Unexpected benefits of Ozempic and Wegovy in curbing alcohol addiction, revealed by study

After easing diabetes and weight loss journey for many, the popular medications

Ozempic and Wegovy

have shown fresh promise in curbing alcohol addiction. A study published in JAMA Psychiatry found that glucagon-like peptide 1 drugs such as

semaglutide

and

liraglutide

can effectively curb

alcohol abuse

. This finding can help addicts cut on their dependency.
Researchers believe that

Ozempic

and Wegovy, different brand names for the injectable drug semaglutide, that work by regulating blood sugar and appetite, may also potentially influence the brain’s reward system in ways that reduce alcohol cravings.
Researchers in Sweden involved more than a quarter million people with alcohol-use disorder and discovered that those who took

GLP-1 drugs

reduced their risk for hospitalization.

While this is being considered a notable finding by scientists not involved in the study, they warn that further studies are required and that Ozempic is not yet ready to replace the three medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)for alcohol abuse.
In this particular study, the researchers from Sweden analyzed data from over 133,000 individuals who had been hospitalized for alcohol addiction between January 2006 and December 2023. They discovered that around 4,500 patients who were treated with semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) had the lowest risk of landing at the hospital again. Around 2,500 patients who used liraglutide, marketed as Victoza and Saxenda, had the second lowest risk of hospitalization.

Another significant finding of the study was that patients who took either version of the

weight loss drugs

(Ozempic or Wegovy) were less likely to be hospitalized than those who took any of three existing medicines approved to treat alcohol-use disorder – disulfiram, acamprosate and naltrexone.

However, the researchers not involved in the study are still cautious and would wait for further studies.
Ozempic and

Wegovy

are both weekly injections with semaglutide. While the former is approved to treat Type 2 diabetes, the latter is a higher-dose version that’s approved for weight loss. However many doctors recommend Ozempic for weight loss.
Known as GLP-1 agonists, Ozempic and Wegovy can offer significant health benefits apart from weight loss. They are said to boost heart health, protect the kidneys, improve sleep apnea, and lower the risk of certain obesity-related cancers.
(Picture courtesy: iStock)