They are powerful tools.
Recent research continues to support the idea that medications originally developed for weight loss and diabetes, such as Ozempic and its related drugs, can also help reduce problematic alcohol consumption. A new study from the University of Nottingham in the UK adds further weight to this theory. Dr. Mohsen Subhani, the study’s lead author, highlighted that these medications may work by affecting the brain’s reward center, potentially leading to reduced alcohol intake, especially among those with obesity.
The medications in question are GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), which include drugs like semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy), exenatide (Byetta), dulaglutide (Trulicity), and liraglutide (Victoza). The study is a review of previous research, examining data from six studies, including two large clinical trials with over 88,000 participants. The research looked into how these medications impacted alcohol use, alcohol-related health problems, hospital visits, and responses to alcohol-related cues in the brain.
One of the studies reviewed found that while exenatide didn’t show a significant effect on alcohol consumption overall, it did appear to help reduce drinking among obese participants. Another trial showed that individuals taking dulaglutide were 29% more likely to cut back on alcohol consumption compared to those on a placebo. In addition, observational studies indicated that people on GLP-1 medications experienced fewer alcohol-related health issues compared to those receiving other treatments.
These results, published in eClinicalMedicine on November 14, suggest that GLP-1 medications could offer a promising new treatment for alcohol use disorder. Dr. Subhani emphasized that this approach might help reduce alcohol consumption, which could, in turn, lower alcohol-related deaths in the future. The findings add to the growing body of evidence supporting the potential of these medications in treating not just diabetes and obesity but also substance use disorders.
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