Semaglutide-based medications, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, are widely recognized for their ability to help manage blood glucose levels in people with diabetes, while also reducing the risk of cardiovascular events. However, these drugs are gaining increasing attention for another potential benefit: weight loss. New research suggests that semaglutide could also help people quit smoking, offering another promising treatment avenue for individuals battling both diabetes and tobacco use disorder (TUD).
The study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, explores the impact of semaglutide on smokers with type 2 diabetes, and its ability to curb the desire to smoke. Researchers from Cleveland and Maryland compared the effects of semaglutide with other common antidiabetic treatments, including insulins, metformin, and several other medications used to manage diabetes.
The study involved 222,942 participants, of whom 5,967 were treated with semaglutide. All patients were new users of antidiabetic drugs, and the results showed that semaglutide was linked to a significantly lower risk of medical encounters related to tobacco use disorder when compared to other diabetes treatments. The drug was especially effective when compared to insulin, though it showed some efficacy compared to other GLP-1 receptor agonists as well.
Additionally, the study found that semaglutide users required fewer prescriptions for smoking cessation medications and counseling. These effects were observed in both obese and non-obese patients, suggesting that semaglutide may have broad potential in managing smoking addiction, regardless of a patient’s weight.
The positive effects were noticeable as early as 30 days after beginning semaglutide treatment. Although the results are promising, the study’s authors caution that further research is needed to confirm these findings and determine whether semaglutide could be used as a standard treatment for tobacco use disorder.
An important area for future research is understanding whether the reduction in smoking cravings persists after discontinuing semaglutide, especially if the drug is prescribed to non-diabetic patients solely for smoking cessation.
Dr. Tamika Henry, who spoke to CBS News about the effects of Ozempic, explains the mechanism behind this phenomenon. “What happens is, when you do a certain activity, dopamine surges – and you’re like, ‘Oh, I want to keep doing that,’ whether it’s indulging in alcohol, nicotine, or even gambling,” Dr. Henry said. “How Ozempic works is, it decreases the surge of dopamine, and therefore the desire for that particular activity is decreased.”
As scientists continue to investigate the broader potential of semaglutide in addiction treatments, the question remains whether the benefits outweigh any potential side effects, especially in non-diabetic patients.
Related Topics:
Mitolyn Review: Negative Side Effects or Real Results?
How Do Peptides for Weight Loss Work?
Weight Loss Drugs and Vision Loss: A New Concern for Patients
