Hormonal
Exenatide (2 mg once weekly) significantly reduces alcohol cue reactivity in the ventral striatum and septal area in patients with Alcohol Use Disorder, but does not significantly reduce heavy drinking days in the general AUD population.
Exenatide, a weekly injection used for diabetes and obesity, changes how the brain responds to alcohol cues in addicted individuals, potentially reducing the 'pull' of drinking triggers. However, this neurobiological change did not automatically lead to fewer heavy drinking days for most patients in this study. It suggests that while the drug modifies reward processing, it may not be sufficient as a standalone treatment for reducing actual alcohol consumption in the general AUD population without additional behavioral support.
Our data revealed that although exenatide did not significantly reduce the number of heavy drinking days compared with placebo, it significantly attenuated fMRI alcohol cue reactivity in the ventral striatum and septal area, which are crucial brain areas for drug reward and addiction.
Why this rating
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with 127 participants, though primary endpoint was not met.
Source
Exenatide once weekly for alcohol use disorder investigated in a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial
Mette Kruse Klausen et al. · JCI Insight · 2022
DOI 10.1172/jci.insight.159863
More from this paper
- Exenatide treatment significantly reduces dopamine transporter (DAT) availability in the striatum, caudate, and putamen in patients with Alcohol Use Disorder.Good
- In obese patients with Alcohol Use Disorder (BMI > 30 kg/m2), exenatide significantly reduces heavy drinking days and total alcohol intake.Moderate
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