Papers from PubMed – February 13, 2024 – semaglutide (in title) OR tirzepatide (in title) AND addiction

• Semaglutide and Alcohol use Disorder: Breaking Free of Addiction? April 6, 2026
  Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronically relapsing disorder characterized by a compulsive alcohol drinking pattern, loss of control over intake, and the emergence of negative emotional states promoting alcohol dependence. It is unquestionably a major public health issue worldwide and a highly stigmatized condition. Unfortunately, AUD remains untreated in a significant number of adults. […]
  Georgios S Papaetis
• A Rare Case of Semaglutide-Associated Small Bowel Obstruction Complicated by Acute Kidney Injury Requiring Dialysis March 31, 2026
  Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are widely used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and obesity. They have proven to be cardioprotective, neuroprotective, and renoprotective, and are now also being considered for drug addiction. There has been increasing demand for these medications over the last several years, with the most common side effects being nausea, […]
  Suhasini Rallabandi
• The Role of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists in Prompting a Meaningful Improvement in Alcohol Use Disorder March 31, 2026
  Emerging research suggests a potential role for glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) in alcohol use disorder (AUD), because GLP-1 receptors are present in the brain regions involved in dopamine signaling and the human reward system. We present the case of a man prescribed GLP-1 RAs for obesity who had concomitant AUD. A 34-year-old man […]
  Alyx Meilinger
• Effectiveness of a Psychiatrist-Led Clinic for Metabolic Health in Severe Mental Illness: A Retrospective Chart Review Study March 28, 2026
  CONCLUSIONS: This large naturalistic retrospective cohort study suggests that psychiatrist-led care for metabolic dysfunction in mental illness is effective in reducing psychotropic-induced weight gain. This approach may streamline the implementation of monitoring strategies and interventions in a systematic manner.
  Nicolette Stogios
• Tirzepatide attenuates mesolimbic cocaine-evoked dopamine levels and reduces cocaine taking, motivation and seeking behaviours in male rodents March 24, 2026
  BACKGROUND: Cocaine use disorder (CUD) remains among the most treatment-resistant addictions, characterised by high relapse rates even following extended abstinence periods. Dopamine signalling in mesocorticolimbic circuits contributes to cocaine's reinforcing effects and remains an important target for therapeutic intervention. Growing evidence suggests appetite-regulating peptides may influence central dopamine transmission. Whether recently approved incretin polyagonists can […]
  Christian E Edvardsson
• Effect of Glucagon-Like-Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1 RA) on Neuropsychiatric Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis March 20, 2026
  PURPOSE: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is associated with an increased burden of neuropsychiatric disorders, including cognitive decline, affective disorders, and substance use disorders. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), developed for glycemic control and weight reduction, have been hypothesized to confer neuroprotective and psychotropic benefits via central and peripheral mechanisms. However, evidence across individual […]
  Ishraq Choudhury
• Real-World Alcohol Use Disorder Outcomes in Patients With Concurrent Metabolic Dysfunction: GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Versus FDA-Approved AUD Medications March 11, 2026
  CONCLUSIONS: GLP-1RAs are a promising option for patients with concurrent MetD and AUD, improving relapse rates and metabolic outcomes compared with currently FDA-approved pharmacotherapies for AUD. Trends toward better liver outcomes support further prospective evaluation.
  Amir Gougol
• Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists in substance use disorders: A systematic review of ClinicalTrials.Gov February 16, 2026
  CONCLUSIONS: While GLP-1RAs may represent a paradigm shift for treating SUD, current trials have focused on alcohol and nicotine/tobacco use disorders, with notable gaps for methamphetamine and cannabis use disorders. Trials testing next-generation GLP-1RAs with FDA recommended endpoints are needed to define efficacy and safety across SUDs.
  Shruti Patil
• The use of GLP-1 receptor agonists and subsequent risk of nicotine-related events: a cross- sectional study February 11, 2026
  CONCLUSION: GLP-1 were associated with changes in nicotine cravings and smoking behavior. This study provides preliminary evidence of their role in supporting smoking cessation. Further research is required to confirm these findings, understand the mechanisms involved, and evaluate their long-term impact on smoking-related outcomes.
