Does Popular Weight Loss & Diabetes Drug Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) Reduce Alcohol Cravings?
Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro—regardless of the brand name you recognize, semaglutide has firmly established itself in the current health conversation. From trending social media posts to mainstream news reports, a fascinating pattern has emerged among individuals using this medication for weight loss or diabetes: an unexpected side effect — their cravings for alcohol seemed to decrease.
These anecdotal accounts raise a compelling question: could these popular weight loss drugs hold the key to reducing alcohol cravings?
What Is Semaglutide & How Does It Work?
When we eat, our gastrointestinal tract releases a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). This hormone stimulates insulin production, suppresses the glucagon response, and decreases hunger.1 Semaglutide, a prescription medication used to manage type 2 diabetes and aid in weight loss, mimics this natural hormone in the body.1,2
Semaglutide works by helping the body release more insulin when blood sugar is high and reducing the release of the hormone that raises blood sugar (glucagon). Additionally, semaglutide slows digestion, which can make people feel fuller and longer.1
Can Semaglutide Really Help Reduce Alcohol Cravings?
Semaglutide seems to turn down the brain’s urge to reach for things that make us feel good, like unhealthy food, sugary drinks, or even alcohol.2 Studies are still ongoing, and while researchers know that semaglutide medications affect the brain, where and how precisely is not entirely known.
Promising research indicates that semaglutide may lessen cravings for alcohol,2-4 but personal experiences shared by individuals using these medications for diabetes management or weight loss also seem to indicate that semaglutide can help reduce alcohol cravings.2
Watch Greenhouse Treatment Center’s Dr. Gary Malone discuss the future of Ozempic in Addiction Medicine.
Can Ozempic or Wegovy Be Used for Alcohol Addiction Treatment?
The short answer is no, not yet. While early studies offer promising results, significantly more research is needed before medications like Ozempic or Wegovy can be recommended for alcohol addiction treatment.
Alcohol use while taking a GLP-1 (semaglutide) is risky.5,6 This is because alcohol can significantly impact blood sugar levels, and when combined with the glucose-regulating effects of GLP-1s, it can lead to unpredictable and potentially dangerous fluctuations, including hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).5,6
How Semaglutide Compares to Other Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder
Currently, there are 3 FDA-approved medications for alcohol use disorder. These are:
- Disulfiram (Antabuse). This medication makes you feel very sick if you drink alcohol. It blocks an enzyme that breaks down alcohol, leading to a buildup of a toxic substance in your body, causing unpleasant symptoms like nausea and flushing, which discourages drinking.
- Naltrexone (Vivitrol, Revia). This medication blocks the pleasurable effects of alcohol in the brain. By blocking these feelings, it can reduce cravings and make drinking less rewarding, helping people to drink less or stop altogether.
- Acamprosate (Campral). This medication is thought to help stabilize brain activity that has been changed by long-term alcohol use. It may reduce the physical and emotional discomfort that can lead to cravings after someone stops drinking, making it easier to maintain abstinence.
While researchers are still investigating how semaglutide affects the brain, it is believed that it attaches to certain receptors in the brain involved in dopamine signaling. This helps to decrease the desire for alcohol.2
Medications like disulfiram work by creating a negative physical reaction to alcohol, and naltrexone interferes with the brain’s reward system linked to opioids (indirectly affecting alcohol’s appeal), but semaglutide is thought to directly influence the brain’s dopamine pathways, which are involved in the urge to consume alcohol.2-4 Acamprosate, in contrast, aims to restore balance to brain activity that has been altered by long-term drinking.
Could Semaglutide Become an Official Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder?
Semaglutide shows potential as a future treatment for alcohol use disorder, but widespread clinical use is likely years away. There is no one-size-fits-all approach for treating alcohol addiction, and even if semaglutide were approved for the treatment of AUD, it still may not be suitable for everyone.
It’s also important to remember that a multifaceted approach to overcoming alcohol use disorder is the most beneficial. While medications can be a valuable tool, combining them with therapy is essential for achieving lasting recovery and addressing the full spectrum of challenges that often go hand-in-hand with substance use disorders.7
Struggling with Alcohol Use? Help is Available
Although research on GLP-1s for substance use disorders is ongoing, many effective and well-established treatment options are currently available.
If alcohol is causing problems in your life or the life of someone you love, call us at . American Addiction Centers has helped thousands find recovery, and we can help you, too. We’ll guide you through your treatment options, help you understand your insurance, and support you as you take the first steps toward a brighter future.
