GLP-1 pill could curb heavy drinking, CU Anschutz study finds
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A daily pill containing the active ingredient in Ozempic could help people cut back on drinking, according to a new University Colorado Anschutz study.
Why it matters: The findings add to growing evidence that GLP-1 drugs could have uses well beyond diabetes and weight loss, potentially paving another path for treating alcohol use disorder (AUD) — a leading cause of preventable death in the U.S.
- No new medication for the disorder has been approved by the FDA since 2006.
What they found: People who took oral semaglutide — the main ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy — had significantly fewer heavy-drinking days, consumed less when they did drink and reported weaker alcohol cravings than those taking a placebo.
- Among participants who used cannabis, those taking semaglutide also reported fewer days of use.
What they did: The randomized clinical trial, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, followed adults with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder who wanted to cut back.
- To qualify, men had to drink at least 28 drinks per week and women at least 21.
- CU Anschutz researchers randomly assigned participants to a relatively low daily dose of oral semaglutide or a placebo for eight weeks.
Zoom out: The study adds to a small but growing body of human trials that have also found evidence of GLP-1 drugs curbing alcohol consumption and cravings.
What they're saying: "Most people with AUD don't want to be abstinent. They want to have control over their drinking," lead author Joseph Schacht told UCHealth Today.
- "This medication seems to allow people to drink with more moderation."
Caveat: The study was small, just 50 participants, lasting two month with only 50 participants, most of whom were overwhelmingly white and overweight or obese.
- That means it's too early to know how well the treatment would work across a broader population — or whether its effects would persist.
What's next: Researchers want to test semaglutide in larger, more diverse populations and determine whether lower doses can curb drinking over longer periods.