Can semaglutide reduce alcohol cravings? What new research really tells us

Can Semaglutide Reduce Alcohol Cravings? What New Research Really Tells Us

Semaglutide is best known as a prescription medicine used for certain approved medical purposes, including weight management for some people.

Researchers are now investigating whether it may also affect:

• Alcohol cravings

• Patterns of alcohol consumption

A clinical trial published in The Lancet in 2026 has added important evidence to that discussion.

The results are encouraging, but they need to be understood carefully.

This was one relatively small study involving a specific group of people.

Semaglutide is not currently an approved treatment for alcohol use disorder in the UK.

At Keltoi Wellness, we believe new health research should be explained clearly and without turning early findings into promises.

Here is what the study found, along with the questions it cannot yet answer.

Why are researchers studying semaglutide and alcohol?

Semaglutide belongs to a group of medicines that act on the GLP 1 system.

This system is involved in:

• Appetite

• Digestion

• Blood sugar regulation

Scientists are also studying its relationship with areas of the brain involved in:

• Motivation

• Reward

• Craving

Some people taking this type of medicine have reported changes in their interest in alcohol.

Earlier:

• Laboratory research

• Observational studies

also suggested a possible connection.

However, personal reports and observational data cannot show by themselves that a medicine causes a reduction in drinking.

A controlled clinical trial is needed to test that question more reliably.

How was the new trial conducted?

The study involved 108 adults in Denmark.

Participants were:

• Seeking help for moderate to severe alcohol use disorder

• Living with a body mass index of 30 or above

Participants were randomly placed into two groups.

One group received:

• Semaglutide once a week

The other received:

• A placebo

Neither the participants nor the clinical team knew which treatment each person was receiving during the trial.

This is known as a:

• Randomised

• Double blind

• Placebo controlled

design.

The study lasted for 26 weeks.

Importantly, both groups were also offered cognitive behavioural therapy.

The therapy focused on:

• Motivation

• Managing cravings

• Reducing the risk of returning to heavy drinking

Researchers recorded alcohol consumption.

They also examined:

• The proportion of days on which participants drank heavily

• A blood marker associated with recent alcohol consumption

The blood marker was used to compare with the information reported by participants.

What did the researchers find?

Both groups reduced their number of heavy drinking days during the study.

However, the reduction was greater among participants who received semaglutide.

Heavy drinking days fell by:

• 41.1 percentage points in the semaglutide group

• 26.4 percentage points in the placebo group

After statistical analysis, the estimated difference between the groups was 13.7 percentage points.

This distinction matters.

The result does not mean that semaglutide made every participant drink 41 per cent less.

It describes the average change in the proportion of heavy drinking days across the group.

The researchers also reported greater reductions in:

• Overall alcohol consumption

• Number of drinks consumed on drinking days

• Reported alcohol cravings

among those receiving semaglutide.

Changes in the blood marker broadly supported the reported reduction in alcohol use.

These findings suggest that semaglutide deserves further investigation as a possible future option for people who have both:

• Alcohol use disorder

• Obesity

They do not establish it as a standard or approved treatment.

What does the study not prove?

The headlines can make the results sound more conclusive than they are.

Several important limits remain.

The study was relatively small

The trial included only 108 people.

It was also carried out at one clinical centre.

Larger studies involving:

• Different locations

• More varied populations

are needed before the findings can be applied widely.

Every participant had a BMI of at least 30

The results therefore cannot tell us whether the same effect would occur in people who do not have obesity.

The study lasted for 26 weeks

It did not establish:

• Whether the reduction in heavy drinking would continue over the longer term

• What would happen after semaglutide was stopped

Both groups received behavioural support

Every participant was offered cognitive behavioural therapy.

This was a strength of the study because participants received recognised behavioural support.

However, it also means the results should not be presented as evidence that a medicine alone provides a complete treatment for alcohol use disorder.

