GLP-1Phase 1TAPNCT07758231
Impact of GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Therapy on Alcohol Pharmacokinetics
A Phase 1 study testing Acute Ethanol Dose in people with GLP-1 and Alcohol, run by University of Wisconsin, Madison at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This study is to learn how the weight loss drug tirzepatide (Zepbound) changes the way a body handles alcohol. 5 participants aged 21-55 who take Zepbound will be enrolled and can expect to be on study for up to 4 weeks. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 21 to 55 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- What is being tested?
- Acute Ethanol Dose
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 5 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- Nov 2026to Apr 2027
- Phase
- Phase 1
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 21 to 55 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- At least 21 years of age, no older than 55 years of age
- BMI 30-45 kg/m2
- Taking stable dose of prescribed, branded tirzepatide for at least 28 days
- Self-reported regular alcohol consumption
- Good mental health as determined by self-reported responses to the Psychopathology Screener and review by Study Physician as necessary
- Absence of any major medical, cardiovascular, endocrine, and neurological condition as determined by self-reported responses to the Medical History Screener
Show all 9Show fewer
- In possession of a valid drivers' license with at least two years of driving experience
- English-speaking (able to provide consent and complete questionnaires)
- Written Informed Consent
Who cannot join
- AUDIT score of >8 requires Study Physician review
- Use of compounded GLP-1 RA
- History of or current substance use disorder as determined by self-reported responses to the Internalizing, Externalizing, and Substance Use Disorder Screener, Drug Use Disorders Identification Test, Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test
- Pregnancy or lactation (pregnancy test, if needed)
- Use of medications that may impact cognitive ability or potentiate alcohol (e.g., mood stabilizers, sedatives)
- Use of medications that are known to significantly delay gastric emptying as determined by Study Physician
- History of pancreatitis, severe gastroparesis, or personal or family history of medullary thyroid or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Michael Chen, MD contact
About this study
This study is to learn how the weight loss drug tirzepatide (Zepbound) changes the way a body handles alcohol. 5 participants aged 21-55 who take Zepbound will be enrolled and can expect to be on study for up to 4 weeks.
Read the detailed description
Participants will:
- Arrive to study visit in a fasted state
- Provide blood, breath, and urine samples prior to intervention
- Complete baseline cognitive assessments
- Self-administer the intervention (time 0), followed by breakfast (time 30 minutes)
- Complete subjective and cognitive assessments throughout treatment visit
- Provide blood, breath, and urine samples throughout treatment visit
- Consume lunch 260 minutes after dosing
- Complete study visit at 360 minutes
- Complete a final study survey
Primary Objective: Characterize the pharmacokinetics of ethanol in participants receiving maintenance Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist (RA) therapy (tirzepatide).
Secondary Objectives:
- Determine the effects of GLP-1 RA therapy on alcohol-induced impairment, as measured by
- objective performance
- subjective impairment assessments
- risk perception
Correlative Objectives
- Define the exposure-response relationship between biological alcohol concentrations (breath and blood) and functional impairment to determine if Primary Objective
- Characterize the pharmacokinetics of ethanol in participants receiving maintenance GLP-1 RA therapy (tirzepatide).
- Being tested
- Acute Ethanol Dose
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Acute Ethanol DoseDrug
Also called vodka
Time 0, participants will self-administer an oral ethanol beverage (vodka and sugar-free cherry Kool aid) calculated to reach a peak Breath Alcohol Concentration (BrAC) of 0.08 g/dL using the Widmark formula. A total time of 30 minutes will be given for completion of beverage consumption. This will be followed by a breakfast.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Healthy adults on Tirzepatide | Experimental | Participants will complete a screening and enrollment visit, one study visit, and a follow-up correspondence over the course of approximately 4 weeks. Receives: Drug: Acute Ethanol Dose |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Maximum Ethanol Concentration (Cmax)
Cmax will be determined from visual inspection of the concentration-time plots.
Measured: prior to dosing (-25 minutes), start of dosing (0 minutes), 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, 120 minutes, 150 minutes, 180 minutes, 240 minutes, 300 minutes, 350 minutes
Time to Maximum Ethanol Concentration (Tmax)
Tmax will be determined from visual inspection of the concentration-time plots.
Measured: prior to dosing (-25 minutes), start of dosing (0 minutes), 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, 120 minutes, 150 minutes, 180 minutes, 240 minutes, 300 minutes, 350 minutes
Ethanol Elimination Rate: Blood samples
Data derived from blood samples.
Measured: prior to dosing (-25 minutes), start of dosing (0 minutes), 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, 120 minutes, 150 minutes, 180 minutes, 240 minutes, 300 minutes, 350 minutes
Ethanol Elimination Rate: Breath tests
Data derived from breath alcohol test.
Measured: prior to dosing (-25 minutes), 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, 120 minutes, 150 minutes, 180 minutes, 240 minutes, 300 minutes, 350 minutes
Ethanol Elimination Rate: Urine samples
Data derived from urine samples.
