Overview

• A nine-week clinical trial found that semaglutide, marketed as Ozempic and Wegovy, reduced alcohol consumption and cravings in participants with alcohol use disorder (AUD).
• Participants taking semaglutide reported a 40% reduction in alcohol intake on drinking days and fewer heavy drinking episodes compared to those on a placebo.
• The trial, involving 48 non-treatment-seeking adults with moderate AUD, marks the first controlled study to confirm anecdotal reports of reduced alcohol use with GLP-1 receptor agonists.
• Researchers noted the drug’s effects on alcohol consumption were potentially stronger than those of existing FDA-approved AUD treatments, though the study used low doses of semaglutide.
• Further trials are needed to explore long-term safety, optimal dosing, and the drug’s potential applications for smoking cessation and other addictions.