Researchers Explore Ozempic as a Potential Addiction Treatment

Gaining popularity from celebrity endorsements and public speculation, Ozempic has become a staple weight loss drug in the United States. However, researchers speculate that the medication could significantly surpass weight management as a potential addiction treatment.

Ozempic, generically known as semaglutide, is a glucagon-like peptide (GLP) receptor agonist. Alongside lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise, the medication has been proven to facilitate weight loss. While the drug has been used off-label for weight loss, it has only been approved for glycemic control and reduced cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Patient testimonies published in the Atlantic earlier this month reported reduced cravings for addictive substances, including processed food, alcohol, shopping, nicotine, and more. Supported by data from multiple existing studies, researchers have decided to analyze semaglutide’s utility as an addiction treatment in preclinical studies.

A 2022 article published in the British Journal of Pharmacology explored the role of GLP-1 on addictive disorders, finding that GLP-1 is mediated through dopamine signaling, implying a role in the brain’s reward pathway.

A more recent study published on May 16, 2023, in the Journal of Clinical Investigation detailed a preclinical trial on mice that assessed the impact of the drug on alcohol use. According to the study, semaglutide reduced alcohol intake in mice, with effects increasing as the dose was elevated, mimicking the reduced food consumption for patients treated with the medication to manage weight loss.

Additional insights revealed that, in rats who did not have any alcohol, semaglutide increased the frequency of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents in the central nucleus of the amygdala and the infralimbic cortex neurons.

Researchers in the study concluded, “the GLP-1 analogue semaglutide decreased alcohol intake across different drinking models and species and modulated central GABA neurotransmission in rodents, providing support for clinical testing of semaglutide as a potential novel pharmacotherapy for AUD.”

With patient testimony and preclinical research to support semaglutide use for addiction treatment, researchers are exploring the theories more. For example, two ongoing clinical trials conducted by the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, are studying the effects of semaglutide on nicotine and alcohol addiction.

While not quite at the clinical trial phase, these theories may have implications for the expanded use of Ozempic.