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Weight loss injections/treatments

Discuss weight-loss injections and treatments, including personal experiences. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any treatments.

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Original poster

Does MJ help to stop daily drinking?

31 replies

DidILeaveTheGasOn · 26/12/2024 23:11

Disclaimer: it's not recommended to drink alcohol whilst taking Mounjaro and I understand that.

I've had issues with my weight for life, but usually because I was battling to keep my weight at a low/underweight point.

At a couple of different points in my life, my weight increased significantly - following SA, and more recently following bereavement, redundancy, divorce and pandemic within the same couple of years.

Unfortunately I've dealt with the bereavement, divorce and pandemic by drinking every day. Initially it was helpful in some way, but two years later, I'm much heavier than I've ever been and I'm so ruinously tired that using exercise to cope with life - something I'd done in the past - is beyond me.

I'm guessing my weight. I think my BMI is around 44. I'd really like to stop the daily drinking, and try to get my life back. I'm now a size 18-20 and everything hurts all the time. I had a lot of back pain when I was a size 10-12 but it was manageable - I have scoliosis but the pain is mainly caused by stiffness/slouching at my desk, and could be mediated by walking an hour a day. Now the pain is excessive and impacts everything. The one thing that helps me to sleep at night is drinking, but it is also the cause of significant weight gain, which causes the increase in pain.

I've read that MJ really helps to cut down on drinking but I don't understand how. My issues are primarily psychological, if I try not to drink on an evening, I feel antsy and miserable. Would I be expecting too much from MJ or another weight loss injection?

Clearly I'd like to start for weight loss, I'm not daft, my BMI is ridiculous, but would I be going in with false hopes if I expected MJ to help with alcohol issues?

OP posts:

Firestorms · 26/12/2024 23:18

This is just my own experience but I certainly have lost the desire to drink while taking mj. I wasn’t a big drinker but don’t have any inclination to drink at all now.

Original poster

DidILeaveTheGasOn · 26/12/2024 23:22

@Firestorms Thank you for your reply. What happens if you're offered a drink or think, 'I could have a drink', do you feel non-plussed about it?

OP posts:

winersrollingin · 26/12/2024 23:23

I'm no longer interested in boozing much either but it sounds like yours is a psychological dependency which is going to be harder to deal with. Could you also try hypnosis?

Vegemite123 · 26/12/2024 23:30

Mounjaro had made a massive impact on my drinking.

I (used to) drink when I’m stressed. Two G & Ts on a midweek evening was normal. A alcohol free day was rare. Now I just don’t have that same urge. While I still do drink, it is probably two evenings a week max, and rarely more than a drink or two.

The emotional eating has also vanished, along with the mindless snacking. I have not eaten one chocolate in the last three days!! Just hasn’t really occurred to me.

Original poster

DidILeaveTheGasOn · 27/12/2024 00:17

Okay, that sounds really positive. I wonder what it is about MJ that blocks/reduces the urge to drink or emotionally eat.

OP posts:

healthybychristmas · 27/12/2024 00:47

Yes definitely. I haven't had a drink in the seven months I've been on it. It hasn't even occurred to me and yet I was a daily drinker. It's been absolutely amazing and worth the money for this alone.

The way it works is it affects the reward system in your brain so you're not seeking a reward and you don't see alcohol as a reward.

KitsyWitsy · 27/12/2024 05:57

Mounjaro doesn’t interact with alcohol at all. Don’t know where you got that from.

I don’t drink as much when I go out because I just don’t care about it like I used to.

PermanentTemporary · 27/12/2024 06:01

I drink on MJ. I probably drink more than I did before because eating is less appealing. I think the impact is very individual and it also depends on the dose.

Me drinking is definitely keeping my weight higher than it otherwise would be, and since MJ is expensive there's a good incentive there to stop.

Wallywobbles · 27/12/2024 06:16

When I drink I get much thirstier. I think it quietens all cravings pretty much.

LaurieFairyCake · 27/12/2024 06:37

I still drink on MJ, the difference is that I can only manage one or two before I'm done

TandyhatesAmanda · 27/12/2024 06:40

Massively. Saxenda made me into a 'normal' person who had a glass and stopped and now, I don't ever drink at all, almost an aversion. It's been a revelation

Dodgydodgydodgy · 27/12/2024 06:49

Dry January is a great time to start MJ and give up the booze. I would class myself as having issues with alcohol dependency but I always do a few dry months at the start of the year and then a couple of weeks dry on and off throughout the year. It is a battle of the wills. MJ definitely helps me stop before I’ve finished a full bottle of wine. Also socialising with friends I was always the one who drank the most but now I stop after two glasses. I have gone off Champagne totally too not drank any this Christmas so that has paid for 2 months of MJ on its own (we get our Champagne from duty free too)!

I am aiming for DRY January and February this year. Drink March and then DRY again til I go on holiday in June. I think I can do it. I did go an entire year once DRY. Once you have accepted you have a problem with alcohol, take responsibility for it and plan to improve it helps but some days it is a battle still.

Notapuzzle · 27/12/2024 07:03

I’m on MJ and drink nowhere near as much as I did before taking it. It is the only thing that has stopped me drinking in the past 20 years except for pregnancy. MJ stops food noise and for me, alcohol noise. I can have one drink and stop no issue. I can limit drinking to one or two nights at the weekend. Before MJ this was also unheard of.

