Could diabetes drug Ozempic treat alcoholism and addiction?
Ozempic is a prescription-only medication for type 2 diabetes. Recent clinical trials have found that Ozempic could be used as a possible treatment for alcholism and addiction.
5 minute read The diabetes medication Ozempic has been making headlines in recent months as a trendy weight loss drug popular with celebrities and influencers.
Recently, Ozempic has been in the news for a different reason — a possible treatment for alcoholism and addiction. So what is Ozempic? How does it work? And could it really offer a cure for addiction?
What is Ozempic?
Ozempic is a prescription-only medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. It contains the active ingredient semaglutide and is given as a weekly injection just beneath the skin.
In clinical trials, semaglutide was found to help with weight loss when combined with a healthy diet and exercise and was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US as a weight loss aid under the brand name Wegovy.
In September 2023, Wegovy was approved for use in the UK as a weight loss treatment for people meeting certain criteria.
Currently, Ozempic is only licensed to treat type 2 diabetes.
How does Ozempic work?
Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, is a type of medication called a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist. It works by mimicking a naturally occurring hormone in the body called GLP-1.
GLP-1 helps reduce your appetite in two ways:
By sending signals to your brain, telling it you are full
By slowing down how quickly your stomach empties after eating, making you feel fuller for longer
Can Ozempic help with addiction?
There currently haven’t been enough studies to prove scientifically that Ozempic helps with addiction, but the side effect has been reported anecdotally by several people taking the drug.
As demand for Ozempic as a weight loss aid has skyrocketed, many patients have reported reduced cravings for alcohol, nicotine, and opioids. Some patients have even claimed that Ozempic reduces other compulsive behaviours such as gambling, online shopping and nail biting.
How does Ozempic work for addiction?
It isn’t yet fully understood how Ozempic may help curb addiction. Scientists believe the key may lie in the relationship between the gut and the brain, and the effect Ozempic has on the pleasure centres in the brain.
The gut and the brain
The relationship between the gut and the brain is only beginning to be fully understood, but there is undoubtedly a strong connection between the two. The brain contains many GLP receptors that communicate with our gut and receive messages such as those telling us we have food in our stomachs and that we are full.
The pleasure and reward system
Another possible effect of Ozempic is that it may change the way our brains perceive pleasure by reducing the amount of a chemical called dopamine.
When we do something pleasurable, such as taking a bite of a chocolate bar, or a sip of wine, our brains release dopamine, which makes us feel good and encourages us to repeat the behaviour.
Animal and human studies have found that GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic may reduce the release of dopamine when we eat sweet or fatty foods or consume alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs. Many people taking Ozempic have reported having no desire to drink or finding it easier to stop after a single glass.
Research into Ozempic and addiction
Research into Ozempic in treating addiction is ongoing, but the results so far have been promising.
Animal studies
Several animal studies have shown that semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, reduces alcohol consumption in “addicted” rats. GLP-agonist drugs were shown to stop binge drinking, prevent relapse and reduce overall alcohol consumption in rats by over 50%.
Other studies in animals have found that GLP-1 drugs reduce the consumption of nicotine, and drugs including opioids, cocaine, and methamphetamine.
Human studies
A recent small study of six patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) found that all the participants showed a significant decrease in alcohol consumption following treatment with semaglutide.
The study concluded that semaglutide has strong potential to treat AUD and recommended further large-scale studies to assess the drug’s effectiveness in treating alcohol use disorder.
Are there any disadvantages to Ozempic?
While it may seem like a wonder drug — helping us to lose weight and stop drinking — Ozempic does have some downsides.
Side effects
Like all medications, Ozempic may cause side effects in some people. Common side effects include:
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Stomach pain
Constipation
Less commonly, Ozempic can cause severe side effects, including:
Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis)
Changes to your vision
Pancreatitis
Kidney problems
Gallbladder problems
Ozempic carries an FDA boxed warning for the risk of thyroid C-cell tumours
Cost
Ozempic is expensive. A single 0.25mg pen is selling online at UK meds for £320, while a 1mg pen retails at £360. The usual starting dose for Ozempic is 0.25mg once a week, putting the cost at £1280 per month.
Ozempic is only available on the NHS for patients with type 2 diabetes in the UK.
Fake Ozempic
In October 2023, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) warned the public not to buy Ozempic from unregulated sources and revealed that they had seized 369 potentially fake Ozempic pens since January 2023.
Buying prescription-only medicines online without a prescription can cause serious health problems and some people have needed hospital treatment after using fake Ozempic.
In the US, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued similar warnings after thousands of counterfeit Ozempic pens were seized.
The final say on curing addiction with Ozempic
Ozempic has proved highly effective in improving the health of people with type 2 diabetes and has gained recent popularity as a weight loss aid. Recent research, though still in the early stages, shows it may also help to treat alcoholism and addiction.
Currently Ozempic is a prescription-only medication licenced to treat type 2 diabetes, however people continue to buy Ozempic online at substantial cost and risk to their health.
If you would like to talk about Ozempic, and whether it could be right for you, speak to your GP or other licensed medical practitioner.
