Ozempic and similar products cut opioid and alcohol abuse by up to half, according to research that adds to evidence of the hugely popular blockbuster drugs’ broad potential beyond tackling obesity and diabetes. In the more than 5,000 participants suffering from alcohol abuse and using a GLP-1 drug, there was a 50 per cent lower rate of intoxication than for those without a prescription. The study, published in the journal Addiction on Thursday, is the latest effort to find medicinal ways to combat addiction. It will provide further understanding of the ever-growing potential uses of GLP-1s and boost hopes of tackling the US opioid epidemic. Known side effects such as nausea and vomiting lead many users to stop using the drugs within a year.

Source: The Irish Times October 18, 2024 03:31 UTC