Ozempic cut opioid overdose risk in study
Make us a preferred source
Make us a preferred source on Google
The news: A study from Case Western Reserve University suggests Novo Nordisk's diabetes drug Ozempic, containing semaglutide, may reduce the risk of opioid overdose in people with type 2 diabetes who have a history of opioid use.
The numbers: The study, published in JAMA Network Open, reviewed medical records of over 33,000 patients and found that those using semaglutide, also the key ingredient of Novo’s weight loss drug Wegovy, were less than half as likely to overdose compared to those on other diabetes medications like insulin.
The study relied on electronic health records of patients with an opioid disorder and tracked them for a year. All patients had type 2 diabetes and about two-thirds had obesity.
The context: While more research is needed, the findings add to evidence that semaglutide may help manage addiction-related behaviours, as it has already shown benefits for alcohol and smoking habits, Rong Xu, a professor of biomedical informatics who led the study, told Bloomberg.
The popularity of blockbuster weight-loss and diabetes drugs is fuelling interest in exploring their potential to curb cravings beyond just food.
According to a Bloomberg report, Novo Nordisk this year started a trial studying how these medicines might impact alcohol consumption.
The sources: JAMA Network research letter , Bloomberg
