Medscape Medical News turned to Dr. Jason Kirby, chief medical officer at Recovery Centers of America, for its report on what addiction medicine clinicians are seeing when patients with alcohol use disorder take GLP-1 medications. In the story by writer Debbie Koenig, Kirby describes how patients report less craving for alcohol and why even partial reductions in drinking matter for overall health.
What Medscape Reported on GLP-1s and Alcohol Use
GLP-1 medications are best known for treating diabetes and obesity. Medscape’s report looks at emerging research and clinician experience suggesting they may also affect alcohol use. The FDA has not approved GLP-1s for alcohol use disorder.
What Dr. Kirby Sees in His Patients
Kirby has prescribed a GLP-1 medication to roughly 100 patients, and he does so when patients meet criteria for an approved indication, such as obesity or diabetes (and, for one GLP-1 product, sleep apnea), unless they have a contraindication. His patients report that alcohol becomes less compelling, which creates room for other interests and coping strategies.
“They experience less craving. There’s less reward from the alcohol,” Kirby said. He tells patients the medication “dims the light a little bit. It doesn’t turn the light off.”
Kirby has seen the biggest changes in patients who wanted to cut back rather than quit. “Harm reduction is a big thing,” he said. “Any reduction in alcohol is going to have positive effects on overall health.”
Why Medical Oversight Matters
The article also reviews recent clinical trials published in JAMA Psychiatry, The Lancet and the American Journal of Psychiatry, and notes an important safety issue: people with physical dependence on alcohol can experience withdrawal if their drinking drops sharply, making medically monitored detox and medical oversight essential.
About Dr. Kirby and RCA
Kirby is dual board-certified in addiction medicine and family medicine. Learn more about RCA’s leadership. RCA provides medically monitored detox, inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment and medication-assisted treatment for alcohol use disorder and other substance use disorders at its treatment centers. To get started, visit RCA admissions.
Read the full story at Medscape
