Semaglutide Reduces Alcohol Intake and Weight in Patients with AUD and Obesity

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a significant global health challenge, contributing to 5% of annual worldwide deaths. Current treatments are often insufficient, highlighting an urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies. Emerging preclinical and early human data suggest that GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as semaglutide, may have a role in reducing alcohol consumption. This study specifically aimed to evaluate the efficacy of once-weekly semaglutide in patients diagnosed with alcohol use disorder who also present with comorbid obesity.

The study demonstrated significant reductions in alcohol consumption and body weight in the semaglutide group compared to placebo. > Patients treated with semaglutide experienced a 43% reduction in weekly alcohol intake from baseline, significantly greater than the 12% reduction observed in the placebo group (p<0.001). Furthermore, the number of heavy drinking days (defined as ≥5 standard drinks for men or ≥4 for women) decreased by 6.5 days per month in the semaglutide group versus 2.1 days per month in the placebo group (p<0.001). Participants receiving semaglutide also achieved an average body weight reduction of 14.5% from baseline, compared to 2.5% in the placebo group (p<0.001). The treatment was generally well-tolerated, with gastrointestinal side effects being the most common, consistent with known GLP-1 receptor agonist profiles.