Weight reduction medicines resembling Ozempic might be able to lower drug and alcohol abuse in half, in response to a brand new examine from the scientific journal Habit.
The analysis, revealed Thursday, discovered that individuals who take Ozempic or related medicine — these used for weight reduction or treating sort 2 diabetes — had been 40 p.c much less prone to overdose on opioids. The examine additionally discovered that the identical group had a 50 p.c decrease fee of alcohol intoxication.
Researchers from Loyola College Chicago studied over 500,000 individuals who had a historical past of opioid use dysfunction. Greater than 8,000 of that pattern utilized Ozempic — which accommodates the energetic ingredient semaglutide — or different weight reduction medicine.
The examine additionally checked out 800,000 individuals with a historical past of alcohol abuse. Greater than 5,600 of these contributors had been utilizing weight reduction medicine.
“Our study… reveals the possibilities of a novel therapeutic pathway in substance use treatment,” Fares Qeadan, the examine lead researcher, and Ashlie McCunn and Benjamin Tingey, co-authors of the report, informed The Wall Road Journal.
One other examine launched in July additionally discovered that Ozempic use was linked to decrease threat for cognitive issues. Researchers stated the outcomes wouldn’t apply to those that wouldn’t have diabetes.
That analysis, carried out by the College of Oxford, found that Ozempic was related to a decrease threat of nicotine dependence and cognitive issues. The medicine didn’t enhance the danger of hysteria, despair and dementia, in response to the report.
“Our results suggest that semaglutide use could extend beyond managing diabetes, potentially offering unexpected benefits in the treatment and prevention of cognitive decline and substance misuse,” stated Dr. Riccardo De Giorgi, the lead writer of the Oxford examine.
A survey from earlier this 12 months from well being coverage nonprofit KFF discovered that 1 in 8 adults say they’ve taken a GLP-1 agonist, the weight problems and diabetes medicines that embody Ozempic, Mounjaro and Zepbound.
Reputation of the medicines have additionally led to warnings from the World Well being Group and Meals and Drug Administration about potential faux variations of the medicine being detected in some international locations.
