For some time now, Ozempic has gone from being a type 2 diabetes treatment to being also considered a method of fighting overweight. Now, in the absence of being able to confirm this second usefulness to the treatment, there are those who have given it a third use: fighting addictions such as alcohol or tobacco.
Remedy against addiction? Ozempic could be having a positive side effect on some patients, helping them fight addictions like alcohol and tobacco. For now, we can only speak of isolated cases, although the relevant clinical trials have already begun to find out if the relationship is demonstrable.
But what is the Ozempic? First of all, it is convenient to refresh your memory about this treatment that some consider the great promise in the fight against overweight and obesity. Ozempic is the trade name under which the drug is marketed, also known as semaglutide, or Rybelsus by its marketing name in Spain.
The original function of this GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide type 1) receptor antagonist is to regulate blood insulin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. These compounds mimic the GLP-1 hormone to bind to its receptors and thus stimulate the production of insulin and reduce blood sugar levels.
However, in recent months it has been found that this medication had the effect of affecting the body mass of those who consumed it. The GLP-1 hormone is important in our digestive process. The drug thus causes a slowdown in intestinal transit, which increases the feeling of satiety.
How could it work? However, Ozempic also has side effects such as being able to cause nausea. This effect could discourage some patients from both food and alcohol consumption, but it is true that we still do not know for sure what is the mechanism through which this drug could reduce addictions.
Since it’s not just about alcohol. For now there is evidence of cases associated with other addictions and compulsive behaviors from tobacco to nail biting. In the case of alcohol, some users report how the treatment simply reduced the desire to drink.
That is perhaps why the main hypothesis focuses on the possibility that Ozempic operates on the biochemical reward mechanisms of our brain. For now it is just that, a hypothesis. Studies will be necessary to verify the validity of these isolated cases and, if so, allow us to elucidate the mechanisms behind this unexpected side effect.
What do the clinical trials say? As of today, a team led by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is in full clinical trial. The trial began in the fall of last year and is expected to conclude in the fall of this year. The objective of this phase 2 trial is to evaluate the effects of semaglutide on disorders related to alcohol use. The study also lists as a secondary objective to evaluate the effect of the drug on tobacco consumption.
This is not the first trial to try to assess the effects of GPL-1 antagonists on addiction. In recent years, a similar study evaluated the effects of exenatide on alcohol consumption.
The study did not find a significant relationship between drug use and reduced alcohol use except in a subgroup, the participants with obesity (defined as a body mass index greater than 30). This implies that more studies will be necessary (including the mentioned above) to define the effect of these substances on addictions.
The easy way? Whether these drugs are useful or not, experts remember that it is not an easy way to take a pill and problem solved. Treatments such as Ozempic are associated with changes in routines, especially with regard to a healthier diet.
In this regard, it should also be remembered that, like any medication, semaglutide can also cause undesirable side effects such as nausea or diarrhea. It is also important to note that some patients who used this treatment to lose weight experienced a rebound effect after stopping it. It remains to be determined whether the same is true in the case of addictions.
Finally, it should be noted that phase 2 of the clinical trials is not the end of the road. One goal of clinical trials is to compare a new treatment with one already in use. In this case, semaglutide will have to demonstrate greater efficiency than drugs already approved in some places such as naltrexone or naltraxone, used to combat alcohol addiction.
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Image | Isabella Mendes
