GLP-1 receptor agonists, originally designed for diabetes and weight loss, are showing transformative potential for future addiction treatment, especially for alcohol and other substance use disorders. Early research, including both animal models and human clinical trials, indicates that these drugs may significantly reduce substance cravings, one study showed a 40% reduction in opioid cravings among patients taking GLP-1 drugs, which is comparable to reductions seen in intensive addiction treatments.
This could in the future be a key weapon in addressing the global addiction crisis which suffers from a persistent lack of effective treatment options. Less than a quarter of people with substance use disorders receive treatment and a key problem is limited availability of therapies.
NU1_L1F1ED on
The wide applicability of GLP-1 receptor agonists is unprecedented in medicine. From weight loss to disease prevention and protective properties, and now a possible agent to help with the opioid crisis and addiction. Truly amazing!
In my personal experience, I’m two months in to using a GLP-1 for weight loss and I’ve never felt better. It’s helped me lose enough weight in that time frame to get me back in the gym with less stress on my joints, further increasing my capacity to take back control over my health.
oshinbruce on
Does this just block any sort of addictive impulse ? Its interesting
weirdkid71 on
Now if only more health insurances would cover it. I’m paying out of pocket for it because my insurance would only cover it *after* a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. I figured it’s worth the $500 per month to offset larger health issues caused by my weight later on in life. In the long run, I’m saving my insurance company money by taking these meds, but they don’t see it that way.
Simbakim on
Am I the only one waiting for this miracle drug to backfire spectacularly?
Tyveck on
I could 100% believe this. My alcohol cravings started going down too on tirz. I also started taking low dose Naltrexone from sobrietymeds.com but wouldn’t be surprised that they also started offering GLP-1s as well. I honestly don’t think I’ve had a drink in like 5 months
azzers214 on
I’m sure Novo Nordisk stock still isn’t getting a bump from this.
(This is mostly me just finding it hilarious). You have a class of drugs that keep finding uses and are needed by a huge swath of the world population and those stocks are hammered. And you have AI, often without a use that can be proven and people are tossing infinite cash at them. Just strange.
grafknives on
If that is true, if GLP-1 antagonists really can limit human cravings for addictive substances…
If they really help people control our impulsive needs…
Then they will DESTROY current economy.
Gambling, social media, alcohol, drugs, smoking, sex-centered services. Excessive eating.
We need to ban those drugs.
Inalowplace on
I’ve been on GLP-1 for over two months now. In this time I hit a max weight of 330 lbs, and a min weight of 320 lbs. I’m back up to around 325.
I have no clue how to diet, and because I don’t know how to cook and really don’t have the time to do so, I have no idea how to eat to lose weight. I’ve noticed no change in my alcohol or food interest, except when I was at the lowest weight. I believe that was more due to no appetite after having a close friend pass away and becoming sick at the same time.
I ballooned up to 320-330 lbs after taking antidepressants for a year and a half. I gained over 40 lbs on those medications and now that I’ve stopped them, the weight gain hasn’t continued, but I just can’t lose any weight.
Drunkpanada on
I just saw a thing on the news saying that there is research to see if it actually inhibits desire. Desire to eat, desire to drink, desire to take drugs etc.
Makes me wonder if it would impact on things like desire for love, desire for engament desire to get out etc.
Fly_Rodder on
I wasn’t a heavy drinker, but moderately so (4-7 times per week, mostly on weekends). After starting GLP-1, I rarely drink now. However, THC use has gone up. I’m OK with the switch. I’m 30lbs lighter, blood pressure is normal, and my resting heart rate is below average.
mansetta on
I just cannot get over the suspicion that there is a fair amount of hype with this type of drugs. It just seems too good to be true.
mojoman566 on
Mounjaro killed my craving for alcohol and sweets. I’ve pretty much stopped drinking since I started two years ago. Cravings for sweets has come back some.
NekoBlueHeart on
GLP-1 briefly helped my mom to drink less. Now she’s back to chugging wine and barely eats due to the meds.Â
14 Comments
GLP-1 receptor agonists, originally designed for diabetes and weight loss, are showing transformative potential for future addiction treatment, especially for alcohol and other substance use disorders. Early research, including both animal models and human clinical trials, indicates that these drugs may significantly reduce substance cravings, one study showed a 40% reduction in opioid cravings among patients taking GLP-1 drugs, which is comparable to reductions seen in intensive addiction treatments.
This could in the future be a key weapon in addressing the global addiction crisis which suffers from a persistent lack of effective treatment options. Less than a quarter of people with substance use disorders receive treatment and a key problem is limited availability of therapies.
The wide applicability of GLP-1 receptor agonists is unprecedented in medicine. From weight loss to disease prevention and protective properties, and now a possible agent to help with the opioid crisis and addiction. Truly amazing!
In my personal experience, I’m two months in to using a GLP-1 for weight loss and I’ve never felt better. It’s helped me lose enough weight in that time frame to get me back in the gym with less stress on my joints, further increasing my capacity to take back control over my health.
Does this just block any sort of addictive impulse ? Its interesting
Now if only more health insurances would cover it. I’m paying out of pocket for it because my insurance would only cover it *after* a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. I figured it’s worth the $500 per month to offset larger health issues caused by my weight later on in life. In the long run, I’m saving my insurance company money by taking these meds, but they don’t see it that way.
Am I the only one waiting for this miracle drug to backfire spectacularly?
I could 100% believe this. My alcohol cravings started going down too on tirz. I also started taking low dose Naltrexone from sobrietymeds.com but wouldn’t be surprised that they also started offering GLP-1s as well. I honestly don’t think I’ve had a drink in like 5 months
I’m sure Novo Nordisk stock still isn’t getting a bump from this.
(This is mostly me just finding it hilarious). You have a class of drugs that keep finding uses and are needed by a huge swath of the world population and those stocks are hammered. And you have AI, often without a use that can be proven and people are tossing infinite cash at them. Just strange.
If that is true, if GLP-1 antagonists really can limit human cravings for addictive substances…
If they really help people control our impulsive needs…
Then they will DESTROY current economy.
Gambling, social media, alcohol, drugs, smoking, sex-centered services. Excessive eating.
We need to ban those drugs.
I’ve been on GLP-1 for over two months now. In this time I hit a max weight of 330 lbs, and a min weight of 320 lbs. I’m back up to around 325.
I have no clue how to diet, and because I don’t know how to cook and really don’t have the time to do so, I have no idea how to eat to lose weight. I’ve noticed no change in my alcohol or food interest, except when I was at the lowest weight. I believe that was more due to no appetite after having a close friend pass away and becoming sick at the same time.
I ballooned up to 320-330 lbs after taking antidepressants for a year and a half. I gained over 40 lbs on those medications and now that I’ve stopped them, the weight gain hasn’t continued, but I just can’t lose any weight.
I just saw a thing on the news saying that there is research to see if it actually inhibits desire. Desire to eat, desire to drink, desire to take drugs etc.
Makes me wonder if it would impact on things like desire for love, desire for engament desire to get out etc.
I wasn’t a heavy drinker, but moderately so (4-7 times per week, mostly on weekends). After starting GLP-1, I rarely drink now. However, THC use has gone up. I’m OK with the switch. I’m 30lbs lighter, blood pressure is normal, and my resting heart rate is below average.
I just cannot get over the suspicion that there is a fair amount of hype with this type of drugs. It just seems too good to be true.
Mounjaro killed my craving for alcohol and sweets. I’ve pretty much stopped drinking since I started two years ago. Cravings for sweets has come back some.
GLP-1 briefly helped my mom to drink less. Now she’s back to chugging wine and barely eats due to the meds.Â