GLP-1 can prevent new substance use disorders and alleviate existing addictions. This is the conclusion reached by American scientists, as reported by Reuters. According to them, this effect has been observed across a wide variety of addictive and habit-forming substances, including cocaine, alcohol, and nicotine.
The study involved patients with type 2 diabetes treated with GLP-1 class drugs from Eli Lilly or Novo Nordisk, or SGLT-2 inhibitors (gliflozins) from Boehringer Ingelheim and AstraZeneca.
The 124,001 participants without a history of substance abuse who were taking GLP-1 drugs had 14% lower odds of developing a new substance use disorder over the following three years than the 400,816 similar patients prescribed SGLT-2 inhibitors.
Furthermore, the scientists found that those taking GLP-1 class drugs showed an 18% reduction in new alcohol-use disorders, a 14% reduction in cannabis-use disorders, a 20% reduction in cocaine use, and a 26% reduction in nicotine use.
Also, according to the study results, among 81,617 patients with substance use disorders, the odds of related emergency department visits during the next three years were 31% lower for those on GLP-1s.
Earlier, GxP News, citing data from the European Medicines Agency’s safety committee, reported that a rare but potentially dangerous eye disease — non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy — may be linked to the use of popular diabetes and obesity drugs containing semaglutide, including Ozempic.
