Why Ozempic Could Help You Quit Smoking, Study Says

Semaglutide is an active ingredient in drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy, which are indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes because, by stimulating the production of insulin, they lower blood sugar levels.

Today, scientists have also discovered that these types of drugs may be beneficial for other purposes: reduce the desire for smoke .

In a study recently published in the journal Annals of internal medicine Researchers suggest that semaglutide could be an ally in calming tobacco consumption.

The team, including researchers from the US National Institute on Drug Abuse and Case Western Reserve University, sought to explore the relationship between semaglutide use in patients with type 2 diabetes who were also tobacco users.

They analyzed data from previous trials of smokers with type 2 diabetes. For a year, they followed nearly 223,000 patients who were using various types of medications to treat their disease. Of those, nearly 6,000 people took medications containing semaglutide, such as Ozempic.

After performing the analysis, the researchers found that People who used semaglutide were less likely to need medical treatment to treat smoking than those who used other medications. Semaglutide was also associated with reduced prescriptions for smoking cessation medications and advice.

Specifically, those taking semaglutide were 32% less likely than those taking insulin, and 18% less likely than those taking metformin.

The research team said the finding was not so surprising because of “clinical anecdotes in which patients treated with semaglutide reported reduced urge to smoke.”

At the same time, they assure that it should not be interpreted that these drugs should be prescribed to stop smoking, because more research needs to be done on the subject. “They should be examined in randomized clinical trials” they explained.

For years, scientists have been trying to find out whether semaglutide might have effects on other harmful behaviors, such as the desire to drink alcohol excessively.

One of the most recent studies, conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University, explored the relationship between use of the active ingredient and alcohol use disorder.

According to National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism In the United States, alcohol use disorder is a condition that consists of “an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite negative social, occupational, or health consequences.”

With this in mind, scientists studied cases of people who tested positive for alcoholism and who were taking medications containing semaglutide.

At follow-up, it was incidentally discovered that all six patients had significant improvement in symptoms of alcohol use disorder.

Indeed, on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), all participants displayed scores indicating “low risk,” a press release said.

“This research represents a significant advance in our understanding of the potential therapeutic applications of semaglutide in the field of addiction medicine.” said Jesse Richards, lead author of the study and professor of medicine at the University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine.

Kyle Simmons, author of the paper and professor of pharmacology and physiology at Oklahoma State University Health Sciences Center, said the study paves the way for clinical trials in this regard.

Ozempic is an injectable medicine that, together with a balanced diet and exercise, is used to control blood sugar levels. Its operation is similar to that of the hormone GLP-1, dedicated to stimulating insulin secretion.

Its active ingredient, semaglutide, is able to help the pancreas release the correct amount of insulin, which in turn helps transfer sugar from the blood to other tissues in the body. The ingredient also slows down the movement of food in the stomach, which promotes reduced appetite and weight loss.

Although it is a drug intended for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, in recent years it has begun to be used only for weight loss. This has raised concern among health authorities and manufacturers, as many are beginning to use it without medical supervision and also increases the risk of counterfeit products.

Fabio Moura, endocrinologist and director of the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabology (SBEM), explained to BBC that Ozempic “has possible side effects and contraindications” as with any type of medication.

Being pregnant, having a history of gastroparesis, multiple endocrine disorders or being allergic to semaglutide are just some of its contraindications. Although it is intended for patients with type 2 diabetes, some side effects may also appear in them.

Bruno Geloneze, endocrinologist and member of the Brazilian Association for the Study of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome (Abeso), explained to the same media that the most recurrent “are nausea and, less frequently, vomiting and constipation.”