Effect of semaglutide on alcohol use disorder

The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist semaglutide may be capable of reducing alcohol consumption among those with alcohol use disorder.

In a phase II clinical trial published in JAMA Psychiatry, researchers evaluated the effects of low-dose semaglutide compared with placebo among 48 adult patients with alcohol use disorder. The participants in the semaglutide group received weekly subcutaneous injections of escalating doses of the drug.

After a follow-up of nine weeks, the researchers found that compared with those in the placebo group, the participants in the semaglutide group consumed less alcohol during laboratory self-administration tasks, exhibited lower peak breath alcohol concentrations and experienced reductions in their weekly alcohol cravings.

The findings indicated that low-dose semaglutide could be an effective treatment for alcohol use disorder; however, larger clinical trials are needed to better understand the potential benefits of the drug in this patient population.

Read more: JAMA Psychiatry

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