Ozempic may help lower alcohol consumption and cravings, according to a small trial, suggesting that it has potential as an alcohol use disorder treatment.

According to a modest nine-week clinical research study, Ozempic, Novo Nordisk's popular GLP-1 diabetic medication, has shown potential in treating alcohol use disorder (AUD). 48 patients with moderately severe AUD participated in the trial, which was published in JAMA Psychiatry. They were given either a placebo or Ozempic once a week.

Initially, participants were given the opportunity to enjoy their favorite alcoholic beverages in a supervised environment. Those receiving Ozempic at the conclusion of the experiment drank a lot less alcohol than they had at the beginning of the trial, which was not the case for the placebo group.

Although Ozempic considerably decreased desires for alcohol, the two groups' total number of drinking days did not differ significantly. Heavy drinking days, which are defined as four or more drinks for women and five or more for males, were, nonetheless, less common in the Ozempic group.

These results imply that semaglutide, the active component of Ozempic and Novo Nordisk's weight-loss medication Wegovy, may help address an unmet need in the treatment of AUD, according to research leader Klara Klein of the University Of North Carolina School Of Medicine.

Klein underlined the necessity for bigger, longer-term trials to validate Ozempic's function in treating alcohol addiction, while newer GLP-1 medications are still being investigated for other health advantages, including cardiovascular protection and sleep apnea.