Ozempic’s Uses May Grow to Include Addiction Treatment
Recent research indicates that individuals using the diabetes and weight-loss medication semaglutide experienced a notable reduction in symptoms associated with alcohol use disorder. While the study was limited in scope, larger investigations are in progress, suggesting the potential use of drugs like semaglutide in addiction treatment.
Semaglutide, available under various names such as Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy, has gained widespread attention. Initially designed to manage blood sugar in type 2 diabetics, the drug’s unintended positive effect on weight loss prompted its repositioning. Additionally, a recent study revealed that semaglutide offers cardiovascular benefits to overweight individuals without diabetes.
Semaglutide’s Potential in Alleviating Alcohol Use Disorder Symptoms
Fresh findings propose an additional potential advantage of semaglutide. A partnership between the University of Oklahoma (OU) Tulsa and the Oklahoma State University (OSU) Center for Health Sciences revealed that individuals utilizing semaglutide for weight loss exhibited a noteworthy decrease in symptoms associated with alcohol use disorder (AUD).
Jesse Richards, the primary author of the study, commented, “This research signifies a notable advancement in our comprehension of the potential therapeutic uses of semaglutide in the realm of addiction medicine.”
Through a retrospective examination of medical records, the investigators identified six individuals treated with semaglutide for weight loss. These patients had initially screened positive for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) on the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) before commencing semaglutide therapy. The AUDIT, a 10-item questionnaire approved by the World Health Organization, assesses alcohol-related issues, with scores ranging from zero to 40. Scores between eight and 14 indicate hazardous or harmful alcohol consumption, while a score of 15 or higher suggests the likelihood of AUD.
All six patients experienced a significant reduction in AUD symptoms, as evidenced by an improvement in their AUDIT scores. The average decrease was 9.5 points following semaglutide treatment.
The Need for Randomized Clinical Trials on Semaglutide’s Impact on AUD Symptoms
While preclinical trials on animals demonstrated that semaglutide was linked to a decrease in drug and alcohol consumption, and anecdotal reports from patients suggest a diminished urge to drink, there is currently a lack of randomized clinical trials establishing a connection between semaglutide use and a decline in AUD symptoms.
The outcomes of the present research have paved the way for a placebo-controlled clinical trial named Semaglutide Therapy for Alcohol Reduction (STAR), currently in progress at the OSU Hardesty Center for Clinical Research and Neuroscience in Tulsa, with a parallel study conducted in Baltimore.
Kyle Simmons, the corresponding author of the study, remarked, “With the publication of this case series in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, the groundwork is laid for upcoming clinical trials, including the STAR studies, which can conclusively determine the safety and effectiveness of semaglutide in treating alcohol use disorder.”
These findings signal the potential utilization of drugs like semaglutide in addressing addictive behaviors.
Read the original article: New Atlas
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