‘Weight loss’ jabs & alcoholism

[User14March]

Thinking how these might be used re: alcoholism. Could they help alcoholics conquer addiction?

How do you think that would work? Do you know how weight loss jabs work?

There are some injectable prescription drugs which prevent you from high from certain recurational drugs.

There is talk of them being trialled for this purpose I believe. A lot of people mention cutting back on alcohol. I can't drink in them. But I'm just a sample of one.

It’s being researched. Something to do with dopamine reward centres, or something.

https://news.sky.com/story/amp/weight-loss-drugs-could-help-people-with-alcohol-addiction-study-suggests-13234965

I know someone who has gone off alcohol since taking weight loss injections. She can't even bear the smell of alcohol any more, and she used to enjoy it.

I know a lot on the drugs re: weight loss, all have dramatically cut units unintentionally. The desire just not there anymore. Have heard case for many so wondered if research area.

Yes, it is being explored and yes, anecdotally seems beneficial.

But I think the same issues are at play with alcohol misuse as with unhealthy eating patterns, a jab doesn’t fix the underlying pain and dysfunction. And presumably no one will stay on these things for life.

So when you stop, but haven’t changed your lifestyle, your daily habits, your social network or addressed the underlying trauma that led to heavy drinking or overeating, all that junk is just waiting at the door for you.

Speaking as a recovering alcoholic, stopping drinking has almost been the easy bit. It’s learning how to live life again that’s tricky. I think that bit easily gets left out of these biomedical approaches (because actually it’s the really unpleasant bit).

Even the smell of the alcohol wipes makes me want to vomit now

I have heard quite a lot about these drugs curtailing people's desire to drink. Fo what it's worth,I've been on them on and off for the last couple of years,with a good weight loss result. With regards to drinking,I can't actually be sure whether or not the medication has affected my desire to drink alcohol, because over the last 5 years or so as I've got older (I'm 61) I've noticed that a) my tolerance to alcohol has reduced and b) I'm not so bothered about drinking anyway. Up until about 5 years ago,I would happily drink 4 or 5 glasses of wine on a night out,and still be relatively sober. But now I find that 3 glasses is my absolute limit. Any more, and I'm feeling decidedly drunk. I find nowadays that I really enjoy the first glass,ditto the second,but after that,I'm just going through the motions tbh.

@mindutopia I hear you & good luck in your sobriety.

Maybe staying on the jabs for life not the worst option for some if proven to work in this context. Thinking of Tony Slattery, arguably his rape at 8 years old & continued sexual abuse as a child contributed to his addictions & heavy drinking. Try as he might he couldn’t kick the booze or successfully address his past trauma to stop it inflicting more pain & damage. He’d already ravaged his health but how wonderful if these could have bought him life & time. Maybe they can help similar others who can’t - through no fault of own -excavate trauma that might have contributed to addictions destroying their lives.

I am on Mounjaro, which initially put me off both coffee and alcohol completely.

However, I am now on a lower dose as have lost plenty of weight, just staying on it for certain other benefits, and my urge to drink has definitely come back. In a way I am quite disappointed as not wanting to drink at all is such a positive!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9d5pq4y5wpo

Hot off the press!

Initially on MJ I forced myself to drink one or two as it was a very enjoyable habit

I've broken that habit by accident as I wanted a few days off drinking over Christmas as I expected to go out at new year and have a few

So now I've gone 27 days without any alcohol at all and I just don't want it

It was the habit I had to break, not the desire

So WEIRD, can't imagine drinking alcohol again

Presumably it's a way to get through the initial stages including withdrawal which a lot of people find hard.

I have read lots of anacdotal info about it helping with lots of different addiction including smoking, gambling and even shopping.

It's a pretty game changing.

I really hope the current research brings some positive options. It could be an absolute game changer for addictions.

I’m on MJ and previously drank 1-2 bottles of wine a week. I’ve completely lost any appetite for it at all. Tried to have a couple of glasses of champagne over Christmas but really didn’t enjoy them. It’s very liberating!

I'm on ozempic and inject every Sunday night. From then until Friday I have no desire to drink alcohol. I also have no desire to go shopping or buy clothes, make up etc. Obviously little interest in food too.

There’s lots of anecdotal responses from ADHDers saying it helps with symptoms too. I do think pp are right that it’s only going to help if you use the ‘quietening’ of the mind to tackle the issues that have created behaviours.
My ADHD medication did initially kill my appetite but I adjusted to it. It’s not as bad as it was, I don’t binge like I used to (craving a dopamine hit) but I do have an appetite again now.