If you’re taking weight loss medications like Ozempic or Wegovy, you might be wondering if it’s safe to enjoy a drink with family and friends.
It is not known if semaglutide and alcohol dangerously interact. However, drinking alcohol while taking semaglutide may result in hypoglycemia, a dangerously low blood sugar level, in people with type 2 diabetes. If you’re using semaglutide to lose weight, the extra calories from alcohol may make it difficult to reach your weight loss goals.
Read on to learn more about combining alcohol with Ozempic.
What Is Semaglutide, and How Does It Work?
Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1). It’s a self-injection prescription that you take once a week. It’s the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, which the FDA has approved to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity.
While Ozempic is only approved to treat type 2 diabetes, a healthcare professional may prescribe it off-label to promote weight loss.
Combined with diet and exercise, Ozempic may help people with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar levels. It also reduces the risk of death, stroke, and heart attack for people with heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Semaglutide promotes weight loss in people who are obese or overweight by slowing the passage of food through the digestive tract. It promotes a feeling of fullness for longer and reduces hunger and calorie intake, which can help people lose weight over time.
Can You Drink Alcohol While Taking Ozempic or Wegovy?
It’s not known whether semaglutide and alcohol interact dangerously. However, that doesn’t mean taking alcohol while using Ozempic or Wegovy is safe for everyone. But if you’re taking semaglutide for weight loss or type 2 diabetes, there might be reasons to stay away from alcohol.
Before combining alcohol and semaglutide, here are 7 things to remember.
1. Alcohol May Negatively Affect Your Blood Glucose Levels
While Ozempic helps in blood sugar regulation, alcohol can disrupt the process and cause blood sugar levels to surge or fall. The American Diabetes Association states that consuming alcohol can increase your chance of developing hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood sugar).
This is because alcohol can affect how your liver maintains the proper blood glucose balance. This risk can be further increased by combining diabetes drugs.
However, compared to other diabetic drugs, Ozempic might not be as likely to cause hypoglycemia on its own. Still, hypoglycemia remains a risk, especially if you choose to consume alcohol. In this situation, it’s important to stick to your healthcare provider’s recommendations about safe daily alcohol intake.
Monitoring your blood sugar levels before, during, and after drinking can help you detect hypoglycemia early on and treat it effectively. Keep yourself hydrated and avoid consuming alcohol on an empty stomach. Additionally, you should always keep some fast-acting carbohydrates, like glucose pills.
2. Alcohol May Worsen Gastrointestinal Issues
When using Ozempic, some people experience side effects like nausea, vomiting, and digestive problems; drinking alcohol doesn’t make these symptoms any better. Instead, alcohol can irritate the lining of your stomach as it passes through the digestive tract and into your bloodstream, worsening symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Drinking alcohol also slows down the emptying of your stomach, increasing your risk of more vomiting, nausea, and digestive issues.
While semaglutide’s intestinal side effects are worse when starting the medication and after dosage increases and usually get better with time, if your healthcare provider has allowed you occasional drinks, it’s important to avoid alcohol until your body gets used to the medication.
When you’re ready to drink, do so in moderation. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans define moderate drinking as up to one drink per day for women and up to two per day for men.
Pay close attention to how your body reacts when you consume alcohol. If you notice increased GI symptoms, it may be best to avoid drinking.
3. Alcohol May Reduce the Benefits of Semaglutide, Including Weight Loss
Semaglutide is a medication prescribed to manage type 2 diabetes and weight loss due to its ability to suppress appetite and promote feelings of fullness.
Excessive consumption of alcohol has been linked to overeating, slowing down metabolism, and may increase the risk of obesity and weight gain.
Alcoholic beverages are calorie-dense but nutrient-poor. For example, a standard drink such as a beer, glass of wine, or shot of liquor can contain 100-150 calories or more. These extra calories can add up quickly and counteract the calorie deficit needed for weight loss.
If you have heart disease and type 2 diabetes, semaglutide can help reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. However, drinking alcohol might be harmful to your heart, especially if you drink frequently. It can cause heart failure, stroke, and high blood pressure. Therefore, if you drink alcohol frequently, you may not benefit fully from Ozempic’s heart-related effects.
4. Alcohol May Reduce Liver Function
The liver is the body’s main detox organ; it breaks down things like medications and alcohol. When you drink alcohol, the liver prioritizes it because alcohol is toxic and needs to be removed quickly from the body.
