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A person taking semaglutide — the drug in Ozempic and Wegovy — reported that soon after starting the medication they stopped craving alcohol. They said the drop in alcohol desire was even stronger than the reduction in food cravings. At the same time, they describe a year of low motivation, loss of enjoyment, and mild depression. They miss simple pleasures like sitting outside with a drink. Semaglutide is a manufactured version of a hormone your gut makes after you eat. That hormone talks to the brain to help you feel full and to slow how fast your stomach empties. Doctors prescribe semaglutide for diabetes and for weight loss because it reduces appetite and helps people eat less. It acts on specific brain receptors (you can think of these as chemical "locks") that change hunger and reward signals. This report is a single-person experience, not a formal study. There are some clinical studies and case reports suggesting drugs like semaglutide can reduce cravings for things beyond food, including alcohol, in some people. But the strength and consistency of that effect vary. The mood change — feeling less motivated or somewhat depressed — is also something other people have reported, though trials list nausea, constipation, and some mood changes as less common side effects. We can’t know from one message whether the medication caused the depression, whether it’s a separate issue, or whether other life factors played a role. Why this matters: if semaglutide can reduce alcohol craving for some people, it might help those struggling with both overeating and drinking. That could be particularly important because alcohol can undermine weight-loss efforts and health. On the flip side, if the medication is linked to lowered enjoyment or motivation, that’s a serious quality-of-life concern. People considering semaglutide should weigh potential benefits in appetite and possibly reduced alcohol desire against possible emotional side effects. Caveats and risks: this is an anecdote, not proof. Semaglutide is approved for diabetes and for chronic weight management at specific doses; it’s not officially approved as addiction treatment for alcohol. Mood changes and suicidal thoughts have been reported rarely with GLP-1 receptor agonists (the drug class semaglutide belongs to), so anyone feeling new or worsening depression should contact their doctor right away. Don’t stop or change medication without medical advice. Finally, individual responses vary a lot; what one person experiences won’t necessarily happen to another. Bottom line: some people on semaglutide report losing alcohol cravings, but that may come with emotional downsides for some — it’s an interesting hint, not a confirmed fix.
Source: r/Semaglutide