Health · Medical Research · 1 hr ago
Small trials suggest semaglutide may reduce some measures of alcohol use
Two small trials found signs semaglutide may reduce some measures of alcohol use.
The medicine is used to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes, and the trials studied oral and injectable versions in adults with alcohol use disorder.
The oral-drug trial followed 50 people for eight weeks, while the injectable-drug trial followed 48 people for nine weeks.
Results varied by measure: some participants reported less desire to drink or fewer heavy-drinking days, but other measures showed no significant difference from placebo.
Semaglutide acts on systems involved in blood sugar, appetite and fullness, and researchers have suggested it may also affect the brain's reward system.
The findings are promising but do not establish that the medicine treats alcohol dependence.
Both trials were phase 2 studies with small groups, so larger studies are needed to assess its safety and effectiveness for this purpose.
Two small phase 2 clinical trials suggest semaglutide may reduce some measures of alcohol use.
The trials studied oral and injectable versions of the medicine in adults with alcohol use disorder.
Results varied by measure, and neither trial established that semaglutide is an effective treatment for everyone with the disorder.
Researchers said larger studies are needed to assess the effects and safety of using the medicine for this purpose.
- Who
- Researchers studied adults with moderate-to-severe alcohol use disorder and other adults with alcohol use disorder who were not seeking treatment.
- What
- Two phase 2 trials found reductions in some measures of alcohol use with semaglutide, but results were not conclusive.
- When
- The oral semaglutide study was published in September 2026. The other study’s publication date is not stated.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- The trials tested whether semaglutide could affect alcohol use and craving. Researchers said further studies are needed to determine its potential as a treatment.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A trial of oral semaglutide followed 50 adults with moderate-to-severe alcohol use disorder for eight weeks.
A JAMA Psychiatry trial followed 48 adults with alcohol use disorder for nine weeks and assessed injectable semaglutide.
- Oral trial participants
- 50 adults with moderate-to-severe alcohol use disorder
- Oral trial duration
- Eight weeks
- Oral trial doses
- 3 milligrams daily for four weeks, then 7 milligrams daily for four weeks
- Injectable trial participants
- 48 adults with alcohol use disorder who were not seeking treatment
- Injectable trial duration
- Nine weeks
- Trial phase
- Phase 2
Sources
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