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Can Ozempic Cure Addiction?

58 points by adrianhon

by eknkc

1 subcomments

I've been on Mounjaro for 4 months now. You normally start with an initial lower dose and increase the dose after a month. I lost 5 kg (~11 lbs) on the initial dose in the first month, and when I increased the dose, I also stopped smoking.
I've been smoking on and off for 20 years. I have stopped (and relapsed) many times, so I believe I can compare. This was a lot easier. I mean, I had cravings, but they weren't really that bad, and while the first week is generally the difficult part, I only had a couple of days with issues. I did not lose weight that month, though, which is fine as I would normally gain a lot due to compensating for cravings.
I increased the dose again and started losing weight. I guess some people gain weight when they stop using GLP-1. Even if that happens, I'm fine with stopping smoking without weight gain.

by cj

5 subcomments

I was a daily drinker for many years. A "1 or 2 cocktails in the evening" type of person. (And of course, 1 cocktail often meant 2 shots, so 2 cocktails = 4 shots a night.. looking back... yikes)
I started a GLP-1 in February of 2025. Lost a bunch of weight, etc.
What I wasn't expecting was that I'd have such an easy time dropping the daily drinking habit. I'm not convinced GLP's will help if you're truly addicted to alcohol to the point where you need AA and structured programs to break free. But I do think GLP's have the potential to give you the initial "kick" you need to drop the habit if you're otherwise motivated to.
In the first few months of starting the GLP-1, I remember losing enjoyment for eating (and drinking) a lot of things, especially unhealthy stuff (unhealthy foods/drinks tend to not combine well with GLP's). The taste of a cocktail wasn't as appetizing or appealing as it used to be, hard to explain.
I'd love to see more research around this.

by dynm

1 subcomments

I'm surprised that this article doesn't appear to mention the RCT on semaglutide and alcohol use disorder by Hendershot et al. that was published in JAMA Psychiatry in early 2025 (though it's possible I missed it) https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2024.4789
This was largely portrayed as a great result in the popular press although personally I think it was a bit of a disappointment given all the amazing anecdotes https://dynomight.net/glp-1/

by xdkyx

1 subcomments

https://archive.is/1Zbeg

by coredog64

7 subcomments

I'm contemplating GLP-1 treatment but I'm concerned that it will accidentally decrease the obsession that I have that makes me good at my job.

by 46493168

0 subcomment

FTA:
> I’d already understood addiction to be a treatable disease, not a personal failing. Still, these scans helped me appreciate how deeply addiction is rooted in neurobiology. A mere photograph of alcohol—to say nothing of a sip—was enough to send a person’s reward centers into a frenzy.
Ban alcohol advertising now and I’m not kidding or being hyperbolic.

by geremiiah

2 subcomments

Something that has been hinted but not explicitly said: are these drugs performance enhancers? Like the same way you would take Ritalin you'd take these to curb your time wasting habits?

by jaboutboul

2 subcomments

Dropping alot of weight rapidly can lead to gallbladder issues. If you're on a GLP-1 please look into this and ask your GP about potentially putting you on Urusodiol.
I saw a thread on reddit where a GP chimed in and mentioned that he was giving urusodiol to all his patients at the same time as GLPs, to help prevent the associated issues.
Either way, modern science is great. Just do your research.

by eagsalazar2

1 subcomments

I believe all the stories here about how these drugs helped with their addiction. However I will say I have not experienced this with food addiction which is interesting. I definitely eat less, but when I am hungry I'm still just as likely to eat peanut butter cups or french fries.

by baggachipz

1 subcomments

Seeing all these articles and studies touting GLP-1s as a magic additive to enhance health and well-being has me so skeptical that there haven't been any major downsides found yet. I guess long-term studies are necessary in order to really understand what we're getting on here.
I would love for it to be miracle it appears to be, since I hate trying to maintain my desired weight. I don't qualify for GLP-1 due to my BMI being too low, but I sure would like to stop the constant cravings for food and my love of beer. Everyday feels like a struggle to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

by tsoukase

0 subcomment

Smoking addiction is way harder to cope that alcohol, only surpassed by opioid. In any case a rigorous study must be performed as nowadays media hype articles about GLP1 drugs mention decline of supermarkets and increased profits by airlines because a few people lost 5-10kgs.

by lnsru

6 subcomments

It’s not the cure. It’s temporary suppression. I re-sold few times monthly dose of Mounjaro and the buyers catapulted to same bad habits in no time when the last dose stopped working.

by password4321

1 subcomments

Every time these come up on HN everyone is willing to share their positive anecdote. What are the negative experiences that come with GLP-1s beyond relapse after stopping? I need both sides before I'd consider encouraging anyone to try it.

by drcode

0 subcomment

been on retatrutide a couple of months, used to drink maybe 3 beers a week
now, alcohol has become the least interesting thing in the world, I just can't make myself drink it, it is so strange

by glp1guide

1 subcomments

No one knows of course, but it's looking likely -- anecdotal data is piling up.
That said, there are some that have reported it also lessens desire for things they want to desire.
Did a writeup on this back in summer '25:
https://glp1guide.substack.com/p/glp1s-vs-addiction-a-quick-...
Paywalled so direct links to notable papers through the years below:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8517504
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8820218
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36031011
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10684505
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39764175
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39032839/
https://www.science.org/content/article/obesity-drug-cuts-op... https://www.statnews.com/2024/02/17/opioid-cravings-glp1-wei... (The science.org article is paywalled IIRC)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39535805/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39937469/
Addiction comes up in anecdata all the time so I've written about it a few times but these papers are a good place to start to find more rigorous data points.
Eli Lilly has taken to calling GLP1s "anti-hedonics" as well

by jqbd

0 subcomment

as someone who struggles with eating too little, i will never cure my addictions :( i already have low appetite i might die on ozempic

by rramadass

0 subcomment

Relevant:
Is India about to make Ozempic-like weight-loss drugs a whole lot cheaper? - https://edition.cnn.com/2026/02/07/india/india-semaglutide-p...

by ltbarcly3

0 subcomment

I had an experience similar to the article. Over 18 months, I lost about 85 lbs on Ozempic and Retatrutide. I went from struggling to walk past beer at the at the supermarket - giving in about 50% of the time - to having almost no desire to drink. I only one or two beers every few months. I haven't had a drink alone in two years, and my total alcohol consumption in that entire two year period is less than what I used to drink in a single week.
During this same period, I left an abusive marriage and started exercising extensively. While the causes are complex, I attribute the loss of desire to drink primarily to the GLP-1. Subjectively, I now see drinking as a distraction from programming and other things I enjoy. This feels like my early 20s, when I saw getting drunk as a waste of time, rather than later years when I pushed for another round.

0 subcomment

by pyeri

0 subcomment

I've found some basic lifestyle changes to be way more effective at weight-loss and inducing well-being than a drastic chemical therapy like Ozempic. Imbibe at your own risk.
- Intermittent fasting (16x8 or at least stop eating after sun down)
- Daily morning pranayama (or 'breath work' if you prefer that term)
- Daily morning intake of copper utensil stored water (~8 hours or overnight)
- Weekly oil pulling for gum health.
This approach feels a bit stoic and neanderthal initially, less attuned to our modern and progressive society, but as effective as Ozempic in long-run (minus the side-effects or addiction).