Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists and Alcohol Use Outcomes: A Systematic Review of Clinical Evidence.

Background and

Objectives

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are widely used for type 2 diabetes and obesity treatment and may influence reward-related behaviors, including alcohol use. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of GLP-1RAs on alcohol consumption and related outcomes in adults with alcohol use or alcohol use disorder (AUD).

Methods

A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. PubMed and Web of Science were searched from inception to December 2025. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), secondary analyses of RCTs, and observational studies reporting quantitative alcohol consumption outcomes. Data extraction and risk of bias assessment (RoB 2 and ROBINS-I) were performed independently by two reviewers.

Results

Five studies (n = 49,892) were included, comprising three RCT-based analyses and one large cohort study. Semaglutide and dulaglutide were associated with modest reductions in alcohol consumption and craving in several studies, with statistically significant improvements in selected behavioral outcomes. In contrast, exenatide did not demonstrate significant effects in the overall AUD population, with signals limited to subgroups. The cohort study showed small but statistically significant reductions in AUDIT-C scores following GLP-1RA initiation. Objective measures (e.g., PEth, breath alcohol concentration) showed reductions in selected contexts but were reported in a few studies.

Conclusions

GLP-1RAs may be associated with modest reductions in alcohol consumption, but evidence remains limited and heterogeneous. Larger, well-designed RCTs are needed to define their role in the management of AUD.