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Recently released research suggests that drugs used to treat diabetes and obesity may also show promise in reducing opioid cravings. The small study found that people with opioid use disorder who took the GLP-1 drug liraglutide reported significantly less craving afterward. The latest findings indicate that GLP-1 drugs may help control addictive behavior, but much more data will be needed to confirm their effectiveness.
research was Presented at the annual conference of the American Association for the Advancement of Science this weekend. It involved 20 people suffering from opioid use disorder who were receiving inpatient care at Caron Treatment Center in Wernherville, Pennsylvania. Some patients received liraglutide alone or in combination with buprenorphine, an approved treatment for opioid use disorder, and then were monitored for the next three weeks.
During that time period, people taking liraglutide reported 30% fewer cravings than those taking a placebo, and people taking buprenorphine at the same time were more likely to report no cravings at all. Side effects were similar between the two groups, although those taking liraglutide experienced more gastrointestinal symptoms.
The findings are based on a very small sample size, so they should be viewed with extra caution. But they are consistent with other recent reports that suggest GLP-1 drugs may help treat substance abuse disorders. For example, last November, researchers found People who also had an alcohol use disorder after taking semaglutide (the active ingredient in Vegovy and Ozempic) saw a marked reduction in alcohol-related symptoms, including cravings.
Liraglutide, semaglutide, and similar drugs mimic and effectively increase levels of GLP-1, a natural hormone that helps regulate our insulin production and appetite, among other things (liraglutide is one of the two drugs is old and has shown modest weight loss effects). Cells that respond to GLP-1 are found primarily in the intestine, but there are also GLP-1-related cells in the brain. They are believed to reduce appetite not only by physically affecting the digestive system by talking Same with these brain cells. And this led to speculation that these drugs might reduce people’s other unhealthy cravings.
Right now, the evidence supporting this potential benefit is little more than anecdotal evidence. But randomized, controlled clinical trials are already underway to test semaglutide for alcohol dependence. And the authors behind this latest study say they’re also planning a trial on 200 people that will study whether semaglutide can improve outcomes for people who are already trying to manage their opioid addiction. Are taking methadone or buprenorphine for.
“With one person dying every five minutes and people all over the world dying from exposure to opioids, we feel a sense of urgency,” said Patricia Grigson, director of Penn State’s Addiction Center for Translation and author of the study. We do.” told State News. “I feel very hopeful; “Could be a new treatment for opioid use disorder.”
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