New research suggests that tirzepatide, the active ingredient in the medication Mounjaro, may offer a novel approach to treating alcohol use disorder. A study published in eBioMedicine on , demonstrated that tirzepatide significantly reduced alcohol intake and relapse-like behaviors in both male and female rats and mice.
This finding builds upon previous research showing that semaglutide, found in Ozempic and Wegovy, also reduces alcohol consumption in rats. The current study specifically investigated tirzepatide’s effects, revealing a more than 50% reduction in voluntary alcohol consumption in treated animals. Importantly, the drug also prevented the resumption of heavy drinking after periods of abstinence – a phenomenon known as relapse.
How Tirzepatide Impacts Alcohol-Related Behaviors
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg, in collaboration with colleagues at the Medical University of South Carolina, conducted a comprehensive analysis combining behavioral tests with measurements of brain neurotransmitter levels and molecular analyses. They observed “clear and robust reductions in long-term alcohol consumption, binge-like drinking, and relapse-like drinking,” according to Christian Edvardsson, a doctoral student in pharmacology at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg.
Tirzepatide is unique as the first medication to act as a dual agonist, targeting receptors for the satiety hormones GIP and GLP-1. Currently approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, its established safety profile is encouraging for potential further investigation into its use for alcohol use disorder. The study suggests that tirzepatide works, at least in part, by blunting alcohol’s effects on dopamine, a neurotransmitter central to the brain’s reward system and a key driver of addictive behaviors.
Specifically, the research team found that tirzepatide attenuated alcohol-induced dopamine release in the accumbal region of the brain. This effect appears to be mediated through the lateral septum, a brain region implicated in motivation, reward, and relapse in both animal models and humans. The findings provide a potential neurobiological explanation for observations that similar medications can reduce alcohol consumption and craving.
Changes at the Molecular Level
Beyond its impact on dopamine signaling, the study also identified changes in histone-related proteins within the lateral septum. These proteins play a crucial role in regulating gene expression – essentially controlling which genes are “switched on” or “switched off.” Alterations in these proteins have been previously linked to substance use and addiction. While the study doesn’t establish a direct causal link between these protein changes and reduced alcohol consumption, the results suggest they may be part of the biological mechanisms through which tirzepatide exerts its effects.
What Which means for Future Treatment
While these findings are promising, it’s important to emphasize that tirzepatide is not yet a proven treatment for alcohol use disorder. “This is not yet a new treatment for alcohol use disorder,” explains Elisabet Jerlhag Holm, Professor of Pharmacology at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg. “But the findings reinforce the view that drugs targeting these neural systems may be relevant to investigate further as potential treatment options.”
The study utilized several experimental models, including intermittent access two-bottle choice and drinking in the dark paradigms, to assess alcohol consumption and relapse-like behaviors in rodents. Researchers also employed behavioral assays like locomotor stimulation and conditioned place preference to evaluate the rewarding properties of alcohol. Molecular analyses, including microdialysis, electrophysiology, and proteomics, were used to investigate the underlying neural mechanisms.
Further research is needed to determine whether these findings translate to humans and to establish the optimal dosage and treatment duration. Clinical trials will be essential to assess the safety and efficacy of tirzepatide for individuals struggling with alcohol use disorder. However, this study provides a compelling rationale for exploring a new therapeutic avenue in the ongoing effort to address this significant public health challenge.