At the same time, the liver processes drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, which require different enzymes and pathways. The two demands can overburden the liver, resulting in a decreased ability to metabolize both drugs and alcohol.
Reducing alcohol intake can help prevent liver damage and ensure the liver can effectively process medications. If you do drink, adhere to moderate drinking guidelines.
5. Alcohol and Semaglutide May Increase the Risk of Pancreatitis and Kidney Damage
Although rare, pancreatitis—an inflammation of the pancreas—has been linked to using semaglutide. While semaglutide can benefit the kidneys, some people may be at risk for kidney damage. This may be because of dehydration from fluid loss caused by vomiting or diarrhea.
Pancreatitis has also been linked to heavy or chronic alcohol use. Alcohol can also harm your kidneys because it can increase urination and cause dehydration.
While there are no studies as to how drinking alcohol while taking semaglutide can increase your risks for pancreatitis and kidney damage, it’s important to take caution and moderate your alcohol intake.
6. Ozempic May Lower Your Desire to Drink Alcohol
In addition to its primary effects on blood sugar regulation and weight loss, semaglutide has been shown to reduce people’s desire to drink alcohol. This unexpected benefit can be especially beneficial for those looking to reduce their alcohol intake for health reasons.
Ozempic works by imitating glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a gut hormone. GLP-1 targets the liver, stomach, and pancreas, among other organs. GLP-1 targets are also found in brain regions that control hunger and metabolism.
Alcohol consumption causes the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that energizes your brain’s reward system and boosts your mood. GLP-1 is also found in the reward-related regions of the brain, which may reduce or prevent this dopamine spike. This may explain why some people who take Ozempic may not experience the same “feel good” effects from alcohol.
Research on animals has also shown that drugs like Ozempic may lower the usage of amphetamines, cocaine, and nicotine besides alcohol. In light of these, researchers are studying Ozempic as a potential treatment for alcohol use disorder.
7. Both Alcohol and Semaglutide Have a Risk of Dehydration
Ozempic and Wegovy can cause gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which can lead to fluid loss and increase the risk of dehydration. These medications also slow gastric emptying, which can affect the balance of fluids in the digestive system.
Because alcohol is a diuretic, it makes you pee more. This may lead to dehydration, which may affect your blood sugar.
Studies have shown that dehydration can cause significant spikes in blood sugar, which can be harmful for people with diabetes.
Tips for Safe Consumption of Alcohol While Taking Semaglutide
If you choose to drink alcohol while taking Ozempic or Wegovy, it’s important to do so responsibly to minimize potential risks and support your overall health. It’s also important to consult your doctor about this. Here are some practical tips for safe consumption:
Stick to moderate drinking guidelines. For women, this means up to one drink per day, and for men, up to two drinks per day. Moderate drinking can help reduce the risks of dehydration, hypoglycemia, liver damage, and interference with your medication’s effectiveness.
Ensure you eat a balanced meal before drinking to help stabilize blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of gastrointestinal discomfort. Drinking on an empty stomach can increase the risk of hypoglycemia. Eating food before drinking, especially protein-rich foods, slows digestion and may help you maintain a healthy blood sugar range.
If possible, avoid drinking alcohol close to the time you take your medication. This can help minimize potential interactions and reduce the impact on your blood sugar levels.
It’s also important to drink plenty of water. Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it increases urine production and can lead to dehydration. Counteract this by drinking plenty of water before, during, and after consuming alcohol.
How NP2GO Can Help With Alcohol and Semaglutide
At NP2GO, we understand the challenges of managing weight loss and medication, especially when it comes to balancing alcohol consumption with drugs like Ozempic or Wegovy. Serving clients across 28 states, including Washington, Oklahoma, Kansas, California, and Florida, our weight loss clinic provides comprehensive support for people taking weight loss medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, Retatrutide, and Zepbound.
We offer personalized consultations to assess your health status, medication schedule, and lifestyle habits, including alcohol use. We provide customized advice and regular monitoring to ensure your treatment plan is effective and that any potential interactions with alcohol are managed appropriately.
Our comprehensive weight loss programs include medication management, nutritional counseling, and behavioral support. Our registered dietitians help you develop a balanced eating plan, while our counselors support you in making sustainable lifestyle changes.
If you have questions about drinking alcohol while taking Ozempic or Wegovy or need support managing your health, contact NP2GO today. Our team is dedicated to helping you achieve your weight loss goals safely and effectively.