From Ozempic to Alcohol: The Rise of Medication Assisted Weight Loss and the Overlap with Addiction

Over the past year, medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound GLP1 receptor agonists originally designed for diabetes, have made headlines for their off label use in weight loss. A new, quieter trend is emerging beneath the surface: some patients are reporting a decreased desire to drink alcohol or use substances while on these medications.

Is it a side effect? A bonus? A clue?

The Addiction Suppression Effect

Researchers are now exploring whether GLP1 medications might unintentionally blunt cravings for alcohol, opioids, and even nicotine. Preliminary studies suggest the mechanism of action regulating dopamine reward centers and insulin glucose signaling could impact the very circuits involved in addiction.

This intersection is more than intriguing; it could be revolutionary.

A Cautionary Intersection

At Ascend Medical Wellness Concierge, we stay on the pulse of emerging science, but, we also practice cautious optimism.

Here's why:

• Self-medicating with weight loss drugs to suppress substance use is not treatment.

• These medications are not FDA approved for addiction and come with potential psychiatric side effects.

• Recovery is not just about removing a craving it’s about healing the root causes underneath it.

What This Means for Recovery

This trend reinforces a powerful truth: addiction is not a moral failing, it's a neurochemical imbalance that can be addressed medically. Whether it’s medication assisted treatment (MAT) for opioids or experimental findings around GLP1s, the future of recovery is leaning into science, not stigma.

For our concierge clients, we offer:

• Medically monitored detox in the comfort of home

• Personalized treatment planning, including discussions of emerging pharmacologic options

• Integrative therapies to address physical, emotional, and behavioral wellness

Looking Ahead

As the landscape evolves, our team at Ascend remains committed to combining cutting edge research with compassionate care. We don’t chase trends we evaluate them clinically and apply them strategically for each client’s unique journey.

If you're curious how these developments may apply to your recovery plan, we invite you to reach out.

Because the future of addiction treatment isn’t just happening, it’s being customized.