I’m 19lb down in weight in 2 months, my exercise levels and energy levels are up. It really has been revolutionary. That said, I’d reached the point where I had to do something about my weight, emotional drinking and lifestyle. It isn’t a miracle drug for someone wanting to continue in their old ways and you cannot fix a poor diet or lifestyle with an injection. However, If you genuinely want to change and overhaul your lifestyle it is like a brilliant support mechanism. I’d highly recommend joining one of the month starter threads on here for people going through similar experiences and for support. Good luck!

CobaltRewind · 27/12/2024 09:21

I would say yes, very much.

I was a reward drinker, have a drink because I’m tired, end of a busy day finally got the kids to bed, almost Friday etc.

I’ve drank slightly more than I had been over Christmas eve and Christmas Day but it’s back to business from today on.

Also calms my adhd behaviours.

I don’t really know how but I love MJ!

Shrinkingrose · 27/12/2024 09:38

How much are you drinking daily op?

there are studies on going into the impacts on addiction, as it does seem it may help, but I don’t think anyone responding is an alcoholic, and it does appear you are.

i think it’s worth a try, but id also look into other support, and depending on the answer on how much you drink, will indicate what further help you need.

WorriedRelative · 27/12/2024 10:52

MJ hasn't really affected my drinking. I enjoy red wine exactly the same as before, I struggle with the volume of beer so it puts me off a bit or limits the amount I have. Sweet spirits, cocktails and mixers are less appealing though.

Turnerss · 27/12/2024 13:02

@DidILeaveTheGasOn Anecdotally at least from these pages it does seem to be helping some people with alcohol cravings. Are you having any therapy or support around your drinking? Additionally ,did you say you are a sexual abuse survivor? Just because I have come across this before…it’s a bit like the person is eating to put a protective layer around themselves. With any addiction ,trying to get support around the behaviour and the cause of the behaviour is pretty crucial as otherwise people just move onto a different addiction ,as it’s ultimately a coping strategy.

PinkArt · 28/12/2024 02:15

It hasn't affected my interest in, or my ability to, drink at all. A lot of people have reported the opposite but I don't think it's the first place you should be looking for your drinking problem.

squidgymum · 29/12/2024 10:29

I have read that there is evidence MJ could be used to treat addictions in the future, which I think is very exciting.

SparklyOpaquePepsi · 12/03/2025 14:32

I have just googled this exact question! I’m 46 and enjoy wine daily and 16 stone! Also have ADD and an addictive personality and although I lost nearly three stone on SlimmingWorld now I’ve moved in the middle of no where I have no group! Tried everything but nothing works for long and really would like to see if a weight loss injection would help me! I always fancy a glass of wine around 4pm from boredom, happiness, sadness, hunger the lot lol and it really does seem like this works aswel for the wine ‘noise’ aswell as food noise. I take Sertraline and that stopped the alchohol noise for a while but I feel now it’s the opposite lol. Would love to know if you’ve tried the jab and how did you get on

CobaltRewind · 12/03/2025 17:41

SparklyOpaquePepsi · 12/03/2025 14:32

I have ADHD and have also used MJ.

I don’t need to lose anymore weight but I cannot remember the last time I have drank alcohol, I was a daily wine drinker too.

Bear2014 · 12/03/2025 17:46

In my experience it has definitely reduced the urge to drink. I wasn't a problem drinker, would have maybe 2 drinks a couple of times a week. I started MJ middle of January and have had a drink on maybe 3 occasions since then. I enjoyed it and it didn't give me any negative effects but I just have barely fancied it, and I only did drink on those occasions as we were out and there was a bottle on the go already.

Also have not felt the urge to eat chocolate, pudding, or any other 'comfort food'. It's really odd like a magic switch in my brain has been flipped.

lespameo · 12/03/2025 17:49

I drink the same as I always have done. Made no difference to my desires for a wine on a weekend!

Midniz · 12/03/2025 23:41

I usually drink a medium glass of wine every day - usually somewhere between 3 to 6 pm, and MJ that hasn’t changed that much. I may drink at the earlier time if hungry. There was a period of time where I drank less on MJ eg a small glass of wine or half a glass of wine. Or even a few occasions I forgot! But mostly around the same.

Original poster

DidILeaveTheGasOn · 13/03/2025 00:43

I had to battle a bit to get MJ prescribed. I struggled with eating disorders when I was younger and that flagged up on my medical record. I've got ADHD and as an adult with children and pretty much recovered from eating problems (as I call them still!) I just don't know how to drop the drink.

I've had the first dose in my fridge for a while now; following some more in depth consultations, the pharmacy decided to prescribe and I appreciated the extra effort they went to. You hear stories of people fibbing and getting prescriptions and that's just not the experience I've had.

The bit that troubles me is, the side effects could be horrendous and last for a few weeks. I have a demanding job, very luckily from home but I really need to be on it, and I have children with ND as well.

I think I have drink noise. I'm much happier and relaxed after a few drinks. The gnaw of anxiety lessens. Even one drink and I feel much more 'there' and available for my children and partner. My daughter in particular is in her teen years and is really communicative and it helps.

I'm a bit stuck at the minute. I am 16 stone, I'm overweight, my knees and hip are suffering. I struggle with the ED thoughts I had years ago but so much of my thinking is healthier now. But I just don't know how to do life without a drink. I almost feel as though my thoughts are healthier after a drink, I'm calmer, more receptive, less going on.

I'm concerned I could start MJ and be really suffering with side effects. I have really bad heart burn anyway, sometimes I'm sick. I think it would make that worse.

I don't know what to do next. I know my perspective on drinking is harmful but I also wonder if there are a lot of us falling into the same... gap.

OP posts:

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