Measured: prior to dosing (-25 minutes), 60 minutes, 120 minutes, 180 minutes, 240 minutes, 300 minutes
Secondary outcomes (5)
Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale (BAES) Score
The BAES has 2 subscales: Stimulant scored from 0-70 and Sedative scored from 0-70. Higher scores indicate higher stimulant or sedative effects.
Measured: 5 minutes, 35 minutes, 65 minutes, 95 minutes, 125 minutes, 185 minutes, 245 minutes, 290 minutes, 340 minutes
Risk Perception and Safety Appraisal (RPSA) Score
To quantify cognitive and affective dimensions of risk perception, participants will complete the RPSA questionnaire assessing cognitive and affective risk perception, behavioral risk willingness, metacognitive calibration, and consequence awareness. This RPSA has been designed by the study team to provide a low burden (12-item), repeatable measure of cognitive, affective, and behavioral dimensions of risk perception, and direct quantification of willingness to engage in safety sensitive behavior. Scores range from 0-100 where higher scores indicate increased risk perception.
Measured: 5 minutes, 35 minutes, 65 minutes, 95 minutes, 125 minutes, 185 minutes, 245 minutes, 290 minutes, 340 minutes
Divided Attention Task (DAT)
Participants will be asked to complete a computer-based DAT on a laptop in their room. The DAT requires participants to track a moving stimulus on a computer screen while simultaneously monitoring numbers located in the corners of the screen. Participants must respond to target numbers as they appear, and the task quantifies the mean distance of the mouse cursor from the center of the target stimulus.
Measured: prior to dosing (-20 minutes), 10 minutes, 100 minutes, 220 minutes
Digital Symbol Substitution Task (DSST)
Participants will be asked to complete a computer-based DSST on a laptop in their room. The DSST asks participants to recreate patterns of various shapes presented on a computer screen using the keyboard. The total number of correct patterns are recorded within 90 seconds.
Measured: prior to dosing (-20 minutes), 10 minutes, 100 minutes, 220 minutes
Paced Serial Addition Task (PSAT)
Participants will be asked to complete a computer-based PSAT on a laptop in their room. The PSAT has participants view a string of single-digit numbers and calculate the sum of the two most recently presented numbers. The total number of correct trials out of 90 will be recorded.
Measured: prior to dosing (-20 minutes), 10 minutes, 100 minutes, 220 minutes
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted11 Aug 2026
- Study startNov 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionApr 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionApr 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for GLP-1Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of Wisconsin, MadisonThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 1
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- Prospective, single-site, open-label, single-arm pilot study evaluating the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ethanol in participants receiving maintenance GLP-1 RA therapy
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 5 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Wisconsin, Madison
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Heather Barkholtz, PhD, Principal investigator, UW School of PharmacyMichael Chen, MD, Principal investigator, UW School of Medicine and Public Health
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07758231
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2026-1120
- Other IDs
- Protocol Version 7/20/26, Pharmacy | Pharmacy Practice, ICTR TBCR Pilot Award
- Acronym
- TAP
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 5 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 29 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Data, including transcriptions of audio-recordings of the driving simulator experiments and biological specimens, will be stored for future use. The original digital audio recordings will not be banked for future use, only the transcription documents containing only experiment-relevant words spoken by the participant will be kept. Only members of the study team will have access to the data and specimens. Prior to banking, identifiers (including linking codes) will be removed from the data and biological specimens. Since identifiers will be removed from the data and biological specimens, participants will not be able to withdraw their banked data and specimens from future research use. Data will be released only as anonymized aggregates after careful consideration and approval of one of the study PIs. No genetic testing will take place on any banked biological specimen.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Impact of GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Therapy on Alcohol Pharmacokinetics
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07758231
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- TAP / 2026-1120
- Phase
- Phase 1
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 5 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Wisconsin, MadisonUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Apr 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Apr 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 11 Aug 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study is to learn how the weight loss drug tirzepatide (Zepbound) changes the way a body handles alcohol. 5 participants aged 21-55 who take Zepbound will be enrolled and can expect to be on study for up to 4 weeks.
Detailed description
Participants will:
- Arrive to study visit in a fasted state
- Provide blood, breath, and urine samples prior to intervention
- Complete baseline cognitive assessments
- Self-administer the intervention (time 0), followed by breakfast (time 30 minutes)
- Complete subjective and cognitive assessments throughout treatment visit
- Provide blood, breath, and urine samples throughout treatment visit
- Consume lunch 260 minutes after dosing
- Complete study visit at 360 minutes
- Complete a final study survey
Primary Objective: Characterize the pharmacokinetics of ethanol in participants receiving maintenance Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist (RA) therapy (tirzepatide).
