Scientists don’t have a clear explanation for why drugs like Ozempic appear to lessen cravings for vices, including for addictive substances. But they have some ideas that they’re testing — some here in Canada, where any advance would help significantly, as the country faces a growing opioid crisis.
There haven’t been many randomized clinical trials — which are considered the gold standard for evaluating medical claims — on whether GLP-1 RAs reduce addictive behaviours.
There have only been two such trials studying their impact on alcohol addiction, none for opioid addiction and two for nicotine addiction, according to a recent review published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.
Christian Hendershot, a California-based Canadian researcher, co-authored one of those randomized controlled trials, published recently in JAMA Psychiatry, looking at alcohol consumption.
Wouldn’t surprise me, I’ve absolutely noticed a distinct lack of any interest in drinking since taking one of them. Not that I was a heavy drinker before, but I’ve gone from maybe 5 units a week to barely a single drink in a month. Even the thought of having more than a single drink makes me feel ill
Interesting article. It would be good news if extreme cravings could be (co)regulated via a new or more specific medicine. I’m a bit wary this being an Ozempic PR campaign, but it doesn’t seem that way.
I might be a bit different since I use Mounjaro for (very well-managed) diabetes, but it definitely hasn’t reduced my desire for alcohol.
