Topline
A clinical trial from the University of Colorado Anschutz found oral semaglutide, the medication behind Ozempic and Wegovy used to treat diabetes and weight loss, can reduce heavy drinking in adults with alcohol use disorder—a potential breakthrough for the condition, which has few medications approved to treat it.
Alcohol use disorder is the scientific term for alcoholism.
Photo illustration by Chris Furlong/Getty Images
Key Facts
A trial conducted by CU Anschutz found oral semaglutide reduced heavy drinking days, lowered alcohol consumption per occasion, lowered daily cravings and cut down alcohol-related problems in 50 adults with moderate-to-severe alcohol use disorder, the scientific term for alcoholism.
No new medication has been approved for alcohol use disorder since 2006, making the CU Anschutz trial a significant clinical step for the condition as it remains chronically undertreated.
Semaglutide could help patients who have exhausted existing options, according to Dr. Joseph Schnacht, who said the medication “could represent a new treatment option for alcohol use disorder, particularly for those who have not benefited from existing medications.”
Participants in the study on oral semaglutide also used cannabis less, as semaglutide was generally well-tolerated with mostly mild side effects and high adherence.
What To Watch For
CU Anschutz and researchers at other institutions are planning larger, longer-term trials to confirm the findings and establish optimal dosing of semaglutide for alcohol use disorder.
Big Number
3. That is the number of medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of alcohol use disorder, according to the University of Colorado.
Key Background
Alcohol use disorder impacts tens of millions of people, with 27.9 million people ages 12 and older experiencing the condition in the past year, according to data from the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The condition is characterized by struggling to control drinking despite serious personal consequences. The CU Anschutz team chose the oral formulation of semaglutide deliberately, as injectable versions of the drug were previously tested for alcohol use disorder and had shown similar effects, but researchers believed a pill would be more acceptable to the patient population.
Further Reading
Alcohol Use Disorder Can Be Treated With an Array of Medications – But Few People Have Heard of Them (Forbes)