A new government-funded study has found that medications commonly used to treat obesity, such as Ozempic, may also help people drink less alcohol. The study, which involved 48 adults, showed that nearly 40% of those who received the medication experienced no heavy drinking days, compared to 20% in the placebo group.
The researchers, led by Dr. Klara Klein, used one of these medications, semaglutide, which is also used to treat diabetes and obesity. The study found that participants who received semaglutide cut their alcohol consumption significantly, with an average reduction of about half compared to those who received a placebo.
While the results are promising, experts say more research is needed to confirm the findings. The study’s lead author, Christian Hendershot, notes that there are already three medications approved to treat alcohol use disorder, so it’s not yet clear how safe these drugs are for people who don’t need to lose weight.
The researchers used a unique approach to test the medication, where participants were given their favorite alcoholic beverage and allowed to drink as much as they wanted over two hours. The results suggest that semaglutide may be beneficial in reducing cravings for alcohol, not just for food.
More research is underway to explore the potential of GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic and Wegovy in treating other addictions, including smoking and opioid addiction. For now, experts recommend talking to a doctor about what treatment options are already available.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/ozempic-wegovy-alcohol-weight-loss-semaglutide-73271775871bc92118e947ee15793aa0