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Nicholas Reville's avatar

I would encourage skepticism of the retrospective studies that include GLP-1s other than semaglutide and tirzepatide. The strength of craving reduction in these vs previous generation GLP-1s is big, so broadly lumping everything together as "GLP-1RAs" is very diluting, but several patient health record studies have done so. Our organization CASPR.org works on this issue and is creating a spinout to seek FDA approval for AUD.

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Reid's avatar

Anecdotally my experience with zepbound was that it had a very strong inhibitory effect on alcohol consumption for the first few months, but that effect waned over time even as the effect on appetite (and weight loss) continued.

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forumposter123@protonmail.com's avatar

The appetite suppression remains but the "being sick to your stomach" fades. When you sick to your stomach you don't want to consume anything.

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Reid's avatar

Never had much nausea, but presuming that fading nausea was important here why would the effect on appetite remain but the effect on alcohol consumption diminish?

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Jackson Petty's avatar

Is there any evidence, anecdotal or otherwise, that GLP-1RAs might be effective at treating depression? One of the studies you look at above mentions suicidal ideation, but I wonder if the effect would extend to chronic depression as well.

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gregvp's avatar

I drink to feel dull enough to make the world bearable. I wonder what the effect of GLP-1 agonists will be on suicide. Of course public health will look great because of survivorship bias.

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Saul's avatar

Is there evidence of reversal of the “anti-alcoholism effect” once patients cease administration of the GLP-1 class? These are chronic drugs and long-term adherence is problematic given the side-effect profile.

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Realist's avatar

Interesting article, thanks.

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Monkey Brains's avatar

It just make you feel sick in the stomach if you drink booze in the same way the food does. However it's quite easy to just drink through the nausea and ignore it. I can't see it being much of an impediment to a seasoned alcoholic. Although it greatly increases the severity of your hangover the next day. Including bad heartburn

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