Tag

Alcohol Use Disorder

All articles tagged with #alcohol use disorder

health8 days ago•3 min saved

GLP-1 Drugs May Reduce Heavy Drinking, but Evidence on Cravings Remains Mixed

A new review in Biological Psychiatry suggests that GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as semaglutide, may help reduce heavy drinking days and overall alcohol intake for some individuals. However, the evidence is inconsistent regarding whether these drugs effectively reduce alcohol cravings. While clinical trials show promising results for reducing consumption, particularly in people with obesity, the data does not yet confirm a direct link to reduced cravings or establish the drugs as a standard treatment for alcohol use disorder.

via ScienceAlert|

#alcohol-use-disorder #clinical-trials #glp-1-agonists

health22 days ago•217 min saved

Recovery is a spectrum: new definitions reshape AUD understanding

Recovery from AUD is a spectrum—ranging from full sobriety to controlled drinking—reflected in DSM-5 and the NIAAA’s definitions; abstinence often yields the strongest health gains, but non-abstinent recovery can be viable for some, broadening access to care and challenging the old idea that sobriety is the only measure of recovery.

via cnn.com|

#abstinence #alcohol-use-disorder #dsm-5

science1 month ago•34 min saved

Brain's fuel system rebalances within weeks after stopping heavy drinking

New research shows that stopping heavy drinking causes a sharp, temporary drop in the brain’s ability to burn acetate, a fuel produced from alcohol, but brain acetate metabolism rebounds within about a month, returning to levels near light drinkers, indicating a reversible brain energy adaptation during detox and suggesting dietary or medical strategies to ease withdrawal.

via PsyPost|

#acetate #alcohol-use-disorder #astrocytes

health1 month ago•7 min saved

Pitt's sobriety test: experts caution on reintroducing alcohol

Brad Pitt says he spent seven years sober before resuming drinking in a restrained way, prompting addiction experts to warn that reintroducing alcohol after a problematic relationship can be dangerous and may require vigilance and ongoing management. While some individuals can moderate, most guidance, including NIAAA, emphasizes abstinence for the greatest long-term success and urges anyone noticing risky drinking patterns to seek professional help; treatment goals should be personalized.

via Fox News|

#addiction #alcohol-use-disorder #brad-pitt

science1 month ago•10 min saved

Abstinence may raise relapse risk: new brain-activity clues from a mouse alcohol study

A mouse study shows that long-term voluntary alcohol use followed by forced abstinence can lead to aversion‑resistant drinking and heightened activity in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), with BNST activity evident even before exposure to alcohol. This suggests abstinence-related brain changes may raise relapse risk and points to BNST as a potential screening target to identify those most vulnerable to relapse and tailor interventions.

via The Conversation|

#abstinence #alcohol-use-disorder #bnst

health1 month ago•4 min saved

VA Launches Largest GLP-1 Trial to See if Semaglutide Reduces Alcohol Cravings in Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs is launching the largest study to test whether the GLP-1 drug semaglutide can curb alcohol cravings in more than 600 veterans with alcohol use disorder, aiming to produce definitive evidence that could lead to FDA label changes and broader prescribing in primary care. The trial compares semaglutide to placebo with brief medical management sessions and regular health assessments, building on earlier studies showing GLP-1 medications can reduce heavy drinking and total drinks.

via Task & Purpose|

#alcohol-use-disorder #fda #glp-1

health2 months ago•17 min saved

VA launches trial to test whether GLP-1 diabetes drugs curb alcohol use

The Department of Veterans Affairs has started a clinical trial to evaluate whether GLP-1 medications like semaglutide, approved for diabetes and weight loss, can reduce alcohol use in veterans, building on evidence these drugs may also dampen addictive urges beyond food cravings.

via The Washington Post|

#alcohol-use-disorder #clinical-trial #glp-1

health2 months ago•1 min saved

VA tests GLP-1 therapy in a multi-center trial to aid veterans with alcohol use disorder

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced a 600-participant, multi-center clinical trial across 18 VA medical centers to evaluate a GLP-1 receptor treatment for veterans with alcohol use disorder (and diabetes), with recruitment starting July 28, 2026, and researchers will monitor changes in drinking behavior, health, and quality of life in the study named Cessation or Reduction of Alcohol Consumption in Veterans.

