Two "miracle" weight-loss medication that customers swear assist them battle addictions and shed the kilos have been slammed by an professional who insists there are not any "quick fixes". Ozempic and Wegovy, that are prescribed for treating diabetes, have not too long ago made headlines as they will trigger customers to shed additional weight quickly.

But talking completely to The Daily Express US, Brook McKenzie, chief working officer for Burning Tree Programs - a licensed chemical dependency counsellor programme, warned the medication can have disagreeable unwanted effects. He defined an absence of “rigourous testing and oversight” with each medication isn't but accessible, and so they shouldn't be used to deal with addictions with out the right analysis.

He defined: “Serious addiction disorders are complex conditions with biological, psychological, and social dimensions. They fundamentally alter brain chemistry, require time for healing, and involve deeply entrenched behaviours. Quick fixes or magic pills are generally thought to be unrealistic because they overlook the importance of comprehensive treatment. 

“This includes medically supervised detoxification, psychotherapy, behavioural modification, peer support, and ongoing relapse prevention strategies. Sustained recovery often necessitates significant lifestyle changes and persistent effort, underlining that overcoming addiction isn't simply about eradicating physical dependence but also rebuilding a healthy, substance-free life.

READ THE FULL INTERVIEW: Experts sound alarm over 'harmful side effects' of miracle 'quick fix' addiction drugs

“Untested methodologies for addiction treatment should be approached with caution.”

Some sufferers who've used the medication have confessed to with the ability to management their impulses. Last 12 months, many on these semaglutide drugs reported having fewer cravings for quick meals and caffeine. 

Victoria Rutledge told the Atlantic that she’d typically let a whole lot of kilos value of natural groceries go off in her fridge and would moderately snack sweets purchased swiftly on the grocery store. She mentioned: “I couldn’t cease from going to that excessive." 

But following starting her Wegovy treatment, she no longer felt such urges, particularly with impulse buying.

Tulane University obesity medicine specialist Shauna Levy has also noticed this among her own patients — but not just for suppressing their appetites. She told the Daily Mail: “I have noticed that people want to drink less alcohol. I have also noticed a decrease in binge eating behaviour.”

Tar Heel scientists at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill are currently researching to see if drugs like these can suppress urges to drink and smoke as well.  Specifically, these drugs act as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which regulates hunger by communicating with the brain to produce certain levels of insulin and lower blood sugar.

Levy added: “GLP-1 receptor [medications] decrease the reward the brain feels from addictive behaviors like eating, drinking, smoking, shopping, etc. 

“It was a really cool finding. These medications can treat so many different problems. We need to do more research to understand the mechanism.”

Research published in 2020 has shown potential downsides to Ozempic and Wegovy.

Those who have taken the drugs immediately fell back into their addictions when they stopped using the drugs.  Wegovy users commonly regained two-thirds of their lost weight and had their appetites return very quickly.

Dr. Holly Lofton, the director of the weight management program at NYU Langone Health explained to NBC: “When you’re at that max weight loss, your body’s hunger hormones are the highest. So, if you lose 50 pounds and regain 25, your hunger is the highest when you’ve lost the 50. 

“And even when you regain the 25, it doesn’t go back to baseline; your hunger is higher than prior to losing weight.”

She continued: “There is the potential for relapse: Ineffective treatment could increase the likelihood of relapse, potentially leading to dangerous or fatal consequences. For these reasons, it's important to stick with evidence-based treatments when dealing with addiction.”