For years, patients who have used Ozempic for diabetes and weight loss reported a surprising side effect: they consumed less alcohol.
Now, a new clinical trial has verified those reports, giving hope for a possible breakthrough in the treatment of alcohol-use disorder (AUD).
The research, released in JAMA Psychiatry, observed 48 men and women with moderate AUD. They were evenly split between low-dose semaglutide (Ozempic’s active drug) and placebo.
Nine weeks later, those who were on Ozempic consumed 40% less alcohol compared to the group taking the placebo and experienced fewer cravings and fewer heavy drinking days.
The study’s lead author, Dr. Christian Hendershot, expressed astonishment at the findings.
He stated, “The magnitude of the effect was stronger than expected,” pointing out that the medication had a bigger effect than some of the current AUD treatments.
Ozempic may reduce the brain’s reward response to alcohol, according to scientists. However, they warn that the study was limited and that additional research is required to ascertain the long-term safety and efficacy.
The medication dramatically reduced alcohol intake, which may be a game-changer for patients with AUD, even though it did not completely stop people from drinking.
Ozempic may eventually play a significant role in addiction therapy, according to specialists, with larger trials in the works.
