In a world where alcohol claims almost 178,000 lives annually only in the United States, a ray of hope has emerged from an unlikely source: a better known drug for treating diabetes and obesity. The semaglutida, marketed as Ozempic and Wegovy, is now promising to reduce alcohol cravings and excessive alcohol consumption, according to a new study led by researchers from the University of Southern California.
The results were surprising. Heavy drinkers who took semaglutida reduced their alcohol intake by almost 30%, compared to only 2% in the placebo group.
An interesting observation
The drug, semaglutida, is part of a class of medications known as agonists of the GLP-1 receiver. These have been celebrated for their ability to regulate blood sugar and promote weight loss. LPG-1, a hormone, helps regulate appetite and blood sugar levels, but also seems to influence the brain reward system. Patients and doctors have long noticed an intriguing side effect: a diminished desire for alcohol.
“People begin weekly injections for obesity or diabetes, and suddenly they lose their alcohol desire,” said Christian Hendershot, first author and director of clinical research of the study at the Institute of Addiction Sciences of the USC.
This observation led Hendershot and his team to perform the first randomized and controlled clinical trial with placebo to assess the effects of the semaglutida on alcohol consumption disorder.
The study involved 48 adults with alcohol consumption disorder (Aud) who did not actively seek treatment. The participants were selected according to their alcohol consumption history, which included episodes of excessive consumption of alcohol consumption and a high weekly alcohol intake.
Before the trial began, the researchers invited the participants to a laboratory environment where they could drink their preferred alcoholic beverage for two hours. This baseline measurement allowed the team to document the typical drinking behavior of each person.
The participants were randomly assigned to receive weekly semaglutidal injections or a placebo for nine weeks. Their alcohol consumption patterns were monitored throughout the study. At the end of the trial, they returned to the laboratory to repeat the drink session.
Semaglutida and alcohol
Those who received Semaglutida showed significant reductions in alcohol cravings, the amount of drinks consumed on drinks days and the frequency of days of excessive consumption of alcohol consumption. In the second month of treatment, the Semaglutida Group had reduced its alcohol intake by almost 30%, compared to only 2% in the placebo group. Almost 40% of people in the group of semaglutidas did not report days of excessive consumption consumption in the second month of treatment, compared to 20% in the placebo group. The longer the participants were treated with semaglutida, the lower their alcohol cravings.
The ability of the semaglutida to reduce alcohol consumption without requiring abstinence is particularly promising. Many people with AU are reluctant to follow the treatment because they fear being pressured to stop drinking completely. The effects of semaglutide on the amount of drinking and the days of excessive consumption of alcohol consumption suggest that people could gradually reduce, which is often a more realistic objective.
Surprisingly, it is simply not alcohol to which the semaglutida reduces cravings. Some of the participants were also smokers, and among the treaties with the drug, their average number of cigarettes per day fell substantially compared to the placebo group. This suggests that the effects of drugs may not limit themselves to alcohol, but could extend to other addictive behaviors.
“These data suggest the potential of the semaglutida and similar drugs to meet an unsatisfied need for alcohol consumption disorder,” Klara Klein, the main author of the study and researcher at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of North of North .
Questions and warnings
Even so, the authors of the study warn that larger and longer tests are needed to completely understand the potential of the semaglutida. “These initial findings are promising,” Klein said, “but we need more research to confirm the safety and effectiveness of these treatments for alcohol consumption disorder.”
The sample size was small and the treatment duration was relatively short. Participants also did not look for treatment for AU, which means that the findings may not generalize to those who actively try to drink.
In addition, the study used low doses of semaglutida to prioritize security. The highest doses, which are commonly used for weight loss, could produce even stronger effects on alcohol consumption. However, these higher doses could also present risks, particularly for people with normal or low body weight.
“The scope of weight loss in the Semaglutida Group (-5% on average) has additional security risks for people with normal or low weight,” the researchers warned.
Despite these warnings, the study represents a significant step forward. It is based on a growing body of evidence that the agonists of the GLP-1 receiver could have broad applications beyond diabetes and obesity. From addiction to neurodegenerative diseases, these medications are being investigated for their potential to address some of the most challenging health problems of our time.
A drug that helps them drink less, yearn for less and maybe even smoking could be a change of game. And for a condition as complex and devastating as alcohol addiction, it is worth celebrating a small step forward.
The findings appeared in the magazine Jama Psychiatry.
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