Can two drugs help mice lose weight and quit nicotine?
GLP-1 and nicotine combination therapy engages hypothalamic and mesolimbic pathways to reverse obesity
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Liraglutide suppresses nicotine-induced dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens, which reduces nicotine’s rewarding effects.
Most assume nicotine’s reward is what makes it addictive—this shows a weight-loss drug can actively shut that down without removing nicotine’s appetite suppression.
Practical Takeaways
Do not take nicotine or liraglutide together without medical supervision.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Liraglutide suppresses nicotine-induced dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens, which reduces nicotine’s rewarding effects.
Most assume nicotine’s reward is what makes it addictive—this shows a weight-loss drug can actively shut that down without removing nicotine’s appetite suppression.
Practical Takeaways
Do not take nicotine or liraglutide together without medical supervision.
Publication
Journal
Cell Reports
Year
2023
Authors
Sarah Falk, Jonas Petersen, Charlotte Svendsen, Cesar R. Romero-Leguizamón, Søren Heide Jørgensen, Nathalie Krauth, Mette Q. Ludwig, Kathrine Lundø, Urmas Roostalu, Grethe Skovbjerg, Duy Anh Gurskov Nielsen, Aske Lykke Ejdrup, Tune H. Pers, Oksana Dmytriyeva, Jacob Hecksher-Sørensen, Ulrik Gether, Kristi A. Kohlmeier, Christoffer Clemmensen
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Claims (6)
Nicotine acts as an appetite suppressant via central nervous system activation of hypothalamic satiety pathways independent of tobacco-derived toxins.
Giving mice both nicotine and a diabetes drug called liraglutide together helps them lose weight by making them eat less and burn more calories.
A drug that activates GLP-1 receptors makes certain brain cells in mice more active — specifically ones that control appetite and reward.
When mice get both nicotine and liraglutide, several parts of their brain light up with activity, suggesting the two drugs work together in the brain.
Mice given GLP-1 drugs tend to avoid nicotine, suggesting these drugs might reduce the appeal of nicotine.