Weight Loss Drug May Have Potential For Smoking Cessation

Semaglutide, the active ingredient in diabetes and weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, may be linked to improved smoking cessation, a study published Monday suggests. Compared to those who use Type 2 diabetes drugs like metformin and insulin, as well as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, semaglutide users had a lower chance of accessing health care for tobacco use disorders. They were also less likely to seek counseling and medication for smoking cessation. The differences in smoking cessation habits users experienced taking semaglutide versus other antidiabetic drugs were most significant within the first 30 days of semaglutide prescription. “These findings suggest the need for clinical trials to evaluate semaglutide’s potential for TUD (tobacco use disorder) treatment,” the authors wrote....