Biological psychiatryJul 16, 2026

How GLP-1 Influences Alcohol-Related Behaviors in Animal Studies

GLP-1 Therapies Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Jul 17, 2026

Abstract

Systemic treatment of Ex4 reduces alcohol intake and motivation to consume alcohol in male animals.

Short-acting and long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonists have been approved for type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Treatment with Ex4 decreases relapse-like behavior in male animals.
Both male and female animals show reduced alcohol consumption when treated with long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonists.
GLP-1 receptor agonists may diminish the rewarding properties of alcohol, indicated by decreased locomotor stimulation and dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens.
Altered gastric emptying, nausea, and enhanced stress may also influence the effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists on alcohol intake.

Simplified

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) has gained attention for its broad physiological effects, and both short-acting (exenatide/exendin-4 [Ex4]) and long-acting (liraglutide, dulaglutide, semaglutide) GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists have been approved for type 2 diabetes and/or obesity. Initial preclinical research has highlighted the role of GLP-1 and its receptor in the pathophysiology of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and their potential use in the treatment of AUD. Specifically, systemic treatment of Ex4 reduces alcohol intake, the motivation to consume alcohol, and relapse-like behavior in male animals. Similarly, alcohol consummatory behaviors are reduced in male or female animals treated with either of the long-acting GLP-1R agonists. Moreover, both short- and long-acting GLP-1R agonists consistently attenuate the rewarding properties of alcohol, as measured by locomotor stimulation, dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens, and conditioned place preference in male mice. Because alcohol consumption is largely driven by alcohol-induced reward, it is hypothesized that GLP-1R agonists attenuate the rewarding effects of alcohol, thereby decreasing alcohol intake. However, it should be emphasized that other factors, including altered gastric emptying, nausea, and enhanced stress, may also contribute to these effects. Taken together, these preclinical studies offer insight into the potential use of GLP-1R agonists in the treatment of AUD.

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How GLP-1 Influences Alcohol-Related Behaviors in Animal Studies

Abstract

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