Semaglutide Cuts Heavy Drinking in Obese AUD Patients

A new study from Denmark has found that semaglutide, the active ingredient in weight loss and diabetes drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic, significantly reduced heavy drinking days and overall alcohol consumption among obese patients with alcohol use disorder.

The research, published in The Lancet and led by experts from the Mental Health Centre Copenhagen and Frederiksberg Hospital, involved 108 obese participants seeking treatment for alcohol use disorder at a Danish health center. All received talking therapy, with half given weekly 2.4 milligram injections of semaglutide over 26 weeks and the other half a placebo.

At the trial's start, participants reported an average of 17 heavy drinking days in the previous 30 days and consumed about 2,200 grams of alcohol during that period. After six months, those on semaglutide had roughly five heavy drinking days and 650 grams of alcohol in the prior 30 days. The placebo group saw nine heavy drinking days and 1,175 grams of alcohol. Researchers also noted reductions in alcohol cravings among the semaglutide group.

Professor Anders Fink-Jensen, the principal investigator, stated, "The results suggest that semaglutide not only affects...