How these meds work on the brain

[Orangesandlemons77]

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ozempic-quiets-food-noise-in-the-brain-but-how/

Just thought this was fascinating and wanted to share

Really interesting stuff. I'm fascinated by it. Apart from the quieting of food noise, within 2 days, my ADHD noise has subsided (which is incredible in itself), I'm disinterested in sugar or anything sweet, and I'm going to have to force myself to have a glass of wine later (unheard of!).

I'm vaguely paranoid that there are countless companies and organizations that have a vested interest in keeping 'magic bullets' (not quite, but it's close) out of the hands of the people. It seems so effective on so many fronts, that surely 'they' are going to tighten up regulation or something. Like I say, paranoid

It is not only food driven pleasure, but ALL pleasure that it lowered. The one you get from a fag, a drink, but also a gym class, sex, ...
It has been described as a drug which numbs people to pleasure and indulgence
https://www.dazeddigital.com/beauty/article/60101/1/ozempic-scientist-says-it-makes-life-miserably-boring-weight-loss-drug-wegovy

Not my experience at all. I have noticed my driving anxiety has reduced. Additionally as I've lost weight, I've felt much happier, my libido has improved and sex is definitely more fulfilling. So, it can't be dampening everything.

I was fascinated by the bit about the vagus nerve. or 'wandering' nerve.

Very interesting article, thanks. And definitely chimes with my experience.

Was overweight from age 6 or so. Always struggled with my weight, always wanted to eat something. The larger I became the more shame I felt and the more I denied myself food the more I wanted it.

Been on mounjaro for a week and it’s liberating.

I wouldn’t want to quieten the food noise in my brain! I eat sensibly all week but look forward to each weekemd when I eat anything I want (and loads!). I also have autism and adhd and I like my mind the way it is. If I was overweight I wouldn’t use these medications. I think they are great for those who want to use them but it wouldn’t be for me

Some of the other links on Scientific American looked interesting as well on the same topic- not sure how many are available for free though. I have just seen an interesting report about wegovy and alzheimers, an area I'm especially interested in with a family history. I know my local memory clinic were doing trials into that recently.

You clearly don't have a level of food noise that those of us taking Mounjaro do then.
You can control it during the week, but for us there is no shutting it up, ever. Until Mounjaro that is.

Another interesting one here https://archive.ph/VTfiQ

GLP-1s like Ozempic are among the most important drug breakthroughs ever
Their far-reaching potential could transform how chronic diseases are managed
-The Economist

It’s literally all I think about I’ve had various eating disorders throughout my life. Undereating, overeating, ARFID, I think about food constantly. During the week I now have a system of eating the exact same foods mon - fri and intense planning for my weekends of eating absolutely anything I want. It’s not that I have less food noise I think I have just got a routine and obsession over how I deal with it

My pleasure in food hasn't reduced though. It's just the constantly thinking abouy food that stopped. Still really enjoy it when i eat.

But you wouldn't want to be free of that?

My experience is simply that I no longer think about food.

Everything else has stayed the same. I feel very happy and calm, but I think that’s because I’m so thrilled at my weight loss and catching sight of myself and not being mortified. I don’t think it’s affected my state of mind.

Same!!

Also I am still enjoying food. I’m just not thinking about it.

I'm a lot happier on it and have been able to reduce my fluoxetine since taking it

I'm curious as I'm also waiting for adhd assessment/adhd drugs and can't afford wl drugs although I'm real y keen as my quality of life is awful. Ibet there's a huge overlap in these groups...

My biggest fear is dint most people put it back on when they stop the drug?

I really need to start meal planning because. My kids are actually eating worse now that I keep forgetting to cook. Maybe I should turn into a meal planner and prepper.

also per the article, I might get less of a certain kind of a “hit” from food but I get the same or more pleasure.

sex I still want as often, I’ll have to pay attention to see if it’s worse or better. Usually I don’t compare

ADHD
Loving the quieter mind, the freedom and control on Mounjaro. Food is just food. It can be enjoyed and I don't have to be extreme

No im so used to it the thought of ‘silence’ in my mind scares me ! I have found ways to manage how I am and I don’t like change so it would be my worst nightmare .

This is a great thread - we have a lot of dementia in the family so I'm pleased to see these drugs might help.

Really interesting article , thanks for posting it

The food noise has gone but I'm still enjoying food. Maybe even more so, as I'm not spending money on snacky crap so I'm buying nicer meals. I can just enjoy it and then stop.
I've also had a much more improved enjoyment in life since it's stopped my anxiety and palpitations - as well as just feeling better about how I look and feel.

@Usedtohaveathing I'm not sure any of us are experiencing "silence in our minds". I also don't think you can say for sure that your experience is the same as the obese people who need these medications - unless you're suggesting that we are not as mentally strong as you because we can't ignore OUR food noise whereas you can..?

Obesity is not a matter of being weak-willed. Perhaps the food noise others speak of is louder than yours and harder to ignore... which is why we need Mounjaro etc.

It's not described in that way as a consensus view. GLP-1s are being studied for their impact on addiction, anxiety and depression, and myriad other incidental positive effects on people's lives.

The phenomenon being described in that article is more about the empty feeling that can be experienced by people giving up on any substance they've been dependent on - I've given up caffeine (6 months) and alcohol (10 years) and both times I was left with an empty feeling as I left the dependency behind. It doesn't suggest this is not a GOOD thing for us ultimately.

They seem like a wonder drug don't they.

I genuinely wish I had access.