Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists such as semaglutide are increasingly used to promote weight loss, working in part by modulating the part of the brain responsible for hunger. Given this mechanism, researchers have wondered if and how GLP-1 medications could affect cravings for addictive substances such as alcohol.
The results of a small, 48-participant clinical trial recently published in JAMA Psychiatry suggest that semaglutide could reduce the desire to drink among those with alcohol use disorder. After 9 weeks, individuals who received semaglutide consumed less alcohol during a self-administration session than those who had taken a placebo.
In terms of real-world behavior, semaglutide was associated with reduced weekly alcohol cravings. Although participants taking the GLP-1 drug did not reduce the average drinks per day or the total number of days they chose to drink, they experienced greater reductions in heavy drinking days over time.
Source: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2831723
