaceutical industry; they aren't all bad!
 
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