A new study is adding to the growing conversation around the effects of GLP-1 drugs beyond weight loss. According to research published in The Lancet, patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and obesity who were treated with semaglutide alongside cognitive behavioral therapy drank significantly less than those who received therapy alone.
Researchers followed 108 treatment-seeking participants over 26 weeks, with patients receiving either weekly semaglutide injections or a placebo while also receiving standard CBT for alcohol use disorder. While both groups reduced their alcohol intake over time, the semaglutide group saw greater reductions in heavy drinking days, overall alcohol consumption and alcohol cravings.
The findings stand out because treatment options for alcohol use disorder have remained relatively limited for years. Currently, only three medications are FDA-approved to treat AUD. Researchers believe GLP-1 drugs may help because they act on brain pathways tied to appetite, cravings and reward behavior, which are also closely linked to addiction.
In addition to drinking less, participants taking semaglutide also experienced improvements in body weight, waist circumference, blood sugar levels and biomarkers associated with alcohol-related liver damage. The most commonly reported side effects included nausea, constipation, reflux and abdominal pain, though researchers described most symptoms as mild to moderate.
“This is very encouraging,” said study co-author and National Institute on Drug Abuse director Nora Volkow, noting that scientists are beginning to see the potential for GLP-1 medications to play a role beyond obesity and diabetes, including in addiction treatment.
Researchers say more clinical trials are still needed, particularly to determine whether the same effects would apply to people with alcohol use disorder who do not also have obesity.
