Could GLP-1 Medications Help People Struggling With Alcohol Use Disorder? Here’s What We Know

Could GLP-1 medications help people struggling with alcohol use disorder (AUD)? A growing body of research suggests they might. Scientists are investigating whether GLP-1 medications, best known for their effects on weight loss and diabetes, may also help reduce alcohol cravings and consumption. The idea is particularly interesting because these medications appear to influence the brain’s reward pathways, the same systems involved in appetite, cravings, and addiction.

Medications such as Mounjaro and Ozempic have become widely known for suppressing appetite. Researchers are now asking whether their effects could extend beyond food and potentially help people who struggle with alcohol.

Early Research Shows Promising Results.

In a study released May 28 by the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, researchers reported positive results from the first clinical trial testing semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, in treatment-seeking patients with alcohol use disorder who were also living with obesity.

After 26 weeks of treatment, alcohol consumption among participants receiving semaglutide dropped by more than 70%.

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted at the Mental Health Center Copenhagen. It included 108 participants, evenly divided between men and women, with an average age of approximately 50.

Everyone in the study was seeking professional help to reduce, control, or stop their alcohol use. All participants had a body mass index (BMI) of at least 30, which is considered the lower threshold for obesity, and met DSM-5 criteria for alcohol use disorder.

Participants had experienced at least six heavy-drinking days during the 30 days before the trial began. The average was 17 heavy-drinking days, and 85% of participants met the criteria for severe AUD.

The participants were divided into two groups of 54. One group received weekly injections of semaglutide at a dose of 2.4 mg for 26 weeks, while the other received placebo injections.

Both groups also had access to up to 10 sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The sessions focused on motivation, strategies for managing cravings, and relapse prevention.

Researchers assessed the primary outcome—the number of heavy-drinking days—at weeks 6, 12, 20, and 26. They also looked at several secondary outcomes, including total alcohol consumption, alcohol-free days, the number of drinks consumed on drinking days, and alcohol cravings. Metabolic measures and biomarkers were also monitored.

The results showed a greater reduction in heavy-drinking days among participants receiving semaglutide. On average, heavy-drinking days fell by 41%, compared with a 26% reduction in the placebo group.

The difference in total alcohol consumption was even more striking.

Among participants receiving semaglutide, alcohol consumed during the previous 30 days fell by more than 70%—from 78 ounces of 100% alcohol at the beginning of the study to 23 ounces. That’s roughly equivalent to a reduction from 130 shots of 80-proof spirits to about 39 shots over 30 days.

Alcohol consumption also declined substantially in the placebo group, falling by 46%. Researchers noted that this may reflect several factors, including the placebo effect, participants’ desire to reduce their drinking, and the CBT available to everyone in the study.

The average number of drinks consumed on drinking days also declined. Participants receiving semaglutide reported a reduction of 3.5 drinks per drinking day, compared with a reduction of 2.1 drinks in the placebo group.

Metabolic measures and biomarkers also improved more among those receiving semaglutide.

The largest benefits were observed among participants who reported 12 to 17 heavy-drinking days during the 30 days before the study began, as well as among those diagnosed with severe AUD.

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