A new study from the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, published this month in Scientific Reports, found that GLP-1 agonists appear to slow how quickly alcohol moves into the bloodstream, which in turn delays its effects on the brain.

"People who drink know there's a difference between nursing a glass of wine and downing a shot of whiskey," said Alex DiFeliceantonio, assistant professor and interim co-director of the FBRI's Center for Health Behaviors Research.

Although a standard serving of each contains the same amount of alcohol (0.6 ounces), a shot causes blood-alcohol levels to rise much faster. That quick spike feels stronger because of how the body absorbs and processes alcohol.

"Why would this matter? Faster-acting drugs have a higher abuse potential," DiFeliceantonio said. "They have a different impact on the brain. So if GLP-1s slow alcohol entering the bloodstream, they could reduce the effects of alcohol and help people drink less."

More than half of U.S. adults consume alcohol, and about one in ten has an alcohol use disorder. Chronic, heavy drinking is linked to conditions such as high blood pressure, heart and liver disease, and several cancers. Earlier this year, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy identified alcohol use as the nation's third leading preventable cause of cancer, following tobacco use and obesity.

In the study, participants who were taking GLP-1 medications such as semaglutide, tirzepatide, or liraglutide experienced a slower rise in blood-alcohol concentration even though they consumed the same amount of alcohol as those not on the drugs. They also reported feeling less intoxicated based on their own assessments.

Supported by funding from Virginia Tech's Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, the study aimed to explore both the physical and perceived effects of alcohol in people taking a GLP-1 drug. The researchers say these early findings could help shape larger, long-term studies on whether such medications might be used to reduce alcohol consumption.

The study included twenty adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, half of whom were taking GLP-1 medication and half who were not. Participants were asked to fast before the session, then were given a snack bar to keep stomach contents consistent.

Researchers measured each participant's blood pressure, pulse, breath alcohol concentration, and blood glucose levels. Ninety minutes later, they were served an alcoholic drink to finish within 10 minutes. Afterward, participants were asked several times over an hour to describe their level of intoxication, cravings, appetite, and the drink's taste, including the question, "How drunk do you feel right now?" rated from zero to ten.

Those on GLP-1 medication consistently reported feeling less drunk.

After the drinking portion ended, participants stayed in a recovery area while their alcohol levels dropped. Breath alcohol was measured every 30 minutes, blood glucose twice, and after three hours participants again answered follow-up questions. Four hours later, once their breath alcohol measured below 0.02 percent and they were cleared by a study physician, they were allowed to leave.

"Other medications designed to help reduce alcohol intake" -- naltrexone and acamprosate -- "act on the central nervous system," said DiFeliceantonio, the study's corresponding author. "Our preliminary data suggest that GLP-1s suppress intake through a different mechanism."

The drugs slow gastric emptying, which can lead to a slower rise in blood alcohol.

The idea for the study initially bubbled up during a Fralin Biomedical Research Institute faculty retreat and was led by Warren Bickel, professor and director of the Addiction Recovery Research Center, who died in 2024.

It built on an analysis of social media posts on the community network Reddit, in which users reported reduced cravings for alcohol when taking drugs intended to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity.

"His guidance shaped every stage of this research -- from the initial idea to its final form -- and his passion for scientific discovery continues to inspire me every day," said Fatima Quddos, a graduate researcher in Bickel's lab and the first author on both studies.

"Bickel's work had long focused on what happens when you delay rewards, so we asked, 'What if GLP-1s affect how the body handles alcohol?'" DiFeliceantonio said. "Ending this project was bittersweet, because it was my last collaboration with him."

"He was always asking, 'How do we help people the fastest?' Using a drug that's already shown to be safe to help people reduce drinking could be a way to get people help fast," DiFeliceantonio said.

While this was a pilot study, researchers said the findings showed clear differences between groups and provide early data that support larger trials testing the drugs as a therapy for people who want to reduce their alcohol use.

"As a recent graduate, I'm deeply inspired by the potential this research holds -- not only for advancing our scientific understanding, but also for paving the way toward future therapies," said Quddos, who earned her doctorate from Virginia Tech's Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Graduate Program in May. "The possibility of offering new hope to individuals struggling with addiction is what makes this work so meaningful."