The Win-win: Craving Less, Living More on Ozempic

Eat less, drink less, smoke less.

Ozempic seems to be helping patients manage cravings not only for food, but for alcohol, too.

Across the globe researchers and clinicians are hearing from their patients that they’ve lost weight, reflected in study after study. It’s what doctors are hearing about their patients drinking and smoking habits that have them surprised, albeit pleasantly.

Ozempic was introduced to the pharmaceutical market in 2017 specifically targeting type 2 diabetes, a metabolic condition frequently linked with obesity. Unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes offers more management flexibility, with potential interventions ranging from lifestyle modifications to medication.

Now scientists, addiction experts and doctors are very interested to see the future of Ozempic, and what it will mean for combating extraordinarily complex health conditions like addiction, dementia and even some of those “micro-bad” habits like nailbiting.

Some patients taking Ozempic for Type II Diabetes, or for the off-brand purpose of weight loss report a feeling of a light being switched on in their head. Alcohol and smoking suddenly seem unappealing. C “To see this extent of anecdotal clinical data emerging prior to any human work being published is a relatively unprecedented situation.” [Christian Hendershot, a psychiatry department associate professor at University of North Carolina]

He’s not wrong. Ozempic is what some might call a “super-drug” – if all the hype is to be believed, but is it just hype?

Does Ozempic Treat Everything?

The weight loss, heart benefits and diabetes management already make Ozempic and similar drugs tempting for practically anyone struggling to lose weight. It isn’t a “hack” that will cure your obesity, but a valuable tool in the health professional’s toolkit to boost success in blood sugar management and weight loss. Patients reporting on their habits and experiences while taking Ozempic have indicated that their desire to drink dropped significantly or entirely. The same is true for patients who are smokers. For reasons yet to be understood, Ozempic may very well be reducing cravings and helping to curb our addictions to things like cigarettes and alcohol.

Safety, effectiveness and long-term side effects remain concerns for many wishing for a more cautious approach to expectations of Ozempic-like drugs. Patients reporting miraculous habit-changing success on Ozempic may be seeing real benefits, but more in-depth studies remain to be conducted.

Can Ozempic Treat Alcohol Use Disorder?

The simple answer? Not enough research yet. Doctors are not currently prescribing Ozempic in Canada for the purpose of curbing an addiction to alcohol, and it’s not known when or if that will change.

The transformative effects Ozempic is having could still benefit you in addiction treatment though. Much like the complex nature of obesity, heart disease and diabetes – addiction is not a straightforward disorder to manage. Losing weight, getting fit, changing habits and self-improvement all have documented benefits for individuals in rehab, recovery or counselling for alcoholism. Those suffering from alcohol use disorder may also be obese, diabetic or looking to improve their heart health. In a similar way of thinking, when a patient attends rehab, they often work on more than just the addiction aspect of their lives. An addiction is quite commonly accompanied by what’s known as a “co-occurring disorder” or “dual diagnosis”.

Legitimate and certified addiction treatment centers can offer comprehensive treatment programs that include addiction recovery, but also physical health improvement, mental health treatment and other medical treatments aimed at re-shaping the patient’s current situation. Recovery programs and rehab centres with physicians on-staff can supervise the use of medications like Ozempic while in recovery, note any side effects and adjust accordingly to ensure medical safety. If you’re considering a change to your drinking or are a concerned family member hoping to find resources to help a loved one, look for a rehab or program that will take your addiction and health goals into consideration.