Home / Health / Wegovy: Alcoholism's New Hope?
Wegovy: Alcoholism's New Hope?
1 May
Summary
- Wegovy significantly reduced heavy drinking days in alcoholism patients.
- About one in four patients on Wegovy improved on WHO high-risk drinking scale.
- This study marks the first controlled trial for Wegovy in alcoholism.
A recent controlled study published in The Lancet suggests that the obesity medication Wegovy may be a promising treatment for alcoholism. The research found that patients receiving Wegovy experienced a significant reduction in heavy drinking days after six months of treatment.
Volunteers on Wegovy reported drinking heavily on an average of five days per 30-day period, a decrease of twelve days compared to their pre-treatment habits. The study also noted improvements in other addiction measures, including total alcohol consumption and bloodwork indicators.
This 108-person Danish study represents the first randomized, placebo-controlled trial focusing on patients actively seeking treatment for alcoholism. It indicated that approximately one in four individuals treated with Wegovy moved down two notches on the World Health Organization's scale for high-risk drinking, a better outcome than current treatments.
While participants receiving a placebo also reduced their drinking, likely due to the therapy available to all, the drug's effect was more pronounced. Further research is underway to explore Wegovy's efficacy in non-obese individuals with alcoholism and in tablet form, with significant studies expected by 2028.
