A recent study published in JAMA Network Open indicates that individuals with a history of opioid abuse who were treated with Novo Nordisk A/S's Ozempic experienced a significantly lower risk of overdose. The study found that patients administered semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and the weight-loss medication Wegovy, were less than half as likely to overdose compared to those on insulin. Furthermore, those taking semaglutide were 63% less likely to experience an overdose than patients using DPP-4 inhibitors, a common class of diabetes medications.
The implications of this study are considerable, as it suggests that semaglutide may play a role in managing addiction and could offer a new avenue for treatment among vulnerable populations. This research adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the potential benefits of Ozempic beyond its primary use in diabetes and weight management.