Does Ozempic work for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)?
GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy significantly lower the risk of alcohol-related hospital admissions in those with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD).
A large Swedish Cohort study of over 227,000 people found benefits for semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza) for treating alcohol use disorder (AUD). These treatments also help reduce admissions for substance use disorder (SUD).
- Patients with other medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes or obesity, in addition to AUD, benefited the most.
Semaglutide showed the best results:
- 36% lower risk of AUD-related hospitalizations
- 32% lower risk of SUD-related hospitalizations
- 22% lower risk of hospitalizations for other physical conditions.
Liraglutide showed the second-best results:
- 28% lower risk of AUD-related hospitalizations
- 22% lower risk of SUD-related hospitalizations
- 21% lower risk of hospitalizations for other physical conditions.
Published in JAMA Psychiatry, this clinical trial offers a new hope for an accessible, well-tolerated treatment for AUD. New treatments for AUD are needed because current AUD medications such as disulfiram, acamprosate, or naltrexone are difficult to access, underutilized, and sometimes have unpleasant side effects.
These benefits were supported by a smaller study of 48 problem drinkers whose alcohol cravings, drinking frequency, and alcohol intake reduced with weekly injections of semaglutide.
In the US, over 28 million people aged 12 and older are diagnosed with AUD each year, including 757,000 adolescents aged 12-17 years.
Related questions
References
- Lähteenvuo M, Tiihonen J, Solismaa A, Tanskanen A, Mittendorfer-Rutz E, Taipale H. Repurposing Semaglutide and Liraglutide for Alcohol Use Disorder. JAMA Psychiatry. 2025;82(1):94–98. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2024.3599
- Hendershot CS, Bremmer MP, Paladino MB, et al. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults With Alcohol Use Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Psychiatry. Published online February 12, 2025. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2024.4789
Read next
Why am I not losing weight on Ozempic?
Although Ozempic is not FDA-approved for weight loss, over 86% of people lose at least 5% of their body weight in trials that have studied semaglutide, the active ingredient of Ozempic. But the same clinical trials also show that just under 14% don’t lose weight, and some may even gain weight. Continue reading
How does semaglutide work for weight loss?
You could lose weight with semaglutide (Wegovy) because you will eat less, and feel fuller when you do eat. Semaglutide does this by closely mimicking a natural hormone in our bodies called incretin. It targets an area in the brain (called GLP-1 receptors) that help to regulate your appetite and how much you eat and works over the longer term. Continue reading
How much does semaglutide cost?
Semaglutide (Wegovy) injection for weight loss treatment costs about $1418 per month if you are paying cash without insurance or manufacturer's copay cards. Semaglutide for treatment of type 2 diabetes costs $1051 per month for either the Ozempic pen injection or 30 oral tablets of Rybelsus. Continue reading
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