A recent study published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry reveals promising results for semaglutide, a medication typically used for weight management, in reducing alcohol consumption among individuals with alcohol use disorder. The study involved 48 participants who met the criteria for alcohol use disorder but were not actively seeking treatment. These participants were recruited online or through public advertisements and were required to meet specific drinking criteria. Women reported consuming at least seven drinks weekly, while men reported at least fourteen. Additionally, they had to have engaged in heavy drinking on at least two occasions in the previous month.
Researchers randomly assigned half of the participants to receive semaglutide for eight weeks, while the remaining group received a placebo. Remarkably, those in the semaglutide group experienced an average weight loss of 5%, compared to just 0.2% in the placebo group. However, the study's primary focus was on alcohol consumption behaviors rather than weight loss.
Participants taking semaglutide reported fewer alcohol cravings each week and consumed fewer drinks on drinking days compared to their counterparts receiving a placebo. There was also a noteworthy reduction in the number of heavy drinking days among the semaglutide group. Before and after the eight-week treatment period, all participants spent 120 minutes in a monitored environment where they were offered alcohol but could choose to abstain.
In these monitored sessions, the average breath alcohol concentration post-treatment was 0.092 g/dL for the placebo group and 0.052 g/dL for those taking semaglutide. Additionally, participants in the placebo group consumed an average of 57 grams of alcohol over two hours, while those on semaglutide consumed approximately 34 grams. This significant reduction in alcohol consumption among the semaglutide group highlights the potential of GLP-1 medications like semaglutide in addiction treatment strategies.
“These data suggest the potential of semaglutide and similar drugs to fill an unmet need for the treatment of alcohol use disorder,” said Klara Klein, MD, PhD.
The study's findings indicate that participants who took semaglutide over a two-month period drank significantly less than those who did not receive the medication. This suggests that semaglutide and similar GLP-1 receptor agonists could play a vital role in treating alcohol use disorder by curbing alcohol cravings and reducing overall consumption.
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