JAMA Psychiatry

GLP-1 drugs linked to lower risk of hospitalization due to AUD

November 15, 2024

GLP-1 agonists—specifically semaglutide and liraglutide—may be effective in the treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD). Authors say randomized trials are urgently needed to confirm whether GLP-1 agonists could be useful in the management of AUD and substance use disorders (SUDs).

In this Swedish nationwide observational cohort study, researchers analyzed data from 227,866 individuals ages 16 to 64 with AUD, collected from 2006 to 2023, to measure AUD and SUD-related hospitalization.

Key findings:

• Semaglutide users had a 36% lower risk of AUD hospitalization (aHR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.50-0.83) and a 32% lower risk of any SUD-related hospitalization (aHR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54-0.85) compared with those not taking a GLP-1 agent.
• Liraglutide users had similar findings, with a 28% lower risk of AUD hospitalization (aHR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.57-0.92) and a 22% lower risk of SUD related hospitalization (aHR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.64-0.97).
• Use of any AUD medication (disulfiram, acamprosate, or naltrexone) was associated with a modestly decreased risk of hospitalization (aHR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.96-1.00).

Source:

Lähteenvuo M, et al. (2024, November 13). JAMA Psychiatry. Repurposing Semaglutide and Liraglutide for Alcohol Use Disorder. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39535805/