Semaglutide and Smoking: New Research Reveals GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs May Help People Quit Smoking
Semaglutide drugs, like Ozempic and Wegovy, have helped millions of Americans lose weight, reduce cravings and better manage their type 2 diabetes. Yet other benefits are discovered daily, thanks to observational studies and clinical trials. Take semaglutide and smoking, for example. Research suggests these medicines may help quell nicotine cravings, making it easier to quit tobacco for good. Here, we examine the data and provide several quick smoking cessation tips.
What is a semaglutide weight loss drug?
Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. Drugs in this class mimic a hormone the human body produces that increases insulin production, lowers blood sugar and reduces hunger. These factors make it easier to lose weight and keep it off, but they may also make it easier to quit smoking.
Can semaglutide weight loss drugs help quit smoking? What the research says
A new study published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine found that folks taking semaglutide medications were 32 percent less likely to need treatment for tobacco use disorder (TUD) compared to those taking traditional diabetes drugs, like insulin. TUD is the scientific term for chronic tobacco use that indicates dependency or addiction.
To measure semaglutide’s effect on tobacco addiction, the researchers looked at whether semaglutide patients were diagnosed with TUD during treatment and whether they were prescribed medication or counseling for smoking cessation.
The researchers concluded that people taking semaglutide drugs were less likely to be diagnosed with TUD and less likely to be prescribed medication or counseling to help them quit smoking. Scientists are still trying to determine why this is, but it likely has to do with how these drugs affect the brain.
“One of the reasons semaglutide medications work for weight loss is they quiet the part of the brain that causes you to desire overeating,” explains Rekha Kumar, MD, an endocrinologist, obesity medicine specialist and Chief Medical Officer at Found. “This new research suggests there may be some overlap in the area of the brain [responsible for] eating behavior and other addictive behaviors like smoking.”
“One of the amazing things about GLP-1 medications is that new research is coming out nearly every week, revealing additional health benefits,” Dr. Kumar continues. “In clinical practice, we’ve been hearing for years that [semaglutide] helps reduce alcohol use, gambling, shopping and more. I do believe it’s plausible that semaglutide can help with smoking cessation and this new study supports that.”
Next steps for those who smoke and want to quit
Dr. Kumar emphasizes that semaglutide drugs aren’t miracle cures. However, for those who smoke, they may provide an alternative treatment option to counseling and nicotine replacement therapy.
Even so, individuals who want to explore this treatment should only do so under the guidance of a licensed physician. But because the number of doctors who currently prescribe semaglutide off-label for smoking addiction is low, Dr. Kumar says your best bet is to reach out to a trusted healthcare provider and have them “refer you to someone with particular knowledge in this space.”
3 surprising ways to support smoking cessation
In the meantime, here are several all-natural strategies that may support smoking cessation:
1. Schedule an acupuncture session
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) technique practiced for more than 2,500 years. It involves placing small, thin needles into specific areas of the skin to relieve pain and promote healing. It might help with addiction, too! Consider that a study in the American Journal of Medicine concluded that people who received acupuncture were much more likely to quit smoking than those who didn’t.
2. Practice yoga
The ancient spiritual practice of yoga may also have anti-smoking benefits. A study published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research monitored a group of 227 adults in a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program for eight weeks.
Half of the participants did yoga for one hour twice a week, while the other half participated in a wellness program over the same period. At the end of the trial, participants in the yoga group were 37 percent more likely to quit smoking than those in the wellness group.
3. Sniff lavender essential oil
Lavender essential oil has long been used for its relaxing effects. Turns out, it could also make it easier to quit smoking.
A study in The Journal of Medicine and Therapeutics found that smokers who inhaled lavender essential oil through a surgical mask for five minutes experienced a significant reduction in tobacco cravings, anxiety and heart rate. These findings led researchers to conclude that lavender essential oil could be an alternative therapy to treat smoking addiction.
The bottom line
“Semaglutide medications have gained a negative reputation in the last year as being “vanity” drugs. This new study is one of many examples that contradict that idea,” Dr. Kumar says. “Research on GLP-1 medications is showing incredible results across the health spectrum, treating conditions like smoking addiction that have plagued us for decades.”
For more on weight loss drugs:
Which Weight Loss Drug Has the Best Results? New Study Reveals Efficacy
What to Eat On Ozempic for Weight Loss: Expert Advice
This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.
