Q&A: I'm Drinking Less on Mounjaro. This Is Good News, Right?

Alcohol Mindset Coaching | EP 131

"I'm drinking less on Mounjaro, should I see this as a win?" It's a question landing in Anna Donaghey's inbox more and more, and in this listener Q&A episode, she gives it the thoughtful answer it deserves. Medications like Mounjaro, originally prescribed for diabetes and weight management, are quietly dialling down people's desire for alcohol often without them even trying. Anna explores what the emerging research tells us about GLP-1 drugs and the brain's reward system, why the effect on cravings may not last, and why it's so important not to skip the deeper work of understanding your relationship with alcohol, even when the urge has gone dormant. Because here's the real opportunity: this "hiatus of desire" is a rare window for self-enquiry, not a shortcut. Anna shares her perspective on the risks of treating pharmaceuticals as a simple fix, and offers practical reflection prompts for anyone noticing their cravings have changed. If your desire to drink has suddenly gone quiet, this episode will help you ask the question that really matters: what was it saying in the first place? Here are the Highlights: 00:00 Intro: The rise of questions about Mounjaro and drinking 01:05 The listener question: Drinking less and craving less, now what? 02:23 How GLP-1 drugs (Mounjaro, Ozempic, Wegovy) work in the body 03:39 What research is saying about reduced cravings and reward 04:45 Animal trials, human reports, and what’s not FDA approved 06:06 The real opportunity: getting curious about why you are drinking 07:12 Why “the drug quietens the craving, but doesn’t explain it” 07:26 Why the effect isn’t permanent, dose reduction and recurrence 08:04 The “hiatus of desire” and what you can do with this rare space 10:00 Warning: Why “Mounjaro helps you quit drinking” is a risky narrative 10:44 Addressing the myth of an instant pharmaceutical solution 11:13 Practical advice: Get curious about what’s under your habits 12:08 Plans for a deeper dive with expert guests coming soon

FREE WEBINAR: How to Get Unstuck: A Year Inside a Community That's Changing Lives. Anna and fellow coach Tabbin Almond are excited to announce they’re hosting a free webinar on Thursday 9 July to share what they’ve learnt about what women actually need when they want to change their relationship with alcohol. You can register to grab your spot here: https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/webinar

Anna’s book "What Are You Thirsty For? Rethinking Alcohol and The Life You Want", is now out in the world for you to buy! Order your copy, access her free tools and explore her coaching programmes at: https://thebigdrinkrethink.com/ The Thirsty For More Mindset Lab is Anna’s ‘inner circle’ - a calm, thoughtful space where conversations continue, patterns are explored, and things begin to make sense. Find out more at: https://thirstyformore.substack.com/ If you appreciate the podcast and would like to show a bit of love, you can donate the cost of a coffee here. It helps support the time and care that goes into making the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink

About the host Anna: Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.

Connect with Anna: Website: thebigdrinkrethink.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink Produced by winteraudio.co.uk Mentioned in this episode: Listener offer: An exclusive 15% off Botivo - a bittersweet, citrusy aperitivo that perfectly marks that end-of-day moment. If you’d like to try it, you can get 15% off at https://botivodrinks.com/ with the code BIGDRINKRETHINK15.