A recent study from USC shows that the drug semaglutide, which is marketed as Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for obesity, can also help reduce alcohol intake. The current research which was conducted and published in JAMA Psychiatry shows that patients who take this weekly dose of the medication have lower alcohol craving, less amount of drinking and fewer days of heavy drinking than those on placebo. Such findings may hold promise in filling a significant treatment gap for alcohol use disorder, which is associated with nearly 178,000 annual deaths in the U.S. and is known to complicate numerous other serious health conditions. However, despite the fact that many adults are eligible for treatment because of their problem drinking, only few seek it.
First Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
This paper is the first randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial to assess the effects of semaglutide on alcohol use. Christian Hendershot, the primary investigator of the study and the current director of USC’s Institute for Addiction Science, explains that the reduction in alcohol desire was noticed as semaglutide began to be used for obesity and diabetes. The existing therapies for alcohol use disorder are underutilized. The increasing use of GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide may increase the likelihood of their use for this indication if they are approved.
Trial and Results
This trial involved 48 adults meeting the criteria for alcohol use disorder and not seeking treatment. At baseline, all participants had a history of consuming more than the recommended amount of alcohol and engaging in binge drinking. After initial assessments, participants were randomized to receive semaglutide or placebo once a week for 9 weeks, with drinking assessed throughout. We found that semaglutide was associated with lower weekly alcohol craving and lower amount consumed on drinking days than placebo, showing larger reductions than are seen with other alcohol treatments. Approximately 40% of the semaglutide group had no heavy drinking days in the last month of treatment. A number of participants also had lower cigarette consumption.
Implications and Future Research
Senior author Klara Klein explains that such drugs may be useful for the treatment of alcohol use disorder and that more studies are needed to fully understand their safety and effectiveness.