Dr. Paika Podcast

Something Strange Is Happening to People on Ozempic (Doctor Explains)

Dr. Paika Podcast

Show Notes

#Ozempic #GLP1 #Semaglutide #AlcoholUseDisorder #WeightLoss People on Ozempic and Wegovy are reporting a side effect that isn't on the label: they're losing interest in alcohol. Is it real, or just nausea? As an internal medicine and obesity medicine physician, I work this up like an unexplained finding in a hospital patient. We'll look at the patient reports and real-world data, consider every possible explanation, read the newest trials (including the 2026 Lancet trial), and finish with a practical plan. In this video you'll learn: Why GLP-1 drugs may turn down cravings, and what "food noise" really is What the Lancet, JAMA Psychiatry and earlier trials actually found Why the first human trial failed, and how it shaped the one that worked What we still don't know before this becomes a standard treatment 5 safety rules if you drink while on a GLP-1 TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – A strange answer on the admission form 1:44 – What patients are reporting (and what the data shows) 3:20 – Why this matters: the alcohol treatment gap 4:43 – Three possible explanations 7:43 – How GLP-1s act on the brain: the two buttons 10:36 – Protecting your muscle on a GLP-1 11:17 – The 2026 Lancet trial 12:43 – The lab trial: what changed and what didn't 13:53 – The trial that failed, and what it taught us 15:33 – Animal research foundations 16:28 – Would I prescribe it for alcohol today? 18:46 – 5 rules before your next drink on a GLP-1 20:30 – Treatments that already work 21:46 – Final thoughts and resources 🎓 Complete GLP-1 Weight Loss Masterclass — Lifetime Access Comprehensive education on GLP-1 medications, nutrition, exercise, muscle preservation, side effects & long-term success. Includes the companion eBook, quizzes, 12-week exercise program, certificate & future course updates at no additional cost. https://www.drmohammedpaika.com 📩 FREE GLP-1 Diet Cookbook + Weekly Newsletter Get weekly evidence-based insights on GLP-1s, metabolic health, nutrition, exercise & longevity. https://www.drmohammedpaika.com/newsletter REFERENCES Klausen MK, et al. Once-weekly semaglutide versus placebo in patients with alcohol use disorder and comorbid obesity. Lancet. 2026;407(10540):1687–1698. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(26)00305-3 Hendershot CS, et al. Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with alcohol use disorder: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry. 2025;82(4):395–405. Klausen MK, et al. Exenatide once weekly for alcohol use disorder. JCI Insight. 2022;7(19):e159863. https://insight.jci.org/articles/view/159863 Lähteenvuo M, et al. Repurposing semaglutide and liraglutide for alcohol use disorder. JAMA Psychiatry. 2025;82(1):94–98. Wang W, Volkow ND, et al. Associations of semaglutide with incidence and recurrence of alcohol use disorder. Nat Commun. 2024;15:4548. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-48780-6 Quddos F, et al. Physiological and perceptual effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists during alcohol consumption in people with obesity. Sci Rep. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-17927-w Suchankova P, et al. The GLP-1 receptor as a potential treatment target in alcohol use disorder. Transl Psychiatry. 2015;5:e583. https://www.nature.com/articles/tp201568 Thomsen M, et al. GLP-1 analogs and alcohol intake in vervet monkeys. Psychopharmacology. 2019;236:603–611. Aranäs C, et al. Semaglutide reduces alcohol intake and relapse-like drinking in rats. eBioMedicine. 2023;93:104642. Leggio L, et al. GLP-1 receptor agonists are promising but unproven treatments for alcohol and substance use disorders. Nat Med. 2023;29:2993–2995. Berridge KC, Robinson TE. Liking, wanting, and the incentive-sensitization theory of addiction. Am Psychol. 2016;71(8):670–679. Volkow ND, Koob GF, McLellan AT. Neurobiologic advances from the brain disease model of addiction. N Engl J Med. 2016;374:363–371. Wilding JPH, et al. Weight regain after withdrawal of semaglutide: STEP 1 extension. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2022;24(8):1553–1564. Jonas DE, et al. Pharmacotherapy for adults with

