Can the drug semaglutide reduce the risk of alcohol abuse?
- A new study from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine reveals that diabetes and weight loss drugs, Wegovy and Ozempic, can significantly reduce alcohol abuse and alcohol use disorder.
- Research highlights the potential of semaglutide, the active ingredient in these medications, to serve as a new treatment for alcohol use disorder, a condition responsible for approximately 178,000 deaths each year in the United States.
- Although the research is promising, experts agree that more clinical trials are needed to confirm the effectiveness of semaglutide for the prevention or treatment of alcohol use disorder.
Alcohol use disorder, also known as alcohol abuse, dependence and addiction, is a medical condition characterized by drinking alcohol despite negative consequences.
The severity of an alcohol use disorder can range from mild to moderate to severe, and this condition can negatively affect a person’s health, quality of life and relationships.
Some of the harmful effects of alcohol abuse include:
- accidents, such as falls, workplace accidents, and motor vehicle accidents
- violence
- chronic diseases such as liver disease, stroke, dementia and heart disease
- various types of cancer, including breast, rectal and liver cancer
- risky sexual behavior
- absence from work or school
- adverse effects of pregnancy, such as fetal alcohol syndrome.
A number of factors can increase the chances of developing an alcohol use disorder, including a family history of alcohol abuse, mental health problems, and the onset of alcoholism.
Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only approved
A new study, published in
Its findings suggest that drugs containing semaglutide are associated with a reduced likelihood of developing alcohol use problems or relapse.
Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic, is a type of medication known as a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1).
GLP-1 agonists are effective in controlling blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes and reducing appetite. GLP-1 is an incretin hormone that plays a role in regulating blood sugar levels.
These drugs mimic or enhance the actions of this natural hormone. They promote the secretion of insulin in response to food, reduce the release of glucagon, a hormone that increases blood sugar, delay gastric emptying and suppress appetite.
The latest study involved analyzing the electronic health records of nearly 84,000 people with obesity.
The researchers found that people treated with semaglutide had a 50% to 56% reduction in the onset and recurrence of an alcohol use problem within the next year, compared to those treated with other antidepressants. and obesity.
They collected real-world evidence using the same method as their two earlier studies by the same team.
In the past, there have been concerns that semaglutide was associated with suicidal thoughts. However, a
A second
The team observed similar results when they analyzed the electronic health records of nearly 600,000 people with type 2 diabetes.
They consistently found a reduction in the risk of alcohol use among those treated with semaglutide.
Although these studies are promising and provide preliminary evidence of the potential benefits of semaglutide for alcohol use disorder in real-world populations, other clinical trials have not been conducted. are needed to validate its medicinal use for alcohol use disorder.
Rong Xu, PhD, professor of biomedical informatics at the School of Medicine and principal investigator of the study described the key findings in Medical News Today.
He said:
“The latest study gathered real-world evidence showing that semaglutide (Ozempic or Wegovy) has the potential to prevent and treat alcohol use disorder. […] This is consistent with anecdotal reports that people taking semaglutide had less desire to drink or found drinking alcohol less appealing.
Mark A. Anton, MD, medical director of Slimz Weightloss, who was not involved in the study, said the findings did not surprise him.
“[T]study from Case Western Reserve University agrees with what we saw at the Slimz Weight Loss Clinic, where patients using GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide reported not only weight loss but also a significant reduction in alcohol cravings,” he told us.
“This suggests that these drugs can affect the brain’s reward pathway, which could provide a new way to manage alcohol use disorder,” Anton explained.
Sazan Sylejmani, PharmD, who was not involved in the study, described the research as “promising.”
“It highlights the ability of GLP-1 receptor agonists such as Wegovy and Ozempic to reduce alcohol abuse and dependence,” he explained.
Like Anton, Sylejmani noted that what the study found “is consistent with what I have observed in my practice, where patients who take these drugs have reported that the desire for sugar and alcohol is reduced.”
Xu noted that the findings “provide strong evidence to support future randomized clinical trials to test semaglutide for alcohol use disorders.”
Although more research is needed to confirm the results, Anton emphasized that “the potential implications of this study are very important.”
“For patients and the public, it means that a drug widely used for diabetes and weight loss can also help reduce alcohol addiction, solving two health problems at the same time. .”
– Mark A. Anton, MD
Anton concluded that “this could lead to broader therapeutic approaches that integrate physical and behavioral health.”
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