Metformin

TUESDAY, July 30, 2024 -- Smokers with diabetes or obesity who take semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) might reap an added benefit: Help in quitting smoking. A yearlong study found that, compared to people using other diabetes drugs, fewer patients who were taking semaglutide sought out medical help to quit smoking. That suggests the drug might have already been helping them to quit, researchers noted. The finding wasn't a complete surprise to researchers at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), since "clinical anecdotes that patients treated with semaglutide ... [have] reported reduced desire to smoke" have already been widespread, they said. The new study was published July 29 in the Annals of Internal Medicine . How might semaglutide cut down on smoking? The researchers noted these drugs (along with Mounjaro and Zepbound) are glucagon-like peptide receptor agonists (GLP-1s), which work to suppress appetite by targeting specific receptors in the brain. Studies in mice have shown that GLP-1s also reduce "nicotine-induced increases in dopamine release" in a specific brain area, "a common mechanism underlying the rewarding effects of addictive drugs," the researchers explained. The new study was led by NIDA director Dr. Nora Volkow . Her team analyzed data from seven trials, all involving smokers who also had type 2 diabetes. Almost 223,000 patients were tracked for a year, and they took a variety of diabetes meds, including insulin, metformin and sulfonylureas, among others. A total of 5,967 of the patients took semaglutide. Volkow's team looked at the uptake of quit-smoking therapies -- a marker for folks who felt they needed help to quit smoking. The researchers found that patients taking semaglutide were 32% less likely to seek out such therapies compared to those who took insulin, 24% less likely to do so compared to folks taking sulfonyureas, and 18% less likely compared to folks taking metformin. Smokers in the study who took semaglutide were only slightly less likely (12%) to need quit-smoking therapies compared to folks who took the other GLP-1 drug tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound), the team noted. Volkow's team stressed these results come from a retrospective look at data, and no one is suggesting that doctors start prescribing GLP-1s to help smokers quit at this point in time. The findings are intriguing, however, and "need to be examined in randomized, clinical trials," the researchers concluded. This isn't the first time that GLP-1s have appeared to curb addictive behaviors. Earlier this month, researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine reported that people taking semaglutide had 50% to 56% decreased odds for either becoming alcoholic or relapsing into alcoholism. Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.

As a globally acclaimed medication, semaglutide has been making waves with its exceptional therapeutic effects. Not only has it demonstrated remarkable performance in diabetes treatment, but it has also successfully expanded its reach to areas like weight management, cardiovascular diseases, and kidney disorders.   Recently, JAMA Oncology, a subsidiary journal of the American Medical Association, published a compelling study that unveiled the potential of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy to lower the risk of up to 10 types of cancer. This finding undoubtedly brings a new glimmer of hope to the field of cancer prevention.   The logic behind GLP-1 drugs' ability to reduce the risk of malignant cancers is not overly complex. It is well-known that overweight or obese individuals have a higher risk of developing cancer, and this risk further increases with the rise in body weight and the prolonged duration of being overweight. Semaglutide, through its unique mechanism of delaying gastric emptying, suppressing appetite, and enhancing feelings of satiety and fullness, helps patients achieve weight loss.   According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), being overweight is closely linked to a series of physiological changes, such as chronic inflammation and abnormal elevations in insulin, insulin-like growth factors, and sex hormones, all of which are potential cancer-promoting factors. The CDC also points out that around 40% of new cancer diagnoses are associated with being overweight, with 13 types of human malignant tumors already established as obesity-related.   Recent analysis of a large electronic health record (EHR) dataset by researchers at Case Western Reserve University in the United States has yielded an exciting conclusion. They found that among patients with type 2 diabetes receiving GLP-1 drug treatment, the risk of developing 10 out of the 13 mentioned malignant cancers was significantly lower compared to those solely receiving insulin therapy. This discovery encompasses a wide range of common cancer types, including esophageal, colorectal, endometrial, gallbladder, kidney, liver, ovarian, and pancreatic cancers, as well as meningioma and multiple myeloma.   Interestingly, while the risks of breast cancer, thyroid cancer, and gastric cancer did not show statistically significant differences, the study revealed that GLP-1 therapy may help reduce the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer. This finding is particularly noteworthy, as postmenopausal breast cancer is one of the cancer types most closely linked to obesity.   However, semaglutide is not without its flaws. Although it can lower the risk of various malignant cancers, it may also increase the risk of certain cancers. For instance, compared to diabetic patients taking metformin, those using GLP-1 drugs may face a higher risk of kidney cancer. Furthermore, based on research findings and previous reports about insulin promoting cancer growth, GLP-1 injections may be associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer.   Recent studies on the side effects of GLP-1 drugs have also sparked controversies around semaglutide. One study suggests that the use of Novo Nordisk's semaglutide injection may increase the risk of a rare eye disease called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a serious eye condition that can lead to blindness. The data shows that the probability of developing NAION is four times higher in patients with type 2 diabetes using semaglutide compared to those not using the drug.   Additionally, injecting semaglutide can trigger a series of gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, bloating, and indigestion. These issues not only impact the patient's quality of life but may also have negative effects on the treatment's efficacy.   On social media, the "Ozempic Face" phenomenon has also garnered widespread attention. This refers to the physical changes, such as sunken cheeks, loose skin, and sunken eyes, that occur due to rapid weight loss after semaglutide injection. These changes have raised doubts about semaglutide's "beauty-enhancing" effects. In fact, semaglutide may potentially lead to muscle loss and functional decline, which is a limitation in its weight-loss applications.   In conclusion, while semaglutide holds potential value in cancer prevention for high-risk populations, for those seeking weight loss, a combination of dietary modification and exercise may be a more stable and effective approach. As we enjoy the benefits of semaglutide, we must also remain vigilant about its potential side effects and risks.