Why Drugs Like Ozempic Can Make People Drink Less Alcohol
A small study sheds light on why some individuals taking weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound, and Mounjaro report a decrease in cravings for substances beyond food, including alcohol and nicotine.
These medications appear to reduce the effects of various addictive substances, but the exact reasons remain unclear. A recent preliminary study published in Scientific Reports provides insights into how this drug class may lower alcohol consumption and diminish intoxication.
Study Findings and Implications
The researchers propose that the drugs’ mechanism involves not only brain activity but also effects in the gut. Understanding this dual action may lead to new treatments for alcohol use disorder.
“There’s a lot of action in the brain, but what we were trying to argue in our paper is that there also is probably action in the gut,” says Alex DiFeliceantonio, an appetitive neuroscientist at Virginia Tech and co-author of the study. “We need to look at both to really fully understand how these drugs are working to reduce the intake of substances with abuse liability.”
Potential Impact on Addiction Therapy
- Weight-loss drugs can reduce cravings for addictive substances beyond food.
- The combination of brain and gut effects offers a more complete explanation of these drugs' actions.
- New insights could open paths for innovative addiction treatments.
This research highlights the promising role of diabetes and weight-loss medications in potentially curbing alcohol use and other substance addictions by targeting multiple physiological systems.
Author’s summary: Recent findings suggest that weight-loss drugs like Ozempic reduce alcohol intake by affecting both the brain and gut, offering new directions for addiction therapies.