Can Ozempic Reduce Alcohol Cravings?
Patients who take drugs like Wegovy or Ozempic for weight loss may notice another side effect, according to some users, including reduced cravings for alcohol, nicotine and even opioids. In an interview with CBS News’ Anne-Marie Green Thursday, Dr. Tamika Henry, founder of the California-based Unlimited Health Institute, explained Ozempic works with the reward centers in our brain.
“When we think about the reward centers, it releases dopamine, which is our feel-good hormone. So what happens is, when you do a certain activity, dopamine surges — and you’re like, ‘Oh, I want to keep doing that,’ whether that’s indulging in alcohol, nicotine or even gambling,” she said. “How Ozempic works is, it decreases the surge of dopamine, and therefore the desire for that particular activity is decreased.”
So in the same way it can help people who may eat compulsively, some think it could also help people with other compulsive behaviors. But, as Henry said, there’s not enough evidence yet. “There are studies that are done in rats and there has been anecdotal stories,” she said, but added “we need more studies to verify.”
Excerpted from NBC News
