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đź›’ Behavioral Change

"Ozempic Killed My Shopping Addiction"

Retail therapy, Amazon binges, impulse purchases—people report the urge to shop has simply vanished. Here's what might be happening.

December 2025 5 min read
"My cart has been empty for 3 months. I don't even browse anymore."
The latest unexpected side effect of GLP-1 medications

First it was food. Then alcohol. Then cigarettes and gambling. Now add another item to the growing list of things GLP-1 medications seem to affect: shopping.

Across social media, people are reporting that their compulsion to shop—the "retail therapy" urge, the late-night Amazon scrolling, the impulse purchases—has simply... stopped.

The Before and After

Before GLP-1
  • âś— Constant Amazon browsing
  • âś— "Retail therapy" after bad days
  • âś— Impulse purchases I regret
  • âś— Shopping for the dopamine hit
  • âś— Packages arriving I forgot I ordered
On GLP-1
  • âś“ Haven't opened Amazon in weeks
  • âś“ Bad days don't trigger buying
  • âś“ Only buy what I actually need
  • âś“ Shopping feels "meh"
  • âś“ Savings account actually growing

What People Are Saying

"I was a chronic over-shopper. Closet full of tags-still-on clothes. Four months on Wegovy and I walked through Target without buying a single unnecessary thing. I didn't even have to try. The urge just wasn't there."
— Viral TikTok testimony
"The best side effect of Ozempic that nobody talks about: I've saved $400/month because I stopped stress shopping. Seriously, this drug is paying for itself."
— Reddit comment
"My husband asked why no packages have come in weeks. I realized I haven't ordered anything. I don't even think about it anymore. This is not who I was."
— Facebook GLP-1 group

Why Would This Happen?

The Dopamine Theory

Shopping—especially the anticipation of a purchase—triggers dopamine release in the same reward pathways as food, drugs, and gambling.

The "high" of clicking "Buy Now." The excitement of a package arriving. The thrill of a sale. These are all dopamine events.

If GLP-1 medications modulate dopamine signaling in reward centers (which is the leading theory for their effects on food cravings and addiction), it makes sense that shopping compulsions would be affected too.

The Pattern Emerges

Shopping joins a growing list of dopamine-driven behaviors that GLP-1 users report reduced urges for:

The common thread? All are reward-seeking behaviors driven by dopamine.

đź’° The Financial Upside
Some people report the money they're saving on impulse purchases actually offsets the cost of their medication. If you were spending $300-500/month on unnecessary shopping, and that drops to near zero, the financial picture changes dramatically. Unexpected budget win.

Not Everyone, Not All Shopping

To be clear: this isn't universal. Not everyone on GLP-1s experiences reduced shopping urges. And these medications don't eliminate the need to shop for essentials—people still buy groceries, clothes, and things they actually need.

What seems to disappear is the compulsive element—the shopping you do for the emotional hit rather than the item itself.

Context
These reports are anecdotal—collected from social media, forums, and patient communities. No clinical trials have formally studied GLP-1s for compulsive shopping. But the pattern is consistent enough that researchers are paying attention.
The Bottom Line
Add shopping to the list of compulsive behaviors that GLP-1 users report losing interest in. The mechanism likely involves dopamine modulation in the brain's reward system—the same pathways that drive food cravings, gambling urges, and substance addiction. If you've noticed your Amazon cart staying empty or your impulse buying disappearing, you're not alone. For some people, this unexpected side effect is saving hundreds of dollars a month. Retail therapy may have met its match.
Sources
  1. Patient testimonials from Reddit, TikTok, Facebook GLP-1 communities.
  2. Research on dopamine's role in shopping behavior and "retail therapy."
  3. Studies on GLP-1 receptor distribution in brain reward centers.