Semaglutide, originally designed to manage diabetes, has garnered attention as a promising weight loss medication.
Beyond its weight loss benefits, anecdotal reports have sparked interest in its potential to help individuals struggling with alcohol and substance use disorders.
Dr. Christian Hendershot, an associate professor of psychiatry at the UNC School of Medicine, together with his colleagues, has addressed this emerging trend in a commentary published in Nature Medicine.
While preliminary evidence from animal studies suggests that drugs like semaglutide, known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), might reduce the rewarding effects of addictive substances, further research is required to assess their safety and effectiveness in treating addiction.
Hendershot emphasizes the importance of evidence-based medicine, cautioning against the off-label use of semaglutide for addiction treatment at this stage.
To gather more robust data, researchers are advocating for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) specifically tailored to investigate GLP-1RAs in addiction therapy.
These RCTs, known for their rigor and comprehensiveness, aim to uncover how these drugs may interact with other medical conditions, like metabolic disorders, and with other medications, such as stimulants.
Furthermore, RCTs can help identify subgroups of patients who may respond differently to GLP-1RAs.
Dr. Hendershot is currently overseeing two RCTs focusing on semaglutide’s potential in addiction treatment: “Semaglutide for Alcohol Use Disorder” and “Effects of Semaglutide on Nicotine Intake,” both conducted at UNC.
In the meantime, medical professionals are advised to stick to FDA-approved medications for alcohol use disorder, such as acamprosate and naltrexone, or offer patients other evidence-based treatments encompassing psychosocial, behavioral, and pharmacological approaches.
While the use of GLP-1RAs like semaglutide in treating addiction is a topic of increasing interest, it’s important to remember that further research is needed to confirm their safety and effectiveness.
Nevertheless, this growing attention to the subject could contribute to raising awareness about addiction, its impact on health, and the existing approved treatments available to address these challenges.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about Vitamin D and type 2 diabetes, and what you need to know about avocado and type 2 diabetes.
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The research findings can be found in Nature Medicine.
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