There’s a growing wealth of information surrounding semaglutide (Ozempic’s generic name) and its benefits beyond weight loss and managing diabetes. In a new clinical trial, the drug was found to help reduce drinking in people with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Overall, such findings could revolutionize addiction treatment options.
Significant Decrease In Alcohol Intake
The study, published in JAMA Psychiatry, followed 48 adults diagnosed with AUD over nine weeks. Researchers divided participants into two groups: one receiving a low dose of semaglutide and the other a placebo. Specifically, those on semaglutide drank nearly 40 percent less alcohol than those on the placebo. Furthermore, they also reported fewer alcohol cravings.
Dr. Christian Hendershot, director of the Clinical and Translational Addiction Research Program at the University of North Carolina, called the results encouraging. However, he emphasized the need for further studies.
Dr. Lorenzo Leggio, physician-scientist at the National Institutes of Health, also remarked, “More research is needed to understand the mechanism(s) of action of these medications in AUD,” he wrote in an e-mail to CNN.
“Nonetheless, the work done now suggests that mechanisms may include their effect in reducing alcohol craving and in reducing the rewarding effects of alcohol,” he added.
How Semaglutide Works
Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It promotes the production of the gut-based hormone GLP-1 to help regulate blood sugar and reduce appetite. Scientists now believe that semaglutide may also impact the brain’s reward system, which plays a significant role in addiction.
Previously, animal studies had suggested that GLP-1 receptor agonists could lower alcohol intake. Meanwhile, the AUD study provides the first clinical evidence in humans. Correspondingly, researchers suspect that semaglutide alters dopamine signaling, reducing the urge to drink. Nevertheless, more research is necessary to confirm this mechanism.
Semaglutide: A New Option for AUD?
Currently, only a few medications exist for treating AUD. For instance, naltrexone and acamprosate may help some people. But they do not work for everyone. On the other hand, semaglutide’s potential offers hope, especially for those who struggle with existing treatments.
Dr. Hendershot has stressed, however, that semaglutide should not replace traditional treatments just yet. Despite the caution, experts see semaglutide as a potential game-changer.
Benefits and Risks of Semaglutide
Like all medications, semaglutide has side effects. Common ones include nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain. Researchers must also study whether it remains effective for alcohol use disorder in the long run.
Dr. Drucker, a professor of medicine at University of Toronto, has pointed out that participants who experienced nausea would naturally drink less.
“If you have persistent low-grade nausea and you’re not feeling well, well of course you wouldn’t drink as much,” he noted.
Hendershot, on the other hand, expressed that gastrointestinal side effects may not fully account for the study’s findings.
Some experts warn against off-label use before regulatory approval. They stress that patients should consult healthcare providers before trying semaglutide for AUD. However, if further studies confirm its benefits, semaglutide could revolutionize addiction treatment.
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