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Updated: May 9, 2025

Murine Drinking Models in the Development of Pharmacotherapies for Alcoholism: Drinking in the Dark and Two-bottle Choice
Published on: January 7, 2019
GLP-1 receptor agonists for the treatment of alcohol use disorder
Gavin N Petrie1,2,3, Leah M Mayo1,2,3
1Department of Psychiatry.
Abstract:
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), such as semaglutide, are widely used in the treatment of metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity. These medications primarily function by enhancing insulin secretion; however, emerging evidence suggests that the effects extend beyond metabolic regulation. In this issue of the JCI, Farokhnia et al. evaluated the effects of GLP-1RAs alongside another T2D treatment, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4Is), on alcohol consumption in humans and preclinical models. In humans, GLP1-RAs, but not DPP-4Is, were associated with reductions in alcohol consumption. Similarly, DPP-4 inhibition had no effect on alcohol intake in rodents. These findings invite further exploration of the mechanisms by which GLP-1RAs reduce alcohol consumption and redefine our pharmacotherapy approach to alcohol use disorder (AUD) by opening the possibility for application as an early harm-reduction tool.
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