No Fluff. Just Sources.
🚬 Addiction Research

GLP-1s and Smoking: The Unexpected Quit Aid

People are quitting cigarettes on Ozempic without even trying. Now clinical trials are investigating whether this could be the next big thing in smoking cessation.

December 2025 6 min read
"I just... forgot to smoke. After 20 years."
— Common refrain in GLP-1 patient communities

It started as scattered reports in online forums. People taking semaglutide for weight loss noticed something strange: they didn't want cigarettes anymore. Not just less craving—the desire simply vanished.

Now researchers are taking these reports seriously. Multiple clinical trials are underway, and the early data is promising.

The Evidence So Far

30-40%
reduction in smoking reported in observational studies
12+
active clinical trials on GLP-1s for addiction

Large observational studies using insurance claims data have found that people on GLP-1 medications are significantly less likely to continue smoking—even when controlling for weight loss motivation.

The effect appears to be direct, not just a side effect of "getting healthier."

Why Would a Diabetes Drug Help You Quit Smoking?

The Brain Connection
1 GLP-1 receptors exist throughout the brain, including reward centers
2 Nicotine triggers dopamine release in these same reward pathways
3 GLP-1 medications modulate dopamine signaling, dampening the "reward" from nicotine
4 The cigarette stops feeling rewarding → cravings fade → quitting becomes easier

This is the same mechanism that reduces "food noise"—the constant background chatter about eating. For smokers, it appears to quiet the "cigarette noise" too.

Active Clinical Trials

🔬 UNC School of Medicine Trial
Researchers at UNC are conducting a randomized controlled trial specifically testing semaglutide for smoking cessation. The trial is recruiting participants who smoke at least 5 cigarettes daily and are motivated to quit. Results expected in 2025-2026.

Similar trials are underway at multiple institutions, testing both semaglutide and tirzepatide for nicotine addiction. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has identified GLP-1s as a priority area for addiction research.

What People Are Reporting

From Online Communities

These are anecdotes, not clinical data—but they're consistent enough that researchers started paying attention.

The Bigger Picture: A "Prozac Moment"?

Some addiction researchers are calling GLP-1s a potential "Prozac moment" for addiction medicine—a paradigm shift in how we treat compulsive behaviors.

If GLP-1 medications can help with:

...then we may be looking at the first truly broad-spectrum treatment for addictive disorders.

Source
Clinical trials registered at ClinicalTrials.gov. UNC School of Medicine research announcements. NIDA statements on GLP-1 research priorities. Observational studies on smoking rates in GLP-1 users.
The Bottom Line
Growing evidence suggests GLP-1 medications may help people quit smoking—not through willpower, but by reducing the brain's reward response to nicotine. Observational data shows 30-40% reductions in smoking, and multiple clinical trials are now underway. If you're on a GLP-1 and have noticed reduced cigarette cravings, you're not imagining it—this is a real phenomenon being actively researched. GLP-1s aren't yet approved for smoking cessation, but watch this space.
Sources
  1. ClinicalTrials.gov. Active trials on GLP-1 receptor agonists for nicotine addiction.
  2. UNC School of Medicine. Semaglutide smoking cessation trial.
  3. Observational studies on smoking rates in GLP-1 users (insurance claims data).
  4. Mechanistic research on GLP-1 receptors in brain reward pathways.