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Oct 22, 2026

#Testosterone #TRT #LowTestosterone #GLP1 #weightloss Is “male menopause” real, and do you actually need testosterone therapy? As an internal medicine and obesity medicine physician, I break down what the research really shows about low testosterone after 50, including: How common true late-onset hypogonadism actually is (hint: far less than the ads suggest) Why excess weight is the #1 fixable cause of low testosterone, and how GLP-1s like Ozempic and Mounjaro may help your own testosterone come back How to get tested properly (morning, fasting, repeated) What TRT can and can’t do, according to the Testosterone Trials What the TRAVERSE trial showed about heart safety, plus the side effects that did go up The newest FDA label changes and the HHS proposal A simple 5-question checklist to work through with your doctor before you ever start TRT 📘 FREE GLP-1 Diet Cookbook (high-protein meals for a smaller appetite): https://drmohammedpaika.com/newsletter 🎓 GLP-1 Masterclass (calorie and protein targets, side effects, and a 12-week home strength program): https://drmohammedpaika.com This video is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Talk to your own doctor before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Is low testosterone really the answer? 1:34 Is “male menopause” even real? 3:13 The biggest driver of low testosterone: weight 4:04 How GLP-1s may raise your own testosterone 5:00 The other side: semaglutide and low T 6:03 How to know if you actually have low testosterone 7:28 What TRT really does: the Testosterone Trials 8:54 Is testosterone safe for your heart? (TRAVERSE) 10:29 FDA label changes and the HHS proposal 11:04 On a GLP-1 and testosterone at the same time? 12:06 Should everyone consider hormone therapy? 13:08 5 questions to ask before starting TRT 14:24 What to watch next 📚 REFERENCES Gray A, et al. Massachusetts Male Aging Study. J Clin Epidemiol. 1991;44:671-684. Feldman HA, et al. Massachusetts Male Aging Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002;87:589-598. Wu FCW, et al. European Male Ageing Study: late-onset hypogonadism. N Engl J Med. 2010;363:123-135. Corona G, et al. Weight loss and obesity-associated hypogonadism (meta-analysis). Eur J Endocrinol. 2013;168:829-843. Portillo-Canales S, Dhindsa S, et al. Incretin-based drugs and testosterone in men. ENDO 2025 abstract RF27-03; Endocr Pract. 2026;32:696-703. Liao B, Able C, et al. Semaglutide and hypogonadism/ED in non-diabetic men. SMSNA 2023 abstract 157; Able C, et al. Int J Impot Res. 2024. Bhasin S, et al. Testosterone therapy in men with hypogonadism: Endocrine Society guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018;103:1715-1744. Mulhall JP, et al. Evaluation and management of testosterone deficiency: AUA guideline. J Urol. 2018;200:423-432. Snyder PJ, et al. Effects of testosterone treatment in older men (Testosterone Trials). N Engl J Med. 2016;374:611-624. Qaseem A, et al. Testosterone treatment in men with age-related low testosterone: ACP guideline. Ann Intern Med. 2020;172:126-133. Lincoff AM, et al. Cardiovascular safety of testosterone-replacement therapy (TRAVERSE). N Engl J Med. 2023;389:107-117. Snyder PJ, et al. Testosterone treatment and fractures in men with hypogonadism. N Engl J Med. 2024;390:203-211. U.S. FDA. Class-wide labeling changes for testosterone products. Feb 28, 2025. U.S. HHS. Request to update testosterone replacement therapy labeling. June 18, 2026 (proposed). U.S. FDA. Removal of boxed warnings on menopausal hormone therapy. Nov 2025. Wilding JPH, et al. STEP 1. N Engl J Med. 2021;384:989-1002. Jastreboff AM, et al. SURMOUNT-1. N Engl J Med. 2022;387:205-216.

Oct 20, 2026

#GLP1 #Microdosing #Zepbound #Ozempic #WeightLossMaintenance Microdosing Zepbound & Ozempic: How Low Can You Go and Still Keep the Weight Off? You hit your goal weight. Now the question is: do you have to stay on this dose forever? More and more people are cutting their GLP-1 dose to a fraction or stretching their shots to every 10 to 14 days, hoping to save money, cut side effects, and keep the weight off. I'm Dr. Mohammed Paika, a board-certified internal medicine and obesity medicine physician and practicing hospitalist. In this video I break down what the research actually shows about lower-dose GLP-1 maintenance, and what it doesn't show yet.

Oct 17, 2026

#Ozempic #Mounjaro #GLP1 #Tirzepatide #WeightLossDoctor Should you split your weekly Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, or Zepbound shot into two smaller doses? Lots of you have asked me about this in the comments. People split their dose to ease the nausea in the first few days and keep food noise down late in the week. In this video, I explain what the pharmacokinetics predict, what the clinical trials did and didn’t test, and the hidden risks most people never hear about. As an obesity medicine physician, I walk you through half-life, steady state, peak and trough levels, and a simple model of what splitting does to your drug levels. Then I cover the safer, approved ways your doctor can smooth out your week instead. 📩 FREE GLP-1 Diet Cookbook + Weekly Newsletter Get weekly evidence-based insights on GLP-1s, metabolic health, nutrition, exercise & longevity. https://www.drmohammedpaika.com/newsletter

Oct 15, 2026

#FoodNoise #GLP1 #Ozempic #WeightLoss #ObesityMedicine Can't stop thinking about food, even right after a full meal? That constant chatter has a name: food noise. I explain what it is, why GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound quiet it, and why it often returns when people stop them. You'll learn the 2 drivers behind it, a simple test to tell real hunger from food noise, and 9 evidence-based strategies to turn it down, with or without medication. Every claim is referenced below. 📩 FREE GLP-1 Diet Cookbook + Weekly Newsletter Get weekly evidence-based insights on GLP-1s, metabolic health, nutrition, exercise & longevity. https://www.drmohammedpaika.com/newsletter 🎓 Complete GLP-1 Weight Loss Masterclass — Lifetime Access Comprehensive education on GLP-1 medications, nutrition, exercise, muscle preservation, side effects & long-term success. Includes the companion eBook, quizzes, 12-week exercise program, certificate & future course updates at no additional cost. https://www.drmohammedpaika.com

Oct 13, 2026

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