Good news! However, is it the medication itself or the effect of the medication on the patient in terms of successful and significant weight loss, feeling better, better self image and self esteem etc.?
"... This new study is the results of one of six clinical trials ... In a double-blind randomized nine-week trial, 48 US adults (71% female) with a mean age of 39.9 years were assigned either semaglutide (0.25 mg/week for four weeks, 0.5 mg/week for four weeks and 1.0 mg for one week) or a placebo at weekly clinic visits.
What the researchers found was that while there was a reduction in some – but not all – clinical measures of alcohol use, the drug significantly impacted participants' desire to reach for a drink. For anyone wanting, but struggling, to cut back, not necessarily quit altogether, blocking alcohol cravings could be a game-changer in developing healthier habits. ...
"For weekly drinking outcomes, medication effects on number of drinks per calendar day were nonsignificant; however, semaglutide significantly reduced alcohol craving and drinks per drinking day, also interacting with treatment week to predict reductions in heavy drinking days," the researchers noted. "Consequently, the proportion of participants with zero heavy drinking days increased significantly in the semaglutide group across the two-dose phases."
The smokers in the trial receiving semaglutide also saw a change in habits. Overall, the smokers on semaglutide went from an average of 14 cigarettes per day to eight per day. ..."
From the key points and abstract:
"Key Points
Question
Does the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist semaglutide reduce alcohol consumption and craving in adults with alcohol use disorder (AUD)?
Findings
In this randomized clinical trial, relative to placebo, low-dose semaglutide reduced the amount of alcohol consumed during a posttreatment laboratory self-administration procedure. Over 9 weeks of treatment, semaglutide led to reductions in some but not all measures of weekly consumption, significantly reduced weekly alcohol craving relative to placebo, and led to greater relative reductions in cigarettes per day in a subgroup of participants with current cigarette use.
Meaning
These results justify larger clinical trials of incretin therapies for AUD.
Abstract
Importance
Preclinical, observational, and pharmacoepidemiology evidence indicates that glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) may reduce alcohol intake. Randomized trials are needed to determine the clinical significance of these findings.
Objective
To evaluate the effects of once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide on alcohol consumption and craving in adults with alcohol use disorder (AUD).
Design, Setting, and Participants
This was a phase 2, double-blind, randomized, parallel-arm trial involving 9 weeks of outpatient treatment. Enrollment occurred at an academic medical center in the US from September 2022 to February 2024. Of 504 potential participants assessed, 48 non–treatment-seeking participants with AUD were randomized.
Intervention
Participants received semaglutide (0.25 mg/week for 4 weeks, 0.5 mg/week for 4 weeks, and 1.0 mg for 1 week) or placebo at weekly clinic visits.
Main Outcomes and Measures
The primary outcome was laboratory alcohol self-administration, measured at pretreatment and posttreatment (0.5 mg/week). Secondary and exploratory outcomes, including prospective changes in alcohol consumption and craving, were assessed at outpatient visits.
Results
Forty-eight participants (34 [71%] female; mean [SD] age, 39.9 [10.6] years) were randomized. Low-dose semaglutide reduced the amount of alcohol consumed during a posttreatment laboratory self-administration task, with evidence of medium to large effect sizes for grams of alcohol consumed (β, −0.48; 95% CI, −0.85 to −0.11; P = .01) and peak breath alcohol concentration (β, −0.46; 95% CI, −0.87 to −0.06; P = .03). Semaglutide treatment did not affect average drinks per calendar day or number of drinking days, but significantly reduced drinks per drinking day (β, −0.41; 95% CI, −0.73 to −0.09; P = .04) and weekly alcohol craving (β, −0.39; 95% CI, −0.73 to −0.06; P = .01), also predicting greater reductions in heavy drinking over time relative to placebo (β, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.71 to 0.99; P = .04). A significant treatment-by-time interaction indicated that semaglutide treatment predicted greater relative reductions in cigarettes per day in a subsample of individuals with current cigarette use (β, −0.10; 95% CI, −0.16 to −0.03; P = .005).
Conclusions and Relevance
These findings provide initial prospective evidence that low-dose semaglutide can reduce craving and some drinking outcomes, justifying larger clinical trials to evaluate GLP-1RAs for alcohol use disorder."
Popular weight loss, diabetes drug shows promise in reducing cravings for alcohol (original news release) "USC-led trial confirms side effect: Semaglutide, better known as Ozempic and Wegovy, could also help people cut down on their alcohol intake."
Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults With Alcohol Use Disorder A Randomized Clinical Trial (open access)
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