The eight-week study monitored 50 adults with moderate-to-severe Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Participants treated with the medication reported fewer heavy drinking days, lower cravings, and a decrease in alcohol-related problems. Notably, the drug appeared effective even for individuals not actively seeking complete abstinence, suggesting a harm-reduction approach that could stabilize lives and improve health outcomes for those resistant to current therapies.
Oral Semaglutide Shows Promise in Treating Alcohol Use Disorder
A clinical trial at the University of Colorado Anschutz indicates that oral semaglutide, widely used for diabetes and weight management, significantly curbs heavy drinking. Published in The American Journal of Psychiatry, the findings offer a potential breakthrough for patients struggling with alcohol use who have seen few new treatment options in decades.
Joseph Schacht, PhD, an associate professor at the CU Anschutz School of Medicine, highlighted that no new medications for AUD have gained FDA approval since 2006. While current treatments remain limited, this oral formulation proved well-tolerated with high patient adherence rates. Researchers are now preparing for larger, long-term studies to confirm these benefits and establish optimal clinical dosing strategies.
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