A NEW randomized clinical trial suggests that once-weekly semaglutide may help reduce alcohol consumption and cravings in adults with alcohol use disorder (AUD). The Phase II, double-blind trial, conducted at a U.S. academic medical center, evaluated 48 non–treatment-seeking participants over a nine-week period.
Participants received escalating doses of semaglutide (starting at 0.25 mg per week and increasing to 1.0 mg) or a placebo. At the end of the study, semaglutide was found to significantly reduce the amount of alcohol consumed in a posttreatment laboratory self-administration task. The effect sizes were medium to large for both grams of alcohol consumed (β, −0.48; 95% CI, −0.85 to −0.11; P = .01) and peak breath alcohol concentration (β, −0.46; 95% CI, −0.87 to −0.06; P = 0.03).
While semaglutide did not significantly impact the average number of drinks per day or overall drinking days, it did reduce drinks per drinking day (β, −0.41; 95% CI, −0.73 to −0.09; P = 0.04) and weekly alcohol cravings (β, −0.39; 95% CI, −0.73 to −0.06; P = 0.01). Additionally, participants with concurrent cigarette use experienced greater reductions in cigarettes per day with semaglutide compared to placebo (β, −0.10; 95% CI, −0.16 to −0.03; P = .005).
These findings add to growing interest in GLP-1 receptor agonists as a potential treatment for AUD. Researchers suggest that larger clinical trials are needed to further evaluate the effectiveness of semaglutide in reducing alcohol intake and cravings.
Reference: Hendershot CS et al. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults With Alcohol Use Disorder. JAMA Psychiatry. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2024.4789.
Anaya Malik | AMJ
