IUPHAR review – Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and substance use disorders: An emerging pharmacotherapeutic target

Jul 20, 2024Pharmacological research

Glucagon-like peptide-1 as a potential treatment target for substance use disorders

AI simplified

GLP-1 Therapies on OpenScience ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Abstract

The glucagon-like-peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists may reduce alcohol and substance use based on preclinical evidence.

Preclinical studies indicate that GLP-1R agonists are associated with reduced alcohol and substance use.
Proposed mechanisms for this effect include influences on reward processing, stress response, and cognitive function.
GLP-1R agonists may also affect satiety, gastric motility, and glucose regulation.
Clinical studies to date have been limited and inconclusive, yet most suggest these agonists are safe and potentially effective for treating addiction.
Further research is needed to identify the most effective compounds and the specific subgroups that may benefit from GLP-1R agonist treatment.

AI simplified

Addiction is a chronic relapsing disease with high morbidity and mortality. Treatments for addiction include pharmacological and psychosocial interventions; however, currently available medications are limited in number and efficacy. The glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1) system is emerging as a potential novel pharmacotherapeutic target for alcohol and other substance use disorders (ASUDs). In this review, we summarize and discuss the wealth of available evidence from testing GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist medications in preclinical models and humans with ASUDs, possible mechanisms underlying the impact of GLP-1R agonists on alcohol/substance use, gaps in knowledge, and future directions. Most of the research with GLP-1R agonists has been conducted in relation to alcohol use; psychostimulants, opioids, and nicotine have also been investigated. Preclinical evidence suggests that GLP-1R agonists reduce alcohol/substance use and other related outcomes. The main proposed mechanisms are related to reward processing, stress, and cognitive function, as well as broader mechanisms related to satiety, changes in gastric motility, and glucose homeostasis. More in-depth mechanistic studies are warranted. Clinical studies have been limited and their findings have been less conclusive; however, most support the safety and potential efficacy of GLP-1R agonists in ASUD treatment. Identifying preferred compounds, as well as possible subgroups who are most responsive to GLP-1R agonists are some of the key research questions to translate the promising preclinical data into clinical settings. Several clinical trials are underway to test GLP-1R agonists in people with ASUDs.

Full Text

Full text is available at the source.

View full text (XML) ↗View full text ↗

IUPHAR review – Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and substance use disorders: An emerging pharmacotherapeutic target

Abstract

Full Text

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

Abstract

Full Text

Related papers

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