According to a peer-reviewed study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, an oral formulation of the GLP-1 medication semaglutida cut weekly alcohol consumption in half among adults seeking treatment for moderate-to-severe alcohol use disorder. Conducted by researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz, the eight-week clinical trial found that participants taking the medication reported fewer cravings, fewer alcohol-related problems, and a concurrent reduction in marijuana use.
Clinical Trial Findings on Semaglutida and Alcohol Consumption
Led by Dr. Joseph Schacht, professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, the trial evaluated 50 adult volunteers recruited via social media and radio advertisements in the Denver area. Participants met criteria for moderate-to-severe alcohol use disorder, defined in the study as men consuming at least 28 drinks per week and women consuming at least 21 drinks per week. Over the course of eight weeks, participants taking oral semaglutida tablets, marketed under the brand name Rybelsus, reduced their alcohol intake by approximately 50 percent. While the medication did not drive participants toward complete abstinence—nor was total cessation a study goal—it significantly dampened their craving intensity and frequency.
Comparison With Existing FDA-Approved Treatments
The findings arrive as public health agencies grapple with a lack of new pharmacological options for alcohol use disorder. According to Dr. Joseph Schacht, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved a new medication for alcohol use disorder since 2006. The standard approved treatment, naltrexona, offers limited efficacy for many patients and carries significant clinical restrictions. Because excessive alcohol use frequently leads to cirrhosis and liver failure, physicians are routinely barred from prescribing naltrexona to patients with pre-existing liver disease. By contrast, GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutida do not damage the liver and may have a positive impact on it. Ozempic has already gained regulatory approval for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).
How GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Target Addiction Pathways
GLP-1—short for glucagon-like peptide-1—is a naturally occurring gut hormone that regulates blood sugar, slows digestion, and dampens appetite. Earlier clinical trials examining older GLP-1 compounds, such as exenatida and dulaglutida, similarly pointed toward reductions in cigarette smoking and weekly alcohol consumption among study participants.
Future Research Directions and Long-Term Outlook
While the University of Colorado Anschutz trial provides encouraging short-term data, researchers emphasize that long-term safety and efficacy profiles require further evaluation. Because the trial lasted only eight weeks, investigators have not yet determined whether patients will maintain reduced drinking habits after discontinuing the medication, or if dosage plateaus will emerge over extended treatment timelines. Dr. Joseph Schacht likens alcohol use disorder to chronic conditions like hypertension or type 2 diabetes, suggesting that patients may require ongoing, long-term therapeutic management rather than a short-term intervention.
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