For the first time, a study has shown that tirzepatide, the active ingredient in the diabetes and weight-loss drug Mounjaro, can reduce alcohol consumption and relapse-like behaviors in animal models. The research was conducted by scientists at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, with collaboration from the Medical University of South Carolina. Their findings were published in the journal eBioMedicine.
The researchers observed that rats and mice treated with tirzepatide voluntarily drank less alcohol—consumption dropped by more than half compared to control groups. Additionally, after a period without access to alcohol, animals given tirzepatide did not increase their drinking when it became available again; instead, their intake further decreased.
Tirzepatide is known as a dual agonist for receptors related to the satiety hormones GIP and GLP-1. It is already approved for treating type 2 diabetes and is widely used clinically. Because its safety profile is well established, researchers suggest this could make future studies on its use for alcohol use disorder easier to conduct.
The study found that tirzepatide reduced alcohol-induced changes in dopamine levels within the brain’s reward system—a mechanism thought to play a key role in reinforcing addictive behaviors. The effect was linked specifically to activity in the lateral septum, an area of the brain associated with motivation, reward processing, and relapse.
Researchers also detected changes in histone-related proteins within this brain region. These proteins are involved in regulating gene expression and have previously been linked to substance use and addiction. However, the study notes that while these protein changes were observed alongside reduced alcohol consumption, it remains unclear if they directly cause this effect.
"This is not yet a new treatment for alcohol use disorder. But the findings reinforce the view that drugs targeting these neural systems may be relevant to investigate further as potential treatment options," said Elisabet Jerlhag Holm, Professor of Pharmacology at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg.
The research combined behavioral tests with measurements of neurotransmitter levels and molecular analyses to better understand how tirzepatide might affect alcohol-related behaviors.
