Semaglutide and Alcohol Cravings: An Early Look at a Surprising Link

Many people who start a GLP-1 medication report something unexpected: they lose interest in alcohol. That anecdote has caught the attention of researchers, who have begun to test whether these medications change drinking. The early results are interesting, and they are also small. This is general education, not medical advice, and nothing here is a suggestion to use a medication for alcohol.

The idea

GLP-1 receptors are found not only in the gut and pancreas but also in parts of the brain involved in appetite and reward. Scientists wondered whether activating them might quiet cravings for alcohol the way it seems to quiet cravings for food. Animal studies pointed in that direction, and reports from patients added to the curiosity.

The first randomized trial

In 2025, Hendershot and colleagues published a phase 2 randomized trial in JAMA Psychiatry. It enrolled 48 adults with alcohol use disorder who were not seeking treatment. Over about nine weeks, half received once-weekly semaglutide and half received a placebo.

• People taking semaglutide drank fewer drinks on the days when they drank.
• Their weekly alcohol cravings were lower than in the placebo group.
• In a laboratory session after treatment, they drank about half as much alcohol as the placebo group in a self-administration task, according to press coverage of the results.
• There was no clear change in the number of drinking days or in drinks per calendar day, and summaries differ on the size of the effect on heavy drinking days.

Why this is a starting point, not an answer

• It was a small trial, with 48 people over about nine weeks.
• Participants were not seeking treatment, so the results may not apply to people trying to cut back or quit.
• These medications are not approved for alcohol use disorder. Larger trials are needed to show whether they work and whether they are safe for that purpose.

What it means if you take a GLP-1 medication

If you do notice that you want less alcohol, you are in good company, but it is worth knowing that alcohol adds calories and can lower inhibitions around food, as we explain in our guide to alcohol and weight. Drinking on an empty stomach or with nausea can feel worse than usual, so talk with your care team about alcohol while you are on treatment. Our look at eating well on a GLP-1 medication covers other practical points, and our article on how people respond differently is a reminder that effects vary.

If alcohol is a struggle

Needing a drink to get through the day, being unable to cut back, or feeling that drinking is out of control are all good reasons to talk with a healthcare professional. In the U.S., the SAMHSA National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) offers free, confidential support around the clock.

Sources

• Hendershot CS, et al. Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with alcohol use disorder: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry, 2025 (figures from the abstract and press summaries; check the paper for exact effect sizes).
• ClinicalTrials.gov. Semaglutide for alcohol use disorder (NCT05520775).