Wegovy slimming injection apparently also helps against alcohol abuse

Semaglutide has been in the news lately. Especially because the active substance in Wegovy and Ozempic – injected weekly – can contribute to massive weight loss. Some severely overweight people even reported losing more than 20 percent of their original weight.

But there may be much more behind the active ingredient, which mimics the body satiety hormone GLP-1: For the first time, a clinical study with six alcohol-dependent participants has shown that treatment with semaglutide can alleviate the symptoms of addiction. The results of the study, conducted by a team led by American physician Jesse Richards from Oklahoma, recently appeared in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

The researchers admit that the study is too small. Larger, placebo-controlled studies are now needed to make reliable statements about the effectiveness and safety of semaglutide against alcoholism. Such studies are already underway, such as the STAR (Semaglutide Therapy for Alcohol Reduction) trial, which will recruit approximately 80 subjects in the US. It is planned to be ready by mid-2025.

For several months now, there have been repeated anecdotal reports of patients given semaglutide to treat their obesity – who miraculously stopped wanting fatty and sugary foods, as well as alcohol.

A team led by Cajsa Aranaes from the University of Gothenburg investigated in mice why the active ingredient apparently suppresses such cravings. In one study, researchers treated alcohol-dependent mice with semaglutide or a placebo. As in the study from Oklahoma, semaglutide showed that the animals’ alcohol consumption was roughly halved. Furthermore, the rodents had significantly fewer relapses in which they again showed signs of their addiction than their placebo counterparts.

According to Cajsa Aranaes and her colleagues, the reason for this may be that the active ingredient affects the brain’s reward system, more specifically dopamine levels. Drinking alcohol promotes the release of dopamine, which triggers addictive behavior. When dopamine drops back to its original level, i.e. when you sober up, it leads to lethargy and depression. This process is apparently blocked by the medication, so alcohol no longer evokes feelings of happiness.

What applies to alcohol could also apply to other addictive substances, such as nicotine. A study involving 50 subjects is already underway at the University of North Carolina. Animal studies also suggest that semaglutide may also reduce cravings for cocaine and amphetamines. If you believe the opinions of some experts, the active ingredient has the potential to revolutionize addiction therapies in the future. (aargauerzeitung.ch)