According to a new study published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, medications containing semaglutide, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, have the potential to significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders who are taking antipsychotic drugs.
Patients receiving second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs), such as clozapine or olanzapine, for the treatment of schizophrenia are particularly vulnerable to metabolic syndrome, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. These side effects often begin soon after treatment initiation and contribute to the fact that the life expectancy of this population is, on average, 15 years shorter compared to the general population.
A randomized clinical trial conducted in Denmark, involving 73 adults, showed that taking semaglutide (a drug belonging to the GLP-1RA class which regulates feelings of hunger) produced striking results over $6.5$ months compared to a placebo.
Following the treatment, almost half of the study participants achieved healthy blood sugar levels. This effect was observed in only 3% of the placebo group. Furthermore, the treatment group lost an average of 9.2 kg more, lost $6.1$ kg of body fat, and reduced their waist circumference by 7.0 cm.
It is noteworthy that semaglutide administration not only provided metabolic benefits but did not worsen the patients’ psychiatric symptoms, which is often a problem when attempting to change antipsychotic medications or start a diet. The scientists emphasize that these findings support the use of GLP-1RA drugs as an early intervention to reduce cardiometabolic risk in vulnerable patients.
Side effects, such as nausea and vomiting, were generally mild and temporary. The researchers plan to conduct larger and longer studies in the future to confirm these results and assess whether this method can improve heart health and reduce addictive behaviors.
