Weight loss jabs could help addicts kick drugs and smokers quit cigs, research shows
FAT-loss jabs could help people kick drug and smoking habits, research suggests.
A study found that liraglutide, prescribed on the NHS as Saxenda to tackle obesity, was as good as a fortnight in rehab for people addicted to painkillers.
The jabs can crush drug cravings in the same way they stop the desire to eat.
Tests on 20 people recovering from opioid addictions found patients who took the jabs once a day rated cravings 40 per cent lower than those having rehab.
Some patients experienced no cravings at all.
Professor Sue Grigson, from Penn State University, US, said: “We thought if the Ozempic-type drugs help people to feel less hungry, they could help people feel less motivated to take drugs.
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“People in the trial had significantly less craving and they were more likely to experience zero cravings.”
Prof Grigson’s study found addicts taking liraglutide rated their cravings at 0.92 out of four on average, compared to 1.5 for rehab.
The jabs, also including Wegovy and Mounjaro, mimic a hormone to make people feel full.
They are prescribed for weight loss and type 2 diabetes.
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Earlier studies on rodents suggested the treatment could also work for nicotine and cocaine addiction.
Other research showed them to lower the risk of heart attack or stroke, reduce blood pressure and cholesterol and potentially protect against dementia.
Professor Scott Bunce, also a leader on the study at Penn State, said: “The amount of reduction is the equivalent of spending two weeks in a very high-quality treatment centre, costing around $15,000 (£12,000).
“It’s a small study but it’s very encouraging.”
Who is eligible for Wegovy?
WEIGHT loss injections are not freely available for anyone who wants to slim down – patients must meet strict health criteria to get them on the NHS.
Britain's medicines watchdog, the National Institutes of Health and Care Excellence (NICE), says patients must meet the following to be eligible for Wegovy on NHS prescription:
- BMI of over 30, which classes as obese
- At least one weight-related health condition, such as prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, or obstructive sleep apnoea
- Also attempting to – or have made a serious effort to – lose weight by dieting and exercise
Criteria may be different for private healthcare providers but patients would likely have to pay full price for the medication.