Pain managementJul 29, 2025

GLP-1 drugs may improve pain relief and help with addiction

GLP-1 Therapies Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Feb 9, 2026

Abstract

Emerging evidence suggests that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) may offer novel analgesia and treat drug-seeking behavior.

GLP-1RAs may play a role in managing pain associated with conditions such as headaches, osteoarthritis, and diabetic neuropathy.
In osteoarthritis, GLP-1RAs could reduce inflammation and cartilage degradation, but more trials are needed in non-obese, non-comorbid patients.
Potential effects of GLP-1RAs in diabetic neuropathy include nerve repair, though optimal dosing and long-term efficacy require further investigation.
Preclinical data indicate that GLP-1RAs may be involved in migraine signaling, but there is a lack of human studies to support this.
Initial trials suggest GLP-1RAs might aid in alcohol addiction, while evidence for their impact on other substances remains unclear.
Significant knowledge gaps exist regarding the effects of GLP-1RAs in pain management and substance use disorders.

Simplified

Chronic pain imposes a significant healthcare burden, with treatments often limited by side effects, opioid dependency, and preventable surgeries. Emerging evidence suggests that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), developed for diabetes and obesity, may offer novel analgesia and treat drug-seeking behavior. This review examines the role of GLP-1RAs in pain management, focusing on inflammation, macrophage repolarization, oxidative stress, and dopaminergic pathways in substance use disorders. We conducted a literature search in PubMed and Embase (Ovid) from January 2000 to February 2025, identifying studies on GLP-1RA and pain in headaches, osteoarthritis, diabetic neuropathy, and substance use disorders. GLP-1RAs offer a promising shift in pain management, potentially reducing opioid dependence, preventing surgical interventions, and lowering healthcare costs. While early evidence suggests analgesic and disease-modifying effects beyond weight loss, significant knowledge gaps remain. In osteoarthritis, they appear to reduce inflammation and cartilage degradation, but trials in non-obese, non-comorbid patients are needed. In diabetic neuropathy, GLP-1RAs show potential for nerve repair, but optimal dosing and long-term efficacy need clarification. Preclinical data support GLP-1RAs signaling in migraines, but human studies are lacking. Trials in alcohol addiction show promise, though evidence for other substances remains inconclusive. Larger-scale trials are needed to confirm these findings.

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Competing interests

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

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GLP-1 drugs may improve pain relief and help with addiction

Abstract

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Funding

Competing interests

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You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

What Lands in Your Inbox Each Week:

Recent issues from the glp-1 therapies brief