The study did not establish a new approved use

The trial was designed to investigate a clinical question.

It was not evidence that semaglutide should now be requested or prescribed specifically to reduce alcohol consumption.

Is semaglutide approved to treat alcohol use disorder?

No.

Semaglutide is not currently authorised in the UK as a treatment for alcohol use disorder.

The licensed uses depend on:

• The particular formulation

• The individual patient’s circumstances

Any prescription must follow an appropriate clinical assessment.

It should be used only for the purpose considered suitable by the prescriber.

No one should:

• Start semaglutide

• Change their dose

• Continue taking it specifically to reduce alcohol consumption

without discussing their circumstances with an appropriate healthcare professional.

Safety still matters

Participants receiving semaglutide reported side effects more often than those receiving the placebo.

These were mainly digestive effects such as:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Reduced appetite

• Abdominal discomfort

Most were described as:

• Temporary

• Mild to moderate

However, some participants stopped treatment because of side effects.

The wider safety considerations for semaglutide are not changed by this study.

Whether any prescription medicine is appropriate depends on:

• Medical history

• Current medicines

• Symptoms

• Individual risk factors

People who already take semaglutide should speak to their prescriber if they have questions about:

• Alcohol

• Side effects

• Any unexpected change in their health

They should not alter their treatment based on:

• A news report

• A blog article

A promising result, but not a new treatment yet

This trial provides credible evidence of a possible relationship between semaglutide and reduced heavy drinking among adults who had both:

• Alcohol use disorder

• Obesity

Its randomised and placebo controlled design makes it more informative than:

• Personal stories

• Observational reports alone

The responsible conclusion is still a cautious one.

The findings are promising enough to justify:

• Larger studies

• Longer studies

But they are not enough to turn semaglutide into an established treatment for alcohol use disorder.

That difference between promising research and proven clinical practice is important.

New evidence can change medicine, but it must be:

• Tested

• Reviewed

• Placed within appropriate guidance

before it becomes routine care.

Getting help with alcohol in Northern Ireland

If you are worried about your drinking:

• Speak to your GP

• Contact a local alcohol support service

Some services in Northern Ireland accept self referrals.

If you may be dependent on alcohol, do not suddenly stop drinking without medical advice.

Alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous and may require professional support.

Call 999 or attend an emergency department if you or someone else develops:

• Severe shaking

• Confusion

• Hallucinations

• A seizure

after stopping or reducing alcohol.

Keltoi Wellness does not provide treatment for alcohol use disorder.

This article is for general information and is not:

• A diagnosis

• A recommendation

• A substitute for individual medical advice

Frequently asked questions

Does semaglutide stop alcohol cravings?

The 2026 trial found a greater average reduction in:

• Reported alcohol cravings

• Heavy drinking days

among participants receiving semaglutide than among those receiving a placebo.

It does not show that cravings will stop for every person.

Can semaglutide be prescribed for alcohol dependence?

Semaglutide is not currently authorised in the UK to treat alcohol use disorder.

Anyone concerned about alcohol dependence should speak to:

• A GP

• A specialist alcohol service

about established treatment and support.

Should I change my semaglutide treatment if my interest in alcohol changes?

No treatment change should be made on the basis of:

• This study

• A personal change in cravings alone

Speak to the clinician responsible for your care before:

• Changing your dose

• Stopping a prescribed medicine

Where can I find alcohol support in Northern Ireland?

NI Direct provides information about local drug and alcohol services, including services that accept self referrals.

Your GP can also:

• Provide advice

• Refer you for appropriate support

Sources and further reading

• Klausen and colleagues: Once weekly semaglutide versus placebo in patients with alcohol use disorder and comorbid obesity, The Lancet, 2026

• ClinicalTrials.gov study record NCT05895643

• NHS information about alcohol use disorder

• NI Direct guidance on getting help with drug or alcohol problems

• UK product information for semaglutide

Last updated: August 2026