Do GLP-1s reduce drug or alcohol withdrawal symptom severity?
5 stories from patients.
In a number studies and anecdotal evidence, GLP-1s like Ozempic and Mounjaro decrease urges to drink alcohol or take opiates and stimulants. GLP-1s quiet “alcohol noise” or “opiate noise” just as they seem to turn down “food noise” for millions of people. Addiction doctors are even prescribing the drugs off-label to help their patients maintain their sobriety.
There are also some anecdotal reports that GLP-1RAs can help with one of the hardest parts of substance abuse: withdrawal symptoms. In addition, Penn State University researcher Sue Grigson, currently enrolling a vital GLP-1 study, showed a potential reduction in withdrawal symptom behavior in heroin-seeking rats.
We need much more research to confirm what, if any, truth there is to GLP-1s helping with withdrawal symptoms in humans. But in the meantime, we were interested in finding some real-world examples, so we started asking around. Below are some stories that patients with AUD shared with us.
“I had no withdrawal symptoms at all once I got on tirzepatide. But I was a functional alcoholic and not a raging alcoholic. We’re talking 4-8 beers a day, 6 days a week. If not beer than bourbon. I wasn't getting hammered daily but everything after work evolved around drinking. I have zero crave for alcohol anymore. It's crazy what it's done for me.”
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“My nightly routine was a pint of titos and 2 cans of Monaco peach lemonade (8% 12 oz malt beverage). I did this almost everyday for years. Sometimes more.
I had no withdrawal symptoms. I was shocked.
Everything was just quiet. My liver was at a place where if I didn't get things pointed in the right direction, I was going to have major problems. But once I started Tirzepatide, everything felt like a choice, and it was easy to make a choice not to drink. No urges. No physical sensations.”
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“Tirzepatide totally cured me of a fairly severe alcohol use disorder where I had 5-15 drinks a day. But it did not help with the withdrawal symptoms. The first day was fine but days 2-4 were… harrowing. Sweating, anxiety, headaches, shakiness.
On day 4, on the advice of my doctor, I forced myself to take a shot of whiskey to help my body “chill out” (my doctor's words). I got through the withdrawal with the old fashioned slog that is time. It really didn't take long for the physical stuff to subside—within 5 days the shakes and the anxiety and the sweating were over.
Now I'm totally free of alcohol. I can't believe how great it is. I’ve been on tirz for a year and now I drink very casually, maybe 1 drink a week.”
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“I had 2 to 3 bottles of wine a night. I knew it was too much for me. I just couldn't find any other way to chill after a stressful job and being an overstimulated mom.
I had absolutely no withdrawal symptoms when I quit. I just needed to find something else to fill the time when I'd drink, so I switched to hot tea and knitting or reading. :)”
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“As soon as the clock hit 5 p.m., I was at the pub for 3 to 4 pints, usually with double shots of whiskey accompanying each pint. When I got home, I would have wine with dinner followed by a minimum of 4 pints later in the evening. My goal would be to get that completely numb feeling, then I would usually turn to whiskey or tequila so I could just pass out in bed.
I had zero withdrawal symptoms. I did have the strangest thing happen a couple of weeks ago, I ordered my son a whiskey at a restaurant and just the smell of it made me vomit. Literally, had to run out of the restaurant to not make a scene or a mess.”