North Raleigh Today

New research suggests that semaglutide, a drug commonly used for diabetes and obesity treatment, may help reduce alcohol consumption. The study was led by Christian Hendershot, PhD, from USC Institute for Addiction Science, and Klara Klein, MD, PhD, from UNC School of Medicine. The findings were published in JAMA Psychiatry.

The trial involved 48 adults with alcohol use disorder who were not seeking treatment. Participants received weekly injections of either semaglutide or a placebo over nine weeks. Results indicated that those treated with semaglutide had reduced alcohol cravings and consumed less alcohol compared to the placebo group.

"These data suggest the potential of semaglutide and similar drugs to fill an unmet need for the treatment of alcohol use disorder," said Klein. "Larger and longer studies in broader populations are needed to fully understand the safety and efficacy in people with alcohol use disorder, but these initial findings are promising."

The study also noted reductions in cigarette consumption among smokers receiving semaglutide. This aspect is significant as no current medications address both alcohol reduction and smoking cessation.

"The first clinical trial testing the impact of an older GLP-1 receptor agonist on alcohol use in humans was inconclusive," Klein explained. "However, as prescription of semaglutide and similar medications escalated, anecdotal reports of reduced alcohol use became very common."

Researchers aim to explore how GLP-1 receptor agonists affect brain reward processing related to addiction behaviors. As usage increases, further studies will evaluate long-term effects on drinking patterns and determine optimal dosing strategies.

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