Is Semaglutide Also A Cure For Alcohol Addiction?
Aug 08, 2023
Is Semaglutide Also A Cure For Alcohol Addiction?
Alcohol dependency can result in both physical and mental harm. There are multiple approaches available to assist individuals grappling with alcohol overconsumption. While the ideal method to support those with alcohol dependency remains under investigation, there's a growing interest in the use of medicines to reduce alcohol intake.
Research highlighted in eBioMedicine suggests that semaglutide, a drug commonly used for diabetes and marketed as Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy, significantly reduced alcohol intake in rats.
This discovery paves the way for more in-depth studies on how this medication might benefit those with alcohol dependency issues.
Exploring Diabetes Medication for Curbing Alcohol Consumption
The recent study delved into the effects of semaglutide on alcohol intake patterns. Commonly known for aiding in insulin production by the pancreas, semaglutide is a go-to prescription for individuals with type 2 diabetes. Yet, emerging evidence hints at the drug's broader therapeutic potential beyond diabetes.
For the study, both rats and mice served as test subjects. The primary focus was observing the impact of semaglutide on rats' drinking tendencies.
Initially, rats were subjected to a 9-week alcohol regimen, receiving alcohol thrice weekly to develop a drinking pattern. Post this, the introduction of semaglutide was monitored for changes in their drinking habits. Remarkably, the alcohol consumption in rats decreased post-medication.
Prof. Elisabet Jerlhag of the Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology at the University of Gothenburg commented, "After more than 10 weeks of alcohol consumption, a significant reduction in intake was observed post-semaglutide treatment."
Post-Abstinence Alcohol Consumption and Semaglutide
Experts are now realizing that GLP-1 analogs have effects beyond just the pancreas. While their exact role in weight reduction remains a topic of study, these drugs seem to employ various strategies to curtail appetite. These strategies might include slowing food movement through the digestive system and stabilizing blood sugar levels. Interestingly, it's suggested that they also act directly on the brain.
These GLP-1 analogs seem to connect with receptors in multiple brain areas, according to Scott Kanoski, a neurobiology expert at the University of Southern California. Research conducted by Kanoski's team showed that when these receptors were obstructed in rodents, drugs like exenatide and liraglutide weren't as potent in decreasing food consumption.
This suggests the drugs' efficacy might be partly attributed to their influence on the brain. Moreover, the fact that these medications impact both the gut and brain hints they might also help regulate other cravings.
Dopamine effect
Specifically, GLP-1 analogs seem to influence the brain's dopamine pathways, often called the reward circuit. Evolutionarily, this pathway developed to ensure our survival. For instance, activities like eating and reproduction stimulate a dopamine release, resulting in feelings of pleasure and the motivation to repeat those actions. However, in individuals with addiction, there are alterations in this dopamine response. Such individuals may have diminished dopamine receptors, leading to a decreased pleasure response to the same stimuli.
Studies in lab animals have provided substantial evidence of GLP-1 analogs influencing this reward system. For instance, mice treated with a variant of exenatide displayed a reduced dopamine response to alcohol. Similarly, rats on the same drug exhibited a decreased preference for substances like cocaine and oxycodone.
African vervet monkeys predisposed to alcohol showed reduced consumption when treated with liraglutide and exenatide. Although most research has focused on these two early-generation GLP-1 drugs, experts anticipate promising studies involving semaglutide to emerge shortly.
Human Data Pending
However, when it comes to humans, the data is less comprehensive. Preliminary studies involving exenatide for individuals with cocaine-use disorder were either too brief or had too few participants to draw any definitive conclusions. Another research project found that individuals with alcohol-use disorder, when treated with exenatide and observed under an fMRI scanner, showed reduced brain activity in response to images of alcohol. However, the study didn't find a significant reduction in alcohol consumption, except in a sub-group of participants with obesity.
Some specialists believe that semaglutide could potentially be more effective for certain individuals than others in addressing addiction. Anders Fink-Jensen, a psychiatrist from the University of Copenhagen, remarked, "I don't anticipate this will be effective for everyone." He further mentioned that comprehensive, prolonged studies with semaglutide are essential to confirm its potential benefits in addiction treatment.
Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder's Impact
Despite being widely accepted in various cultures, excessive alcohol intake poses substantial health risks, including liver ailments, heart diseases, and heightened cancer chances.
For those grappling with alcohol use disorder, curtailing or ceasing alcohol becomes challenging. Assistance usually encompasses a blend of specialized interventions.
Dr. Lichtman emphasizes the severity, noting the need for detoxification for severe cases. He recommends various treatments for those eager to overcome their addiction, from outpatient programs to community support groups.
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