In the research study, alcohol-dependent rats were treated with semaglutide, which substantially minimized their alcohol consumption and even decreased the drinking of alcohol in conjunction with regressions. Regressions make up a significant issue for people with alcohol dependence, as a person who has actually abstained from alcohol for a duration relapses and beverages more than before the withdrawal.
The research study reports a noticeably good result, although clinical studies will be required before the medication can be used for alcohol reliance, and such studies take time. According to the researchers, it is likely that these outcomes will carry over to people, as outcomes from other research studies on alcohol dependence medications made with the exact same research study design have shown comparable impacts in humans as in rats.
The existing research study likewise examined why the medication reduces alcohol drinking.
The results of the study are published in the clinical journal eBioMedicine. In the study, alcohol-dependent rats were treated with semaglutide, which considerably lowered their alcohol consumption and even minimized the drinking of alcohol in combination with relapses. Relapses comprise a significant issue for people with alcohol dependence, as a person who has avoided alcohol for a period regressions and beverages more than before the withdrawal.
Elisabet Jerlhag Holm and Cajsa Aranäs, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg. Credit: Johan Wingborg, Elin Lindström
In the research study, the dealt with rats cut their alcohol intake in half compared to animals that did not get treatment. One interesting finding in the study was that semaglutide lowered alcohol consumption similarly in both female and male rats.
Humans and animals
The study reports a strikingly great effect, although clinical studies will be required before the medication can be used for alcohol reliance, and such studies take time. Moving forward, the medication may be of most benefit to clients suffering from both overweight and alcoholism. According to the scientists, it is likely that these results will carry over to human beings, as results from other studies on alcohol dependence medications made with the very same research study model have actually shown similar impacts in humans as in rats.
” There are, of course, differences in conducting research studies on people and animals, and these should always be taken into account. Nevertheless, in this case, there is a previous research study on humans in which an older version of the diabetes medications that act on GLP-1 was discovered to lower alcohol consumption in overweight people with alcohol reliance,” says Elisabet Jerlhag, teacher of pharmacology at Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg.
Systems in the brain
The present study also analyzed why the medication decreases alcohol drinking. The results indicate that reduced alcohol-induced benefit could be a contributing element. In the research study, semaglutide impacted the brains reward system in mice, to be more specific the nucleus accumbens area of the brain, which is part of the limbic system.
” Alcohol triggers the brains benefit system, leading to the release of dopamine, something that is seen in both animals and human beings. This process is obstructed by the medication in mice, and with our interpretation, this could trigger a decrease in the alcohol-induced benefit,” says Cajsa Aranäs, a doctoral student at Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, who is responsible for much of the work behind the study provided here.
Reference: “Semaglutide decreases alcohol intake and relapse-like drinking in male and female rats” by Cajsa Aranäs, Christian E. Edvardsson, Olesya T. Shevchouk, Qian Zhang, Sarah Witley, Sebastian Blid Sköldheden, Lindsay Zentveld, Daniel Vallöf, Maximilian Tufvesson-Alm and Elisabet Jerlhag, 7 June 2023, eBioMedicine.DOI: 10.1016/ j.ebiom.2023.104642.
A new research study revealed that Semaglutide, a substance abuse to treat obesity and diabetes, substantially minimized alcohol usage and the rate of relapses in alcohol-dependent rats, providing promise for its use in human alcohol dependence treatment. The drug appears to obstruct alcohol-induced dopamine release in the brains reward system, which might possibly suppress the rewarding results of alcohol, although medical research studies on humans are required to validate these findings.
The medication Semaglutide, likewise understood by trademark name like Ozempic, has actually been authorized to deal with weight problems, leading to an upsurge in need thats triggered current procurement concerns. Some clients dealing with obesity or diabetes have actually informally reported that their alcohol cravings decreased after beginning this medication.
Presently, a blend of various psychosocial strategies and drugs is used to treat people suffering from alcohol dependence. Offered the complex nature of alcohol dependence as an illness with numerous origins, these medications efficiency can vary.
Decreased relapses
Semaglutide is a long-acting compound that only requires to be taken as soon as a week. This is the first medication to act on the GLP-1 receptor that can be taken in tablet type.