Recent medicine studies prove that medicines created for one goal may have unexpected use. Semaglutide, a drug that was originally developed for the treatment of diabetes and combating obesity, has now attracted scientists' attention as a possible means of reducing alcohol addiction. According to IZ with reference to Science Alert, researchers from the United States have conducted a clinical trial, which proved that this drug can significantly reduce the craving for alcohol and the total amount of consumption. Participants who took Seaglutide were drunk on average 30 percent less alcohol, while in the control group this figure decreased by only 2 percent.
The study involved 48 adults about 40 years of age who had diagnosed alcohol addiction but have not yet sought specialized help. Before the experiment, all participants in their lives had periods of excessive alcohol consumption, which included more than seven portions a week for women and more than fourteen – for men. Scientists suggested that they take a nine -week course during which volunteers received either Seaglutide or placebo. During the test, the participants recorded the level of desire to drink and the amount of alcohol consumed. The results were unexpectedly positive. In addition to the general decrease in the amount of alcohol consumed, researchers found that those who received Seaglutide less often experienced periods of excessive alcohol consumption. By the end of the second month of the experiment, 40 percent of the participants of this group had no more cases of severe alcohol consumption, while in the placebo group this figure was only 20 percent. Scientists also noted an interesting pattern – in a small subgroup, Semaglutide reduced not only the craving for alcohol but also the desire to smoke. There is not enough data to confirm the effectiveness of the drug for patients with severe alcoholism. Further research will help determine whether Seaglutide can be used as a complete method of treating alcohol addiction. There is also more information about long-term effects of the drug, because any intervention in the biochemistry of the body has potential risks and adverse reactions.
