A recent study published in JAMA Psychiatry revealed that Ozempic (semaglutide), a medication commonly used for type 2 diabetes, may reduce alcohol cravings and consumption in adults with alcohol use disorder. The nine-week trial involved 48 adults with moderate alcohol use disorder and found that those receiving low-dose semaglutide experienced decreases in both their desire to drink and the amount they consumed when drinking.
The research was conducted at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, with Dr. Klara Klein as the study's senior author. "These initial findings are promising," said Klein, emphasizing the need for broader studies in more diverse populations to fully understand the medication's potential role in treating alcohol use disorder, according to a report by scienceblog.com.
Participants were randomly assigned to receive either low-dose semaglutide or a placebo once a week. By the final month of treatment, nearly 40% of those in the Ozempic group reported no heavy drinking days at all, compared to 20% in the placebo group. The medication appeared to particularly affect how much people drank on days when they did consume alcohol, rather than the number of days they chose to drink.
In addition to reducing alcohol consumption, the study found that participants who smoked also showed reductions in their daily cigarette consumption compared to those on placebo. Those receiving Ozempic demonstrated reductions in both their desire to drink and smoke, suggesting the medication might help address multiple addictive behaviors.
"This was the first randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial designed to study the phenomenon," said Dr. Christian Hendershot, director of clinical research at the USC Institute for Addiction Science and the study's first author. "What I didn't expect was that the magnitude of the effects seems quite good... compared to other medications for alcohol use disorders," said Hendershot.
Both Ozempic and Wegovy belong to a class of medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which affect the reward regulation system and dopamine in the brain. Forbes reported that these drugs mimic the function of a gut hormone used for regulating blood sugar and appetite. While Ozempic is approved for treating type 2 diabetes, it has become a popular off-label weight-loss aid.
The study acknowledges limitations due to its modest sample size and short-term treatment duration. "Larger and longer studies in broader populations are needed," said Klein, as reported by scienceblog.com. Despite these limitations, the findings open an intriguing new frontier in addiction treatment.
Alcohol use disorder affects millions worldwide, and effective treatments are desperately needed. Forbes reported that nearly a third of American adults experience problem drinking at some point in their lives. Currently, less than 10% of people with alcohol use disorder receive treatment, and while the FDA has approved three medications to help reduce drinking, they are not widely used.
The potential of semaglutide to address multiple addictive behaviors could have substantial public health benefits. The widespread use of Ozempic and similar drugs for diabetes and weight loss could make treatment for alcohol use disorder more accessible.
Participants in the study lost an average of 5% of their body weight during the trial, consistent with Ozempic's known effects. Side effects were generally mild and similar to those commonly reported with the medication.
The reductions in drinking occurred at relatively low doses of Ozempic—just a fraction of what's typically prescribed for weight loss. This suggests the medication might work through biological mechanisms rather than conscious effort.
While questions remain about optimal dosing and long-term safety for individuals specifically seeking to reduce alcohol consumption, the study's findings provide initial evidence that low-dose semaglutide can reduce craving and some drinking outcomes. Researchers advocate for larger clinical trials to evaluate GLP-1 receptor agonists for alcohol use disorder.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq