The weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy may be beneficial for people struggling with alcohol addiction, a study published Wednesday in JAMA Psychiatry said.
The study examined about 228,000 people in Sweden who had alcohol use disorder and Type 2 diabetes.
The people who were taking drugs like semaglutide were less likely to be hospitalized for alcohol-related issues.
Of the nearly 228,000 individuals, 58.5 percent experienced alcohol-related hospitalization. The study noted that while semaglutide drugs “substantially decreased” the risk of hospitalization, the results were not associated with suicide attempts.
Still, the risk was lower for the 4,300 individuals who used semaglutide than those taking approved alcohol disorder drugs. The study found that just about 220 hospitalizations occurred for those taking semaglutide.
According to Dr. Markku Lähteenvuo, a psychiatric researcher at the Niuvanniemi Hospital in Finland, many patients do not have good outcomes on various alcohol use disorder medications.
“We really do need more tools in the toolbox,” he told NBC News.
The study examined GLP-1 drugs, which include semaglutide and tirzepatide. Semaglutide is a key ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy.
Wegovy and Ozempic have also been found to reduce other risks, including the risk of COVID-19 deaths. The drug tirzepatide, the medicine found in weight loss drugs Zepbound and Mounjaro, reduced the severity of sleep apnea.
The weight loss drugs have become increasingly popular. The study also comes as the World Health Organization and Food and Drug Administration have increased their warnings lately of counterfeit medications resembling them.