According to new research, people on semaglutide medications for diabetes, such as Ozempic, may be less likely to overdose on drugs.
A study released on Wednesday found that among patients with type 2 diabetes who were also diagnosed with opioid use disorder, prescriptions for semaglutide, which includes Ozempic and Rybelsus, were associated with decreased overdose rates.
The results spread on a small but increasing body of research suggesting the famous drugs may be more than just appetite defeat. A few new studies leak that the drugs may be able to help patients reduce their intake of potentially dangerous substances, such as alcohol and tobacco.
But the paper’s authors, including researchers at Case Western Reserve University and Nora Volkow, the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, cautioned that the link between GLP-1 drugs and prevention of overdose deaths is “unclear” and that more research is needed, including unthinking controlled trials.
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Because GLP-1 drugs lower the morbidity and mortality associated with type 2 diabetes and obesity, they have revolutionized the clinical management of these conditions. Additionally, there is increasing proof that they may be useful in the treatment of some mental and neurological conditions, including drug use problems, according to Volkow’s statement. “The preliminary results of this study suggest that GLP-1 inhibitors may be useful in reducing the risk of opioid overdoses.”
Six years’ worth of verifiable data from de-identified electronic health records served as the study’s foundation. individuals with type 2 diabetes and opioid use disorder who were administered semaglutide or other diabetes drugs were the only individuals eligible to participate in the trial.
In a trial of over 33,000 patients, semaglutide was linked to a “significantly lower” rate of opioid overdose than other diabetes drugs, including some that also target the GLP-1 receptor.
It’s unknown what outcome the findings could have for the drug overdose issue and public health in general, even if they are confirmed.
We don’t know how many of the 2 million Americans with opioid use disorder also have diabetes or weight issues. These conditions may drive them to seek GLP-1s. Additionally, given the high cost of the pills, it is also unknown how many of them could afford them even if they were interested.
Furthermore, it’s unknown if GLP-1 users with opioid use disorders are also taking the riskiest medications. Deaths from prescription opioids like oxycodone and hydrocodone recently dropped below 10,000 in 12 months. That’s a notable number, but it is insignificant compared to the 65,000 fentanyl deaths in the same stretch. The ultra-potent synthetic opioid fentanyl has long caused most U.S. overdose deaths.
GLP-1 medications are also known to have serious adverse effects. A recent study showed that nearly half of people with opioid addiction who were taking a medication called liraglutide had to stop because of stomach problems However, for patients who are having trouble getting access to more conventional addiction treatments like methadone or buprenorphine, drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic may offer an additional choice.
“It’s critical to have alternative medications to help people treat opioid use disorder and prevent overdosing,” stated Rong Xu, a Case Western University biomedical informatics professor and co-leader of the study. “Therefore, our results indicate that further research into semaglutide as a potential novel treatment to counteract this awful pandemic is imperative.”
