Sweet cravings starting and cant doseup due to Side effects

[Lardybumbum]

I had to drop MJ from 7.5 to 5.5 as the side effects were too bad and I wasn’t able
to function. This has slowed my losing weight but I am still losing albeit often playing with the same lb for a few weeks. I have about 2st spare

5.5 isn’t working and so I tried 6.5 to see
if that would help suppression but now I just feel nauseous and hungry. Here’s the dilemma, I’ve never had a sweet tooth but my brain is craving sweet things. I was always a crisp person and I have no interest in crisps but as soon as I eat lunch, dinner etc my body automatically craves something sweet to balance it out and my brain doesn’t give up until the demand is met. Fruit doesn’t cut it and I don’t want to start having biscuits or snacks in. So far I’m living with the thoughts but it’s like
torture.

I don’t really enjoy food or eating (I’m no foodie) but the obsessive “food noise” started when talking high doses of prednisolone long term and it seems to be returning despite no longer taking the steroids and still taking MJ. The weight loss was a nice and needed bonus but the real treat taking these meds was stopping the obsessive thinking about food. It’s not habitual eating, it’s not boredom. It’s the minute I wake to the minute I sleep and it’s unwanted. I’d put the weight back on if I could just permanently lose the obsessive thoughts.

I’m not quite as bad as I was off MJ but my worry is that its stopping working and being unable to put the dose up means the food noise returns. Nobody really understands my fear of this or that it’s so beyond my control.

has anyone experienced similar?

I find making sure I eat a protein focussed breakfast and lunch helps my acid reflux massively.

When my acid reflux was bad it triggered cravings for treat/snacking type food to make it physically and psychologically "better". Perhaps your nausea is similar. You could try this alongside reducing dose back to a level where you don't experience as much nausea and feel "better" overall.

The fact fruit "doesn't cut it" for your brain is a clue this might not be either hunger or blood sugars, it might be looking for a reward signal when you are feeling off.

I might be way off, but it could be worth a try.

Thank you. I find protein heavy meals are the worst for inducing the cravings. I hadn’t considered reflux although it’s mostly settled with PPIs. The nausea certainly doesn’t cause the cravings it just sits alongside reminding me what a bad idea it would be to indulge. I wonder if disgusting sweets like chocolate limes would curb the craving by having one and hating it

Be careful with PPIs, I was on them 8 years and they caused B12 and magnesium deficiencies. Thankfully, with my weight loss and diet changes to remove triggers I am off them now.

thanks for the warning! I have to take them to counteract another medication I cannot not take. I’m not deficient in anything tho I am tested regularly

I’m struggling with side effects too. I’d suggest increasing by 0.25 mg and then it’s gentler in your system.

If you have the time then even a 10 minute walk (outside if possible) could make a difference as it helps stabilise blood glucose but encouraging your leg muscles to pull glucose from the blood. If you can't do that then some bodyweight squats is almost as good.

When my brain was going around and around,saying have something, I got the skinny bars,or protein ice cream,not Ideal I know as they are processed,but it seemed to switch the craving off ,this was when I was preparing to come off and titrating down, I still do it now, I swear by those dark chocolate skinny bars,stops me diving head first into something else like cakes or biscuits.

I’ve had something similar on Mounjaro — the appetite suppression is there but I still get the odd “food noise” moments, especially when I’m tired. I use the check-ins with my programme to keep myself on track, but mostly I just try to keep meals steady and not snack out of habit.

I’m really struggling with the craving for something sweet after eating a meal.
It’s so noticeable and even on 10mg it’s there and strong.

I gave up drinking and vaping a year ago and wonder if this also has something to do with it. Have been on WLI for 13 months.

I've never tried the weight loss injections but, when I was doing 'old fashioned' dieting I used to find a glass of zero calorie fizz helped with sweet cravings. OK its processed, but might be worth a try. Tesco used to do a mango one which was pleasant

sounds like a blood sugar crash.... is your diet high in carbs?

Sometimes craving sweet might just be what your body needs?? I have been able to have just one biscuit and any craving be completely satisfied on MJ, whereas in the past I’d be going back for more and more. I don’t think a small sweet treat is a problem unless you can’t control the amount?

This may sound silly, but why cant you give in to a sugar craving? I understand that you are trying to lose weight, but are you unable to simply factor it into.your daily calories? I am similar to you, in the sense that I dont feel my evening meal is 'complete' if I dont have something sweet. I simply allow for it within my calorie limit for the day. Id be miserable if I couldn't have a treat.

I’ve had something similar on Mounjaro, the appetite suppression is there but I still get the odd “food noise” moments, especially when I’m tired. I use the check-ins with my programme to keep myself on track, but mostly I just try to keep meals steady and not snack out of habit.