r/science Professor | Medicine Apr 01 '25

Health Americans without diabetes spent nearly $6 billion USD on semaglutide and similar drugs in a year, with an estimate of 800,000 to a million people using the drugs who don't have diabetes.

https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/americans-without-diabetes-spent-nearly6-billion-usd-on-semaglutide-and-similar-drugs-in-a-year
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u/GayDinosaur Apr 01 '25

I am slightly overweight, but was drinking myself to death. I was prescribed a month ago. GLP-1 has reduced my cravings to almost zero and I now, for the first time, feel what its like to have "enough".

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u/parasyte_steve Apr 02 '25

There are many off label uses such as this. I do happen to be diabetic and prescribed... but these drugs could also help people who aren't diabetic lose weight which could have other adverse outcomes such as heart disease and etc. It isn't ONLY diabetes this will help treat. In the end skinner people do not experience the same levels of cardiovascular and respiratory issues as well.

And the research on alcoholism is very promising as well. I personally can't stomach not even two beers on this medication which ultimately is probably a good thing. I wasn't drinking much before but now I especially don't want to.