Skip to main content

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists May Reduce Alcohol Consumption

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Nov 21, 2024.

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, Nov. 21, 2024 -- Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) use may reduce alcohol consumption and improve outcomes in some individuals, according to a study published online Nov. 14 in eClinicalMedicine.

Mohsan Subhani, M.B.B.S., from the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom, and colleagues conducted a systematic literature review to evaluate the existing literature on the association between GLP-1 RAs and alcohol consumption.

The researchers identified six studies (88,190 participants; 43.9 percent receiving GLP-1 RAs). However, only 286 participated in randomized controlled trials (RCTs), which did not show a reduction in alcohol consumption over 30 days after 24 weeks of treatment with exenatide versus placebo. In a subgroup analysis, there was a positive effect in people with obesity, with significant reductions in brain reward center cue reactivity on functional magnetic resonance imaging. Among RCT participants, those taking dulaglutide were more likely to reduce alcohol intake compared with placebo (relative effect size, 0.71). Fewer alcohol-related health care events and a significant reduction in alcohol use were seen in observational studies comparing GLP-1 RA treatment to dipeptidyl peptidase 4 use, no treatment, and/or alcohol intake at baseline.

"There is little high-quality evidence demonstrating the effect of GLP-1 RAs on alcohol use," the authors write.

Several authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

Abstract/Full Text

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Read this next

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Reduce Alcohol Intake in Patients Treated for Obesity

MONDAY, May 12, 2025 -- Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are tied to a reduction in alcohol intake, according to a research letter recently published in...

Young Women Show Greater Increase in Past-Month Binge Drinking Than Men

THURSDAY, April 24, 2025 -- The sex-based differences in past-month binge drinking among young adults reversed in 2021-2023 versus 2017-2019, with higher rates emerging among...

Moderate, Heavy Alcohol Consumption Linked to Signs of Injury in the Brain

FRIDAY, April 11, 2025 -- Moderate, heavy, and former heavy alcohol consumption are associated with hyaline arteriolosclerosis and neurofibrillary tangles, according to a study...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.