Oral Semaglutide Cuts Heavy Drinking, CU Trial Finds
A clinical trial at CU Anschutz indicates that oral semaglutide significantly reduces heavy drinking in adults with Alcohol Use Disorder. This finding offers a potential new treatment path for a condition that has seen no new FDA-approved medications in nearly two decades.
Why it matters
It provides a promising medical intervention for a chronic condition that currently lacks effective pharmacological options, potentially reducing significant health and social harms.
A clinical trial led by researchers at CU Anschutz has found that oral semaglutide, a medication widely used for diabetes and weight loss, reduces heavy drinking in adults with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD).
The study, published today in The American Journal of Psychiatry , evaluated the oral formulation of semaglutide, which may be more acceptable for people with AUD than the injectable formulations previously tested for AUD.
"This study suggests oral semaglutide may help reduce heavy and harmful drinking, even in people who are not trying to quit alcohol entirely," said Joseph Schacht, PhD , associate professor at the CU Anschutz School of Medicine . "It could represent a new treatment option for AUD, particularly for those who have not benefited from existing medications, and may reduce alcohol-related health and social harms. Importantly, even reducing heavy drinking can lead to meaningful improvements for patients and families."
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