Researchers at Virginia Tech's Fralin Biomedical Research Institute have published a study suggesting that GLP-1 medications, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, could help reduce alcohol consumption by slowing its absorption into the bloodstream. Participants on these drugs reported feeling less intoxicated after drinking the same amount of alcohol as those not taking them. The findings, from a pilot study involving 20 adults, point to a potential new approach distinct from traditional treatments.
The study, published this month in Scientific Reports, involved 20 adults with a body mass index of 30 or higher. Half were taking GLP-1 medications like semaglutide, tirzepatide, or liraglutide, while the other half were not. Participants fasted before the session and ate a consistent snack bar to standardize stomach contents.
Researchers measured blood pressure, pulse, breath alcohol concentration, and blood glucose levels. Ninety minutes later, each participant consumed an alcoholic drink within 10 minutes. Over the following hour, they rated their intoxication on a scale from zero to ten, along with cravings, appetite, and the drink's taste, including responses to 'How drunk do you feel right now?'
Those on GLP-1 drugs experienced a slower rise in blood-alcohol concentration and consistently reported feeling less drunk, despite consuming the same amount of alcohol—equivalent to 0.6 ounces in a standard serving. After the drinking portion, participants remained in a recovery area for monitoring, with breath alcohol checked every 30 minutes and blood glucose twice. They were cleared to leave after four hours once breath alcohol fell below 0.02 percent.
"People who drink know there's a difference between nursing a glass of wine and downing a shot of whiskey," said Alex DiFeliceantonio, assistant professor and interim co-director of the FBRI's Center for Health Behaviors Research. A shot causes blood-alcohol levels to spike faster, leading to stronger effects. "Faster-acting drugs have a higher abuse potential," DiFeliceantonio added. "If GLP-1s slow alcohol entering the bloodstream, they could reduce the effects of alcohol and help people drink less."
GLP-1 agonists slow gastric emptying, differing from medications like naltrexone and acamprosate, which target the central nervous system. The research built on Reddit analyses showing reduced alcohol cravings among users of these diabetes and obesity drugs. It originated at a faculty retreat led by Warren Bickel, director of the Addiction Recovery Research Center, who died in 2024.
More than half of U.S. adults drink alcohol, with one in ten having an alcohol use disorder. Chronic heavy drinking links to high blood pressure, heart and liver disease, and cancers; U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy named it the third leading preventable cause of cancer after tobacco and obesity. The pilot study, funded by the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, supports larger trials for using GLP-1 drugs to aid alcohol reduction.
"His guidance shaped every stage of this research," said Fatima Quddos, first author and recent Virginia Tech graduate. "The possibility of offering new hope to individuals struggling with addiction is what makes this work so meaningful."