Oral Semaglutide Cuts Heavy Drinking but Misses Craving Endpoint
This phase 2 trial extends glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist evidence to treatment-seeking adults with moderate-to-severe alcohol use disorder, offering behavioral health pharmacists early efficacy signals on a repurposed oral agent.
Semaglutide potentially reduces heavy drinking in alcohol use disorder.
Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, shows potential for reducing alcohol consumption, a significant area of interest given the limited treatment options for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Semaglutide significantly reduced heavy drinking days, drinks per drinking day, naturalistic alcohol craving, cannabis use, and alcohol-related consequences compared to placebo. While semaglutide did not significantly affect all primary outcomes, the reductions in heavy drinking and related consequences suggest potential as a supplementary treatment for AUD. Semaglutide shows promise in managing heavy drinking days and related harms in AUD.
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Authors:Schacht JP, Sakai JT, Raymond K, Shelton R
Citation:Schacht JP, Sakai JT, Raymond K, et al. Oral Semaglutide for Alcohol Use Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial. The American journal of psychiatry. 2026;183(9):636-645. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.20260003
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Executive Summary
Study Design
Patient Population
Primary Outcomes
Secondary Outcomes & Safety Profile
Pharmacist Implications
Clinical Pearls
Limitations
Controversies & Evidence Gaps
Cost & Logistics
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