GLPwatch
Effects of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Alcohol Use Disorder.
Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol · 2025
Last updated 2026-05-28Research is exploring whether GLP-1 drugs, typically used for diabetes or obesity, could help people with alcohol use disorder. Studies in animals, small human cases, and larger health records suggest these drugs may reduce alcohol consumption, with ongoing trials testing semaglutide specifically for this purpose.
AI summary of the abstract below.
| Journal | Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Citations | 11 |
| Relative citation ratio | 4.57 |
| Molecules | — |
| Conditions studied | Alcohol Use Disorder |
Abstract
In the search for novel treatment strategies for alcohol use disorder (AUD), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) approved for treating Type 2 diabetes and obesity have caught much attention. GLP-1 is a naturally occurring peptide produced in the small intestines and the brain, regulating plasma glucose levels and satiety. This focused review will report on the preclinical studies, case stories, register-based cohort studies, brain-imaging data and secondary analysis of clinical data supporting the role of GLP-1RAs as a novel treatment of AUD. Several clinical trials are ongoing, examining the potential effects of the GLP-1RA semaglutide in AUD.
Verbatim abstract via PubMed 39891507 ↗