GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Substance Use Disorder: A Systematized Literature Review

Abstract

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and the incentive to discover effective and safe treatments is high given the large socioeconomic and healthcare system burden associated with SUD. SUD is a considerable challenge in medicine, partly due to the limited options for pharmacological treatment. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), which have become increasingly common in recent years as the evidence of their efficacy in metabolic disorders mounts, have also demonstrated potential benefit in treatment of addiction and SUD in preclinical data. This systematized review aimed to evaluate the current clinical evidence of efficacy in GLP-1RAs in SUD. Following PRISMA guidelines, a literature search was performed using the PubMed database. A total of 14 studies met the inclusion criteria. Analysis of the studies included in this review identified significant heterogeneity in methodology, population, and reported outcomes, however the preliminary evidence presented here suggests GLP-1RAs may have therapeutic benefit and offer a promising target for further research as a potential pharmacological tool in the treatment of SUD.