Drugs like Ozempic are a new but very well known prescription drug that is used for weight loss and to lower blood sugar for those with diabetes. There has been lots of questions about the impact that it has on Parkinson's as more and more people are being prescribed these medications to combat obesity and diabetes. A few recent studies have been published looking at those effects. Let's see what they found.
There are some studies that show there may be a link between the sensitivity to insulin and PD progression, which led to the research around diabetes medication and PD. A recent clinical trial tested whether medications like Ozempic can be used as a treatment for people with PD who are specifically in the earlier stages of the disease. The study found that one medication, lixisenatide, helped movement symptoms. This study was done in mice, not in humans so this study alone cannot be used to guide treatment. Recently, there was another study that looked at the effects of lixisenatide on humans!
That study had 50 participants, all with Parkinson's, who were randomly assigned to receive lixisenatide or a placebo. A placebo is a sugar pill, meaning the pill has no effect on their body systems but the participant does not know it is not the real medication. All participants were in the early stages of PD and were instructed to continue taking their dopaminergic medications. Participants were in this study for 12 months, which is a very long study. People who received lixisenatide showed better results with their movement symptoms compared to just the placebo group. What is important to note is that the lixisenatide group did not show improvements, but they stayed the same. The placebo group reported worsening of symptoms at the end of the study. Even further, both groups were measured for 2 months after the trial was over and the lixisenatide medication and placebo medication was stopped. The lixisenatide group continued to report less symptoms compared to the placebo group.
The side effects of the medication is very important to mention. Those who were in the lixisenatide group reported GI side effects, mostly nausea and vomiting. 28 people in the study asked to take a lower dose because of the side effects.
There is still so much we do not know, but seeing medications that can help slow the progression is really promising.
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