New Study Suggests Ozempic May Help People Reduce Alcohol Consumption

The study followed 48 adults who met criteria for alcohol use disorder, a condition often characterized by difficulty controlling alcohol consumption. Half of the patients took low doses of semaglutide, and half received placebo shots. The participants spent two hours in a lab room stocked with their preferred alcoholic beverages — once before they started taking the drug, and once after. People in the study also reported how much they drank every day for nine weeks. Those who took semaglutide still drank about as often as those who took the placebo. But by the second month of the study, people taking semaglutide were drinking nearly 30 percent less, on average, on days they consumed alcohol — compared to an average reduction of about two percent in the placebo group. People who took semaglutide were also more likely to report fewer days of heavy drinking than those on the placebo, and to say that their cravings for alcohol had diminished.

Yet another study is supporting the notion that the blockbuster GLP-1 drug Ozempic can help problems drinkers curb their intake. The research found that, compared to placebo, weekly injections of semaglutide (also marketed for weight loss as Wegovy) helped reduce cravings in people with alcohol use disorders. The drug also seemed to reduce the quantity and frequency of alcohol intake, researchers said. There's a real need for new approaches to treat alcoholism, said study lead author Christian Hendershot. He directs clinical research at the University of Southern California's Institute for Addiction Research.

Weight-loss jabs can reduce cravings for alcohol and double the number of people who are stopping heavy drinking, a new study suggests. The drug semaglutide – sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy – was developed to tackle diabetes but is now used widely to tackle obesity. In recent months it has also been found to help a number of other conditions, such as high blood pressure and heart and kidney disease, and has even been called the “fountain of youth” because it slows down the markers for ageing. In research hailed as “exciting” by experts, scientists have now shown that it helps problem drinkers to reduce their alcohol intake.

The study was small — just 48 adults — and lasted just over two months, so it’s not the final word. Experts say it’s not yet clear how safe these drugs are for people who don’t need to lose weight.

Semaglutide, active ingredient of Wegovy and Ozempic, found to reduce cravings and cut drinking by 40%