- A new study from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine finds that popular diabetes and weight loss drugs, Wegovy and Ozempic, can significantly reduce alcohol misuse and alcohol use disorder.
- The research highlights the potential of semaglutide, the active ingredient in these medications, to serve as a new treatment for alcohol use disorder, a condition responsible for about 178,000 deaths annually in the United States.
- While the findings are promising, experts agree that further clinical trials are needed to confirm semaglutide’s effectiveness for preventing or treating alcohol use disorder.
Alcohol use disorder, also known as alcohol misuse, dependence, and addiction, is a medical condition characterized by continued consumption of alcohol despite negative consequences.
The severity of alcohol use disorder can range from mild to moderate to severe, and the condition can negatively affect an individual’s health, quality of life, and relationships.
Some of the harmful effects of alcohol abuse include:
- injuries, such as falls, workplace accidents and motor vehicle accidents
- vIOLENCE
- chronic diseases such as cirrhosis of the liver, stroke, dementia and heart disease
- various cancers, including breast, rectal and liver cancer
- risky sexual behaviors
- absence from work or school
- adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as fetal alcohol syndrome.
Several factors can increase the likelihood of developing alcohol use disorder, including a family history of alcohol abuse, mental health issues, and early onset of alcohol consumption.
Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved only
A new study, published in
Its findings suggest that drugs containing semaglutide are associated with a lower probability of developing alcohol use disorder or experiencing a relapse of this condition.
Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic, is a type of medicine known as a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist.
GLP-1 agonists are effective in regulating blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes and reducing appetite. GLP-1 is an incretin hormone that plays a role in regulating blood sugar levels.
These drugs mimic or enhance the actions of this natural hormone. They stimulate insulin secretion in response to meals, reduce the release of glucagon, a hormone that raises blood sugar, slow stomach emptying, and suppress appetite.
The latest study involved analyzing the electronic health records of nearly 84,000 individuals with obesity.
Researchers found that people treated with semaglutide experienced a 50% to 56% reduction in alcohol use disorder onset and recurrence within the next year, compared to those treated with other anti-obesity medications.
They gathered real-world evidence using a similar method to their two previous studies undertaken by the same team.
Previously, there had been concerns that semaglutide was linked to suicidal thoughts. However, a
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The team observed similar results when they analyzed the electronic health records of nearly 600,000 people with type 2 diabetes.
They consistently found reductions in alcohol use disorder diagnoses among those treated with semaglutide.
Although these findings are promising and provide preliminary evidence of the potential benefits of semaglutide for alcohol use disorder in real-world populations, further randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm its clinical use for alcohol use disorder.
Rong Xu, PhD, a professor of biomedical informatics in the School of Medicine and lead researcher of the study explained the key findings to Medical News Today.
She told us:
“The retrospective study gathered real-world evidence showing that semaglutide (Ozempic or Wegovy) has potential in both the prevention and treatment of alcohol use disorder. […] This is consistent with anecdotal reports that people taking semaglutide had less desire to drink or found drinking alcohol less appealing.
Mark A. Anton, MD, medical director at Slimz Weightloss, who was not involved in the research, said the findings did not surprise him.
“[T]that study from Case Western Reserve University is consistent with our observations at the Slimz Weight Loss Clinic, where patients using GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide reported not only weight loss but also a marked decrease in alcohol cravings.” he said.
“This suggests that these medications may affect the brain’s reward pathways, potentially providing a new approach to the management of alcohol use disorder,” said Anton.
Sazan Sylejmani, PharmD, also not involved in the study, described the research as “promising.”
“It highlights the potential of GLP-1 receptor agonists such as Wegovy and Ozempic to reduce alcohol abuse and dependence,” he explained.
Like Anton, Sylejmani noted that what the study found “is consistent with observations in my practice, where patients on these drugs have reported reduced cravings for sugar and alcohol.”
Xu noted that the findings “provide strong evidence to support future randomized clinical trials to test semaglutide for alcohol use disorders.”
Although further research is needed to confirm the results, Anton emphasized that “the potential implications of this research are significant.”
“For patients and the public, this means that medications primarily used for diabetes and weight loss can also help reduce alcohol dependence, while simultaneously addressing two major health issues.”
– Mark A. Anton, MD
Anton concluded that “this could lead to broader treatment strategies that integrate metabolic and behavioral health.”
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