Secondary Objectives:
- Determine the effects of GLP-1 RA therapy on alcohol-induced impairment, as measured by
- objective performance
- subjective impairment assessments
- risk perception
Correlative Objectives
- Define the exposure-response relationship between biological alcohol concentrations (breath and blood) and functional impairment to determine if Primary Objective
- Characterize the pharmacokinetics of ethanol in participants receiving maintenance GLP-1 RA therapy (tirzepatide).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- Prospective, single-site, open-label, single-arm pilot study evaluating the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ethanol in participants receiving maintenance GLP-1 RA therapy
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Healthy adults on Tirzepatide | Experimental | Drug: Acute Ethanol DoseParticipants will complete a screening and enrollment visit, one study visit, and a follow-up correspondence over the course of approximately 4 weeks. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 21 to 55 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (9 listed)
- At least 21 years of age, no older than 55 years of age
- BMI 30-45 kg/m2
- Taking stable dose of prescribed, branded tirzepatide for at least 28 days
- Self-reported regular alcohol consumption
- Good mental health as determined by self-reported responses to the Psychopathology Screener and review by Study Physician as necessary
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- AUDIT score of >8 requires Study Physician review
- Use of compounded GLP-1 RA
- History of or current substance use disorder as determined by self-reported responses to the Internalizing, Externalizing, and Substance Use Disorder Screener, Drug Use Disorders Identification Test, Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test
- Pregnancy or lactation (pregnancy test, if needed)
- Use of medications that may impact cognitive ability or potentiate alcohol (e.g., mood stabilizers, sedatives)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Acute Ethanol DoseAlso: vodkaTime 0, participants will self-administer an oral ethanol beverage (vodka and sugar-free cherry Kool aid) calculated to reach a peak Breath Alcohol Concentration (BrAC) of 0.08 g/dL using the Widmark formula. A total time of 30 minutes will be given for completion of beverage consumption. This will be followed by a breakfast. | Drug | Healthy adults on Tirzepatide |
Primary outcome
Maximum Ethanol Concentration (Cmax)
Time frame: prior to dosing (-25 minutes), start of dosing (0 minutes), 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, 120 minutes, 150 minutes, 180 minutes, 240 minutes, 300 minutes, 350 minutes
Cmax will be determined from visual inspection of the concentration-time plots.
Time to Maximum Ethanol Concentration (Tmax)
Time frame: prior to dosing (-25 minutes), start of dosing (0 minutes), 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, 120 minutes, 150 minutes, 180 minutes, 240 minutes, 300 minutes, 350 minutes
Tmax will be determined from visual inspection of the concentration-time plots.
Ethanol Elimination Rate: Blood samples
Time frame: prior to dosing (-25 minutes), start of dosing (0 minutes), 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, 120 minutes, 150 minutes, 180 minutes, 240 minutes, 300 minutes, 350 minutes
Data derived from blood samples.
Ethanol Elimination Rate: Breath tests
Time frame: prior to dosing (-25 minutes), 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, 120 minutes, 150 minutes, 180 minutes, 240 minutes, 300 minutes, 350 minutes
Data derived from breath alcohol test.
Ethanol Elimination Rate: Urine samples
Time frame: prior to dosing (-25 minutes), 60 minutes, 120 minutes, 180 minutes, 240 minutes, 300 minutes
Data derived from urine samples.
5 secondary outcomes
Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale (BAES) Score
Time frame: 5 minutes, 35 minutes, 65 minutes, 95 minutes, 125 minutes, 185 minutes, 245 minutes, 290 minutes, 340 minutes
Risk Perception and Safety Appraisal (RPSA) Score
Time frame: 5 minutes, 35 minutes, 65 minutes, 95 minutes, 125 minutes, 185 minutes, 245 minutes, 290 minutes, 340 minutes
Divided Attention Task (DAT)
Time frame: prior to dosing (-20 minutes), 10 minutes, 100 minutes, 220 minutes
Digital Symbol Substitution Task (DSST)
Time frame: prior to dosing (-20 minutes), 10 minutes, 100 minutes, 220 minutes
Paced Serial Addition Task (PSAT)
Time frame: prior to dosing (-20 minutes), 10 minutes, 100 minutes, 220 minutes
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 29 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Data, including transcriptions of audio-recordings of the driving simulator experiments and biological specimens, will be stored for future use. The original digital audio recordings will not be banked for future use, only the transcription documents containing only experiment-relevant words spoken by the participant will be kept. Only members of the study team will have access to the data and specimens. Prior to banking, identifiers (including linking codes) will be removed from the data and biological specimens. Since identifiers will be removed from the data and biological specimens, participants will not be able to withdraw their banked data and specimens from future research use. Data will be released only as anonymized aggregates after careful consideration and approval of one of the study PIs. No genetic testing will take place on any banked biological specimen.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Michael Chen, MD contact
Heather Barkholtz, PhD principal investigator
UW School of Pharmacy
Michael Chen, MD principal investigator
UW School of Medicine and Public Health
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 1 study testing Acute Ethanol Dose in people with GLP-1 and Alcohol, run by University of Wisconsin, Madison at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 9 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Heather Barkholtz, PhD (608-890-1967, hbarkholtz@wisc.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Maximum Ethanol Concentration (Cmax) (time frame: prior to dosing (-25 minutes), start of dosing (0 minutes), 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, 120 minutes, 150 minutes, 180 minutes, 240 minutes, 300 minutes, 350 minutes). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 Oct 2026.