United States: A new study which suggests that drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, which are used to treat type 2 diabetes and also the obesity, may actually help reduce the effects or influence of alcohol. These drugs, which can contain semaglutide or liraglutide, have been found to make people drink less alcohol.
Researchers from the University of Eastern Finland and Karolinska Institute in Sweden in the new published study revealed that patients with AUD were even less often admitted for alcohol/substance abuse diagnosis.
As reported by Foxnews.com, a press release stated that the two researchers looked into aid data collected from 228 000 Swedish residents aged between 16 and 64, across several decades.
For participants with AUD, obesity, and T2D, the GLP-1 medication was associated with “a significantly reduced risk of hospitalization due to AUD,” the scientists pointed out.
The risk was 36% lower among semaglutide users (including Ozempic and Wegovy), and 28% lower among liraglutide users (Victoza).
The effects produced by the GLP-1 drugs were realised to be even superior to naltrexone, which is considered the best medication for alcohol use disorder.
“I’ve done a survey indicating that GLP- 1-agonists could also be used in the treatment other ailments such as alcohol and substance use disorders in addition to obesity and diabetes” said the lead author of the study Markku Lähteenvuo the docent of forensic psychiatry at the University of Eastern Finland and the Niuvanniemi Hospital in the press release.
This is not the first time, researchers attribute GLP-1s to lower alcohol consumption, says Dr. Sue Decotiis, MD, weight-loss doctor, New York City.
“There has been a lot of work that indicates that GLP-1 reduces the hedonic capacity to want alcohol,” Decotiis, who did not work on the Swedish research, said in an interview with Fox News Digital.
I have found that 60% of the patients on semaglutide and tirzepatide reported having lesser urge to consume alcohol.
New weight loss drug under development was also highlighted by Decotiis– Retatrutide, a drug that is manufactured by Eli Lilly and is reportedly more effective for alcohol dependency.