Popular weight loss drugs, like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and liraglutide (Victoza), have transformed the way doctors treat diabetes and obesity . Now research suggests these meds — part of a class of drugs known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) — may one day be a promising treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD) . “The GLP-1 system seems to play a role in how and why some people develop problematic alcohol use and AUD,” says Lorenzo Leggio, MD, PhD , a physician-scientist with the National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism in Baltimore. This system involves GLP-1 receptors, which are found in parts of the brain associated with addiction and reward.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976293bfa429b-5724-4364-b2cd-7104edb1c1ea AUD is a medical condition characterized by the inability to stop drinking alcohol, even if it causes health, job-related, or social problems. It affects nearly 29 million people in the United States ages 12 or older.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976297acb7aaa-c1e0-44af-bb1a-dcda9ef1b813 To date, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved only three medications to treat AUD: naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976294d86158c-df97-4cc7-a3f1-d4c33b9c3f42 While GLP-1 drugs could offer a welcome treatment option for people who struggle with alcohol addiction, the research is still in an early stage. Here’s what you need to know.
What Does Research Show About GLP-1 Drugs and Alcohol Use Disorder? What Research Shows Research on GLP-1 drugs for AUD and other substance use issues has gained momentum in recent years. “This is a time of cautious optimism in the field,” says Joseph P. Schacht, PhD , an associate professor of psychiatry and substance dependence at the University of Colorado School of Medicine Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. “Several small clinical trials have found that GLP-1 RAs, compared to placebo, reduced alcohol use,” he adds. Some of the most compelling research: In a study published in JAMA Psychiatry in February 2025 that included 48 patients with AUD, researchers found low-dose weekly injections of semaglutide significantly reduced alcohol cravings and nicotine use compared with placebo.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629a8ab3bad-deff-4e4d-bb0e-f619e6033e31 A report, published in the journal JCI Insight in May 2023, showed semaglutide reduced alcohol consumption and binge-like drinking in rodents. The effects were dose-dependent, meaning higher doses of semaglutide led to greater reductions in alcohol intake.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976292fefeb44-973c-4c5d-a6ba-2f26c4dbfe14 In a large Swedish study published in JAMA Psychiatry in November 2024, scientists found that people who were taking the GLP-1 drugs semaglutide or liraglutide were less likely to be hospitalized for AUD.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762925a53335-1e90-4165-b907-b8603da65e20 Early research has suggested that GLP-1s may also reduce cravings for other addictive substances, like cocaine.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629fe5fdb03-8721-47ae-b9f3-a04797b132f8 While these and other studies are encouraging, they’re still considered preliminary,” says Dr. Schacht. “Specific measures like safety, effectiveness, and dosing for AUD still need to be tested and confirmed. Ultimately, we need more data from larger clinical trials of these medications. Fortunately, multiple academic and industry trials should have results in the next one to two years.”
How Might GLP-1 Drugs Work for AUD? How They Work When it comes to weight loss, GLP-1 drugs work by mimicking a natural hormone in your body that controls appetite and blood sugar. This slows down how quickly food leaves your stomach, so you feel fuller longer and aren’t hungry as often.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629cf552d5b-b10f-4545-ae1d-da3d3caf3f3b Researchers don’t yet understand exactly how GLP-1 drugs work for AUD, according to Dr. Leggio. “Scientific evidence suggests that these mechanisms may be at least partially overlapping with those regulating food craving and food seeking,” he says. Schacht says there are several possible ways that GLP-1 drugs could affect alcohol cravings, including: GLP-1s might perceive alcohol as a caloric substance and affect it the same way it targets all calories you consume. But, Schacht notes, this wouldn’t explain why these drugs have an effect on non-caloric substances, like nicotine and cocaine. The medicines can cause unwanted gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which might make someone less interested in drinking. As mentioned, GLP-1s may affect areas of the brain that underlie reward and motivated behavior. These areas are rich in dopamine, which helps control cravings for alcohol and drugs. But it’s unclear if medicines like semaglutide are able to access this part of the brain, notes Schacht. Further research is needed to help identify the exact link between GLP-1 drugs and reduced alcohol cravings.
Should I Ask My Doctor About GLP-1 Drugs for AUD? Should I Ask My Doctor? More research is still needed to determine if GLP-1 drugs are a safe and effective treatment for AUD. Until then, you might want to hold off on asking your doctor about GLP-1 drugs for AUD. “It’s too soon. Patients with AUD should discuss evidence-based treatments with their doctors,” says Leggio, who authored a commentary on this topic, published in the journal Nature in November 2023.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629651740d2-eed1-4bf9-868f-dcc949c6dbe4 If you’ve tried multiple other treatments with little to no success, it’s possible that your provider could prescribe a GLP-1 drug for AUD “off-label,” Schacht says. This means your doctor may recommend a medicine for a condition it hasn’t been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat. “I am sympathetic to anyone who wishes to try a GLP-1 RA for AUD. Unfortunately, these medications are currently quite expensive, and insurance will not cover their use for AUD,” Schacht says. He adds that enrolling in a clinical trial could be another way to access these drugs for AUD.
What Are the Treatment Options for AUD? Treatments for AUD As mentioned, the three FDA-approved medications for AUD are:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629e3443b44-707a-485f-8c82-1e5c382095bb naltrexone (Vivitrol, Revia) acamprosate (Campral) disulfiram (Antabuse) Other treatment options for AUD include:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629e3443b44-707a-485f-8c82-1e5c382095bb Behavioral treatments: Behavioral interventions, like talk therapy or alcohol counseling led by a licensed therapist, are intended to help change drinking behaviors. Mutual-support groups: Mutual-support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) , are group meetings of peers who can provide each other with support for limiting or stopping drinking. They’re often low- or no-cost and are available in many communities in-person and online. The treatment that works best may vary from person to person. Some people may do well with brief interventions, for example, while others may need more intense behavioral treatments, medication, or both, says Leggio.
The Takeaway AUD affects more than 28 million Americans, yet there are only three FDA-approved medications to treat the disorder. GLP-1 drugs, which are currently FDA-approved to treat diabetes and obesity, may be a promising therapy for AUD in the future. More research needs to be done before doctors can safely prescribe GLP-1s for AUD. Until then, people with AUD should be prescribed standard, proven treatments.
Resources We Trust Mayo Clinic: Alcohol Use Disorder: Diagnosis & TreatmentCleveland Clinic: GLP-1 AgonistsNational Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: Understanding Alcohol Use DisorderAmerican Psychiatric Association: Alcohol Use DisorderMedlinePlus: Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
