New Study Suggests Fyl and Xyl Overdose Risk May Be Reduced by Diabetes Medication
A recent study indicates that medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, primarily used for weight loss, might also lower the risk of fyl overdose.
Researchers found that people with type 2 diabetes who were prescribed semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) had a significantly lower risk of fyl overdose compared to patients using eight other diabetic medications.
Lead researcher Rong Xu, a professor of biomedical informatics at Case Western Reserve University, said the results point to “semaglutide as a potential new treatment for combating the devastating [fyl] epidemic.”
The study, published on Sept. 25 in *JAMA Network Open*, analyzed six years of medical data from nearly 33,000 patients with opioid use disorder who also had type 2 diabetes. The findings showed that those prescribed semaglutide were less likely to experience fyl overdose.
Xu emphasized the importance of further clinical trials to confirm this effect, stating that semaglutide could potentially offer a new way to protect those battling fyl addiction.
In 2023, drug overdoses claimed around 107,500 lives in the United States, with approximately 72% involving opioids, researchers noted. Despite the availability of medications like naloxone to prevent overdoses, only about a quarter of people with opioid addiction are on these treatments, and half discontinue within six months.
“Not everyone responds to or receives these treatments,” Xu said. “Therefore, alternative medications to address opioid use disorder and prevent overdosing are crucial.”
Dr. Sandeep Kapoor, vice president of emergency medicine addiction services at Northwell in New Hyde Park, N.Y., was not involved in the study but called its findings "extremely promising," though preliminary. Kapoor explained that it makes sense semaglutide could curb opioid overuse, as the drug affects the brain's dopamine reward system, similar to how opioids and other substances do.
"It’s an innovative approach that we should investigate further," Kapoor added, though he noted that semaglutide is not yet FDA-approved for treating opioid use disorder. He believes the study underscores the need for better treatment options for individuals struggling with or at risk of fyl use disorder.
For more information on treating opioid use disorder, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
Sandeep Kapoor, MD, vice president, emergency medicine addiction services, Northwell, New Hyde Park, N.Y.; Case Western Reserve University, news release, Sept. 25, 2024
Source: US News
Researchers found that people with type 2 diabetes who were prescribed semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) had a significantly lower risk of fyl overdose compared to patients using eight other diabetic medications.
Lead researcher Rong Xu, a professor of biomedical informatics at Case Western Reserve University, said the results point to “semaglutide as a potential new treatment for combating the devastating [fyl] epidemic.”
The study, published on Sept. 25 in *JAMA Network Open*, analyzed six years of medical data from nearly 33,000 patients with opioid use disorder who also had type 2 diabetes. The findings showed that those prescribed semaglutide were less likely to experience fyl overdose.
Xu emphasized the importance of further clinical trials to confirm this effect, stating that semaglutide could potentially offer a new way to protect those battling fyl addiction.
In 2023, drug overdoses claimed around 107,500 lives in the United States, with approximately 72% involving opioids, researchers noted. Despite the availability of medications like naloxone to prevent overdoses, only about a quarter of people with opioid addiction are on these treatments, and half discontinue within six months.
“Not everyone responds to or receives these treatments,” Xu said. “Therefore, alternative medications to address opioid use disorder and prevent overdosing are crucial.”
Dr. Sandeep Kapoor, vice president of emergency medicine addiction services at Northwell in New Hyde Park, N.Y., was not involved in the study but called its findings "extremely promising," though preliminary. Kapoor explained that it makes sense semaglutide could curb opioid overuse, as the drug affects the brain's dopamine reward system, similar to how opioids and other substances do.
"It’s an innovative approach that we should investigate further," Kapoor added, though he noted that semaglutide is not yet FDA-approved for treating opioid use disorder. He believes the study underscores the need for better treatment options for individuals struggling with or at risk of fyl use disorder.
For more information on treating opioid use disorder, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
Sandeep Kapoor, MD, vice president, emergency medicine addiction services, Northwell, New Hyde Park, N.Y.; Case Western Reserve University, news release, Sept. 25, 2024
Source: US News