The Efficacy of GLP-1 Agonists in Treating Substance Use Disorder in Patients: A Scoping Review

Substance use disorder (SUD) continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality with limited treatments. There is interest in expanding the use of GLP-1 agonists in treating SUD. However, evidence for safety and efficacy in humans is limited. This review aims to bridge the existing knowledge gap by establishing a baseline of literature in this area to inform future trials and clinical practice. Our inclusion criteria were English peer-reviewed manuscripts reporting on use of GLP-1, GIP, and/or glucagon receptor agonists in treatment of SUDs, excluding case studies. The literature search was performed in accordance to PRISMA guidelines. Five studies were included in this review examining the use of this medication in tobacco use disorder, alcohol use disorder, and cocaine use disorder. No studies regarding substance withdrawal syndrome were identified. The included studies varied widely in terms of patient selection, dose/formulation of GLP-1 agonists, and follow-up. The results of this scoping review are mixed, with 3 studies demonstrating positive results and 2 studies finding no efficacy of this medication on SUD outcomes. It is premature to prescribe this medication off-label to patients. Further research is needed to determine the efficacy of GLP-1 agonists in treating SUD.