  Nada A Alsaleh
• The potential role of GLP-1 receptor agonists in substance use disorders - a systematic review January 19, 2026
  CONCLUSION: This systematic review highlights GLP-1RAs as a promising therapeutic approach for SUDs, targeting the neurobiological pathways underlying both metabolic and reward regulation. While preclinical data are convincing, clinical evidence remains preliminary, underscoring the need for larger, well-designed randomized controlled trials. GLP-1RAs may represent a novel pharmacological strategy bridging metabolic and neuropsychiatric domains in addiction […]
  K M Völker
• Patient Perceptions of Ozempic (Semaglutide) for Weight Loss: Mixed Methods Analysis of Online Medication Reviews January 9, 2026
  CONCLUSIONS: This study presents a novel application of infoveillance methods to characterize real-world patient attitudes toward off-label Ozempic use. Satisfaction was driven primarily by perceived effectiveness rather than tolerability. Key limitations are the self-selected nature of the sample, reliance on anonymous, self-reported data, and the lack of demographic, dosing, or treatment-duration information. Nonetheless, these findings […]
  Abanoub J Armanious
• Tirzepatide reduces alcohol drinking and relapse-like behaviours in rodents January 8, 2026
  BACKGROUND: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) remains a major public health problem, with few effective medications currently available. However, peptides of the gut-brain axis appear to offer promising therapeutic targets for AUD as they influence the mesolimbic reward circuitry.
  Christian E Edvardsson
• Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists: A Novel Indication for Substance Use Disorders? December 16, 2025
  Recent evidence suggests that Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) can assist in alcohol and related substance use disorders (ASUD). GLP-1RAs act on the same receptor targets as native GLP-1, but last from several hours to a week, compared to the 1.5-5 minutes for naturally occurring GLP-1. These receptor targets are the GLP-1 G-protein coupled receptors. […]
  Farage Ftiha
• The effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RAs) on alcohol-related outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis December 5, 2025
  CONCLUSION: Observational studies suggest a decrease in alcohol-related events, but RCTs have effects on alcohol consumption and craving that remain non-significant. Larger RCTs are needed.
  Binayak Sinha
• Prolonged Semaglutide Treatment Reveals Stage-Dependent Changes to Feeding Behavior and Metabolic Adaptations in Male Mice December 2, 2025
  Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists have transformed obesity treatment, but weight loss responses to these drugs vary widely. Elucidating behavioral and metabolic phenotypes throughout GLP-1R agonist treatment could identify mechanisms underlying this response spectrum. We characterized food intake, meal patterns, energy expenditure (EE), and substrate oxidation during prolonged semaglutide treatment and posttreatment recovery in […]
  Harsh Shah
• Semaglutide for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH): Estimating eligibility from the 2021-2023 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) December 1, 2025
  No abstract
  Joel W Hughes
• Efficacy of the GLP-1 receptor agonist, semaglutide, in abstinence from illicit and nonprescribed opioids in an outpatient population with OUD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial protocol October 31, 2025
  BACKGROUND: Standard medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) provide effective treatment pathways for recovery compared with no treatment or behavioral therapies alone. That said, people who continue to use non-prescribed opioids despite treatment with MOUD are at greater risk for high attrition and OUD-related harms. Novel, more effective approaches are needed for the treatment of […]
  Christopher S Freet
• Semaglutide versus caloric restriction-induced weight loss: insights into effects on skeletal muscle mass and function October 25, 2025
  No abstract
  Harsh Shah
• Effects of semaglutide on mental health October 6, 2025
  Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, approved and currently actively used worldwide for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. With the growing popularity of the drug, reports of both adverse and beneficial effects of the drug on mental health have become more frequent. The purpose of this study is to review […]
  V A Rozhdestvenskaya
• Rewriting the will: Autonomy and pharmacological desire modification in semaglutide use October 1, 2025
  This article responds to Ryan's and Savulescu's claim that semaglutide enhances autonomy by reducing problematic desires. Drawing on Frankfurt's hierarchical model of autonomy, this article argues that pharmacological alignment between first-order and higher-order desires can only be autonomy-enhancing if individuals also endorse the process by which their desires are reshaped. Further, it contends that socially […]
  Julia Frant