A new study led by USC researchers reveals that semaglutide, the widely known drug for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes, may also help reduce alcohol cravings and consumption. The findings, published in JAMA Psychiatry, suggest that weekly injections of semaglutide—marketed as Ozempic and Wegovy—could significantly decrease alcohol intake among adults struggling with alcohol use disorder.
Semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, has already gained attention for its effectiveness in aiding weight loss and managing diabetes. Now, research shows it may offer benefits for those suffering from alcohol dependence, a group often overlooked in current treatment options. The study involved 48 adults diagnosed with alcohol use disorder, who were not actively seeking treatment, and compared the effects of semaglutide to a placebo.
Researchers observed that participants who received semaglutide injections reported a reduction in alcohol cravings, fewer drinks consumed on drinking days, and a significant decrease in heavy drinking days. By the second month of treatment, those in the semaglutide group reduced alcohol intake on drinking days by nearly 30%, compared to just 2% in the placebo group. Additionally, nearly 40% of those treated with semaglutide had no heavy drinking days, in contrast to 20% in the placebo group.
“This is the first randomized, placebo-controlled trial specifically designed to explore semaglutide’s effect on alcohol use disorder,” said Christian Hendershot, the study’s first author and director of clinical research at USC’s Institute for Addiction Science. “Our results suggest that semaglutide could provide a new avenue for treating alcohol use disorder, a condition that is linked to serious health problems, including liver disease and cardiovascular complications.”
The study also highlighted that semaglutide’s impact may extend beyond alcohol cravings. In a smaller subgroup of participants who smoked cigarettes, those treated with semaglutide also reduced their daily cigarette consumption, further suggesting the drug’s potential to address multiple addictive behaviors.
Despite these promising results, the researchers call for larger, more extensive studies to evaluate the long-term safety and effectiveness of semaglutide for alcohol use disorder. Senior author Klara Klein of the University of North Carolina School of Medicine emphasized the need for broader trials to confirm these initial findings and better understand the full scope of semaglutide’s therapeutic potential.
With alcohol-related deaths accounting for an estimated 178,000 U.S. deaths annually, the study’s findings are especially significant in addressing a critical public health gap. As semaglutide continues to gain popularity for its effects on obesity and diabetes, its potential role in treating alcohol use disorder could lead to a wider acceptance of this medication for various addiction-related conditions.
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