Wegovy: A potential treatment for addiction

Wegovy is an injection for weight loss that is used by individuals who have not achieved success in losing weight solely through diet and exercise. 

Wegovy contains the active ingredient Semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist approved for type 2 diabetes and obesity.

It acts as an appetite suppressant, keeping you feeling full for a longer period, ultimately leading to decreased calorie consumption and subsequent weight loss. People taking Wegovy can expect to lose up to 15% of their starting weight.

Is Wegovy a potential treatment for addiction?

Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy for the treatment of weight loss and diabetes, has sparked interest due to its potential in reducing addictive behaviours.

There have been reports of individuals experiencing decreased cravings for substances and compulsive behaviours. This has prompted further research into Semaglutide's potential as an addiction treatment.

Patients taking Semaglutide for weight loss or diabetes have reported a surprising reduction in addictive behaviours such as alcohol consumption and smoking. 

Early research, including a study involving patients with alcohol use disorder, revealed that Semaglutide may decrease heavy drinking days and alcohol intake, particularly in patients with obesity. These findings offer early indications of semaglutide's potential benefits. 1

How does it work for addiction?

Studies show that individuals receiving Semaglutide exhibited reduced activation of the brain's reward centres when exposed to alcohol-related images. This suggests that Semaglutide may impact the brain's reward system, contributing to the observed effects on addictive behaviours. 2

Ongoing studies

Experts emphasise the need for additional research and clinical trials to confirm Semaglutide effectiveness as an addiction treatment. Research on animals suggests potential for decreasing the attraction and intake of addictive substances, but further studies are necessary to validate these results in humans. Ongoing clinical trials will provide valuable insights into Semaglutide's potential to reduce alcohol consumption and addictive behaviours. 3

Who can use Wegovy for weight loss?

This medicine can be used as a weight loss aid in adults aged 18-74 if their BMI (Body mass index) is over 30. 

Those who have weight-related health conditions such as diabetes could qualify if their BMI is over 27.

How to take Wegovy?

The weight loss aid is injected once weekly. This medicine is normally injected into the upper thigh, stomach or upper arms.

If you do not take Wegovy properly you could potentially increase the risk of unwanted side effects, you can see below the recommended Wegovy dosing schedule:

Is Wegovy safe?

All medicines come with a risk, although if you take them properly and as directed by your doctor, you will minimise this chance of risk, and they could be safe and effective weight loss aids. 

Wegovy injection is a licensed medicine for the treatment of weight loss, it has been approved by the HMRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency). 4

It is important that you always read the Wegovy patient information leaflet before using this medicine.

Is Wegovy available in the UK?

This weight loss aid is now available in the UK since it has already been available in the US under the brand name Ozempic.

Where can I buy Wegovy?

This treatment is available from Oxford Online Pharmacy with the issuing of a doctor’s prescription, this is how you can order Wegovy injections in the UK:

1. Complete our medical consultation. This allows our doctors to check that Wegovy is safe and appropriate for you. 
2. Select your preferred strength and quantity to add to your basket before completing checkout. 
3. One of our UK-registered doctors will review your order and prescribe your preferred treatment if appropriate. Occasionally we need extra information and will contact you via our confidential message centre. 
4. Your order will be packaged and posted from our pharmacy via our tracked delivery service.

To conclude:

Semaglutide shows promise as a potential treatment for addiction, with anecdotal reports and preliminary research already suggesting positive outcomes. However, more comprehensive clinical trials are needed to establish its effectiveness.

By further investigating how Semaglutide impacts addictive behaviours, researchers could discover innovative approaches to treating addiction in the coming years.

For more information on Wegovy (Semaglutide) and how it works and to see the other weight loss treatments available, head over to our dedicated weight loss injections page.

You can also get in touch with our healthcare professionals who will be happy to answer any questions you have about our weight loss medications.

References

1. The Lancet. Semaglutide reduces alcohol intake and relapse-like drinking in male and female rats
2. National Center for Biotechnology Information. The glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue Semaglutide reduces alcohol drinking and modulates central GABA neurotransmission
3. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Semaglutide and Tirzepatide reduce alcohol consumption in individuals with obesity
4. Gov UK Health Media. "Accessing Wegovy for Weight Loss: Comprehensive Guide."