Both Wegovy and Mounjaro are given as weekly injections via pre-filled pens that can be self-administered into the upper arm, thigh or stomach. They work as an appetite suppressant by mimicking a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).

Weight-loss and diabetes drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro or Zepbound appear to help people battle alcoholism and opioid addiction, a new study finds.

Popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic might be able to help with substance abuse, according to new research on people addicted to opioids and alcohol. Routine checkups for Brandon Downey, a South Jersey nurse who's taking Wegovy to lose weight, show a positive trend.

FDA approval: Ozempic is FDA-approved for Type 2 diabetes, while Wegovy is FDA-approved for weight loss. Cost: Ozempic is typically more affordable than Wegovy. At the time of publishing, the list price for Ozempic was $968.52 per month, whereas the list price for Wegovy was $1,349.02 per month. List prices are the price set by the manufacturer.

As for why it’s not approved for weight loss in the UK, Dr Kayat added: “It works by helping to regulate your appetite and reduce cravings and hunger. But in the UK, it’s only supposed to be used for type 2 diabetes, and that’s in order to try and protect the resources for the type 2 diabetics.”

In a new study, obese kids who used GLP-1 weight-loss drugs had a 33% decline in their risk for thoughts of suicide and suicide attempts compared to adolescents who didn't.

Weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic, made by Denmark’s Novo Nordisk, can reduce rates of opioid and alcohol abuse by up to 50%, according to a new study that supports expectations the drugs can offer greater benefits than just weight and diabetes management.

The case that Ozempic (NVO) and other GLP-1 medications could help people with substance use disorders is getting stronger.