via National Desk|

#alcohol-use-disorder #clinical-trial #glp-1

health2 months ago•2 min saved

VA Trials Semaglutide to Reduce Drinking in Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs is launching the CRAVE trial to test whether semaglutide—a GLP-1 receptor agonist used for diabetes and obesity—can help treat moderate-to-severe alcohol use disorder in more than 600 veterans aged 18–80 across 18 VA medical centers. Over 24 weeks, participants will receive weekly injections of either semaglutide or placebo, with researchers measuring changes in alcohol consumption, overall health and quality of life. Semaglutide is not FDA-approved for AUD, and the VA cautions against self-medicating. Recruitment began July 28.

via Military Times|

#alcohol-use-disorder #clinical-trial #glp-1

health2 months ago•3 min saved

Oral GLP-1 Pill Shows Promise in Reducing Heavy Drinking Days

A small phase II trial with 50 participants found that once-daily oral semaglutide reduced heavy drinking days and alcohol-related harms in adults with moderate to severe alcohol-use disorder, compared with placebo, though craving and average drinks per day did not decline; findings suggest GLP-1s could be a convenient harm-reduction option, but larger trials are needed to confirm efficacy.

via Gizmodo|

#alcohol-use-disorder #clinical-trial #glp-1s

health2 months ago•8 min saved

Ed Sheeran’s culture remark rekindles UK–US AUD debate

A resurfaced Ed Sheeran quote about the UK’s daily-drinking culture reignites debate over whether culture drives alcohol use disorder (AUD). Health experts note that Americans and Britons consume similar overall amounts, but patterns and social norms differ; AUD is defined by the impact of drinking on daily life, not culture alone. Clinicians warn against normalizing daily drinking, outline warning signs of AUD, and urge evaluation if drinking interferes with work, relationships or health.

via Fox News|

#alcohol #alcohol-use-disorder #culture

health3 months ago•7 min saved

GLP-1s for Addiction: Early Signals, Still Many Questions

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, originally used for diabetes and obesity, are being explored as addiction treatments. Early data from animal studies, observational research, and some randomized trials suggest GLP-1s may dampen reward-driven cravings and reduce alcohol consumption, with semaglutide showing reductions in craving and heavy drinking in alcohol use disorder; results for opioid, cocaine, and nicotine use disorders are less robust and mostly preclinical. The drugs likely act on shared brain reward pathways and may broadly decrease reward seeking, not just addiction-specific cravings. Many critical questions remain about which patients benefit, optimal dosing and duration, durability after stopping, interactions with comorbidities, and equitable access. Large, longer-term trials are ongoing, and GLP-1s are not yet ready to replace established addiction treatments.

via Medscape|

#addiction #alcohol-use-disorder #glp-1

health4 months ago•4 min saved

GLP-1 Medications Show Promise in Alcohol Use Disorder, Awaiting Approval

A Danish Lancet trial found the GLP-1 drug semaglutide reduced alcohol consumption and heavy drinking days over 26 weeks, adding to a growing body of research that GLP-1s may curb cravings for various substances. However, these drugs are not approved for alcohol use disorder and are prescribed today for diabetes or obesity; ongoing studies in the U.S. and elsewhere are exploring effects on other addictions and whether benefits persist after stopping treatment. If future trials confirm efficacy and safety, GLP-1s could become a treatment option pending regulatory approval.

via Gizmodo|

#addiction #alcohol-use-disorder #clinical-trials

science7 months ago•4 min saved

Anterior Insula Bias Pushes Rats Toward Alcohol Over Social Rewards

In rats, heightened anterior insula activity just before choosing correlates with a bias toward alcohol over social rewards, revealing a neural mechanism that could explain the prioritization seen in alcohol use disorder and identifying the anterior insula as a potential target for interventions to restore balanced decision-making.

via Neuroscience News|

#addiction #alcohol-use-disorder #anterior-insula

science7 months ago•6 min saved

Tirzepatide reduces alcohol reward in rodent study, hinting at AUD therapy

Rodents treated with tirzepatide (Mounjaro) drank more than half as much alcohol as controls, showed fewer relapse-like drinking episodes, and exhibited reduced alcohol-induced dopamine spikes in the brain’s reward center, the lateral septum. The drug also altered histone-related proteins, suggesting possible long-term neural changes. While promising, human trials are needed to confirm efficacy for alcohol use disorder, though tirzepatide’s established safety profile could speed future research.

via Neuroscience News|

#alcohol-use-disorder #dopamine #glp-1gip-dual-agonist