One in eight adults report using the popular class of drugs known as GLP-1 agonists, which are used for weight loss and to treat diabetes. Research is now beginning to emerge suggesting that these drugs may play a role in reducing more than just appetite.
Stylist Madison Van Komen was surprised at how easy it was to quit vaping after starting a medication called semaglutide — the drug found in Ozempic and Wegovy — for weight loss last October.
“I was addicted to nicotine for 13 years, you know, it’s a long time and I really didn’t think it would be this easy,” she said.
In less than a year, Van Komen has lost 23 pounds and says she’s grateful for the unexpected bonus of a nicotine-free life.
“I’m paying more attention to things. I’m just more, I’m more present in my life,” she said.
Semaglutide and other GLP-1 agonists work by suppressing appetite centers in the brain. Animal studies suggest that these drugs may also affect the brain to reduce nicotine addiction, alcohol and opioids, which led to human clinical trials.
While these drugs work to reduce cravings for food, the idea that they reduce cravings for other things is “pretty complicated,” said Dr. Michael Weintraub, assistant professor of endocrinology at NYU Langone Health (where he is a colleague of CBS News’ Dr. Jon LaPook).
“We’re still learning more about this,” said Weintraub, who prescribes GLP-1 agonists for type 2 diabetes and obesity.
A recent study The authors found that patients with type 2 diabetes and tobacco use disorder who used semaglutide had reduced urges to smoke. The authors cautioned that more research was needed.
“There are effective medications for alcohol use disorder and smoking cessation, so we should use those first before we use medications that would be considered off-label,” Weintraub said, adding that “the jury is still out” on other uses of weight-loss drugs.
The risk of negative side effects is also a factor to consider with these medications.
“If you’re going to cut back on an addiction, yes, you want to do that, but is that also going to cause nausea? Are you also going to have issues with heartburn, fatigue?” Dr. Tamika Henry, founder of the California-based Unlimited Health Institute, previously told CBS News“The other thing is that taking medication is only part of the process. You have to start doing the other things that help you along the way. Because if the medication is taken away, what happens?”
Jon LaPook
