• Weight Management

Everything You Need to Know About Drinking Alcohol While Using Ozempic

Medically reviewed and edited by Kimberli Hastings, CNP

Like any drug, substances such as alcohol, food, and medication can interact with Ozempic and affect how it works.

Taking Ozempic may lead to side effects, with the most common ones being nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and low blood sugar. It’s important to note that consuming certain substances can make these side effects worse.

To ensure Ozempic works effectively and that you avoid any health risks, you should be aware of what to avoid consuming while taking this prescription medication.

In this article, we examine everything you need to know about the potential side effects of consuming alcohol while taking Ozempic, including best practices to avoid adverse reactions.

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What is Ozempic and Who is it for?

Ozempic contains an active ingredient called semaglutide, which has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating type 2 diabetes and aiding weight loss in obese people.

Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1), which means it mimics the GLP-1 hormone that occurs naturally in our bodies when we eat. GLP-1 is responsible for:

• Stimulating insulin

• Inhibiting glucagon secretion

• Slowing down gastric emptying

• Suppressing the appetite

Ozempic activates the receptors in our pancreas, liver, and other tissues to stimulate insulin release, which helps lower blood sugar levels after eating food.

The medication also slows down how quickly the stomach empties after a meal, reducing appetite and promoting weight loss.

If you are diabetic, your healthcare provider may prescribe Ozempic as part of a larger treatment plan to manage your blood sugar levels.

People who are obese or who have weight-related chronic conditions can also take Ozempic.

Can You Drink Alcohol While Taking Ozempic?

The FDA has not provided any warnings for drinking alcohol while taking Ozempic.

Plus, there is no scientific data that proves that alcohol can interact with this drug. But this is not to say that using the two together is completely safe.

Drinking alcohol may cause various medical issues while taking Ozempic.

Blood sugar problems

When you consume alcohol while using Ozempic, your blood sugar levels may fluctuate significantly — especially if you have diabetes. This is particularly true if you’re just starting Ozempic or if you’re taking other diabetes medications like insulin or sulfonylureas.

When a person’s blood sugar drops, there is an increased risk of hypoglycemia — which is when glucose levels become dangerously low.

This is primarily because alcohol stops the liver from producing glucose.

Your risk of developing hypoglycemia increases if you drink alcohol on an empty stomach or if your diabetes is not well controlled.

Research has also found that long-term or excessive alcohol consumption can lead to high blood sugar, resulting in hyperglycemia, which is when blood glucose levels are too high.

If your blood sugar is not managed properly, you should avoid alcohol consumption.

Reduced liver function

Another potential risk of drinking while taking Ozempic is that alcohol can reduce liver function.

The liver performs an important function in getting rid of certain substances and oxidants from the body, including alcohol and medications.

When the liver is under pressure due to alcohol intake, it may not be able to process substances like Ozempic effectively.

Kidney problems

Research has found that some individuals taking Ozempic have experienced acute kidney injury or kidney failure, though this is a rare side effect.

While it is not entirely known what effect alcohol has on the kidneys, studies have found that excessive alcohol use can cause high blood pressure, which could potentially lead to kidney disease.

The same research has also found that alcohol use disorder — which is when individuals struggle to control their drinking — can lead to an increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Pancreas problems

Another severe yet rare side effect of Ozempic is inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis.

Studies have found that chronic alcohol consumption can lead to pancreatitis. Alcohol can cause the digestive enzymes in the pancreas to activate too soon, causing inflammation and swelling of the organ.

In some cases, pancreatitis can cause long-term damage to the pancreas and may even lead to hospitalization.

Dehydration

Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it makes you urinate more frequently. This could lead to dehydration, which can impact your blood glucose.

Research has found that dehydration can result in significant spikes in blood sugar levels, which can be dangerous for individuals with diabetes who are taking Ozempic as a treatment.

Gastrointestinal problems

The most common side effects associated with taking Ozempic are gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, indigestion, constipation, stomach pain, and diarrhea.

Consuming alcoholic beverages impacts the digestive system, which may worsen these side effects, especially if you have recently started the medication.

How Long Should You Wait to Drink Alcohol after Taking Ozempic?

Unlike other diabetes medications, there is no specific period of time you should wait to drink alcohol after taking Ozempic.

On the chance that drinking alcohol makes you forget to take your medications, it might be beneficial to take your dose of Ozempic before having that drink.

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Guidelines for Ozempic and Alcohol

As there are no specific warnings against Ozempic and alcohol use, it may be safe to consume both substances at the same time.

However, your safety may depend on how much alcohol you drink.

It is safest to stick to moderate alcohol consumption while taking Ozempic to avoid weight gain and control blood sugar levels. But what does this mean?

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, moderate consumption refers to consuming two or fewer alcoholic drinks per day in men and one drink or fewer in women.

Other guidelines to follow when taking Ozempic and drinking alcohol include:

• Setting an alarm to take your Ozempic dose and other medications if drinking alcohol makes you forget to do this

• Avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, as this could increase your risk of high or low blood sugar levels

• Not drinking alcohol if you know that you are currently experiencing low blood sugar

• Ensuring you drink plenty of water while consuming alcohol to prevent dehydration

• Avoiding drinking alcohol on an empty stomach

• Eating a snack that is high in protein and fat before you go to bed after drinking at night as this may help to stabilize your blood sugar while you sleep

What alcoholic drinks should you avoid while taking Ozempic?

If you do choose to have a drink while taking Ozempic, some drinks may be better than others. You may want to opt for drinks that have less alcohol per serving, like a light beer vs. a strong IPA, for example.

If you tend to reach for cocktails, choose drinks that have less sugar over overly sweet and sugary ones.

Wines typically have lots of sugar, as it’s needed for the fermentation process. If a nice glass of wine is what you’re craving, try a dryer wine like a bubbly Brut, a Sauvignon Blanc if you like white, or a Pinot Noir if you prefer a red.

While these low-sugar options can be healthier options while on Ozempic, any drink containing alcohol has the same potential risks when on this medication.

Other Drug Interactions with Ozempic

Aside from alcohol, there are other potential Ozempic drug interactions that you should know about.

Ozempic is safe to use with most medications, however, if you take diabetes medicines like insulin, you have an increased risk of developing low blood sugar.

Insulin, a diabetes medication, works to lower blood sugar levels. If you are taking Ozempic — which also lowers blood sugar — with insulin, you are at risk for hypoglycemia.

Ozempic can also interfere with the speed at which oral medications are absorbed. This is due to how the drug slows down gastric emptying, meaning it may take longer for oral medications to move from your stomach to your intestines and be absorbed.

It’s important to seek medical advice if you take any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications before using Ozempic.

Your doctor will assess whether there could be any possible interactions between these medications and Ozempic.

Where Can I Learn More About Ozempic and Alcohol Usage?

If you enroll in the LifeMD Comprehensive Weight Management Program and qualify for a GLP-1 like Ozempic, your clinician you work with will help you learn more about Ozempic and alcohol use.

The weight management program is a 360° approach that combines groundbreaking medications, lab testing, and the knowledge of leading clinicians to create a highly effective – and truly sustainable – weight-loss approach. Your unique metabolic profile and lifestyle habits will be taken into account to help ensure you lose weight and keep it off — one of the most important things you’ll ever do for your health.

Kimberli Hastings, CNP

Kimberli is a Family Nurse Practitioner, practicing in the areas of Family Medicine and Mental Health since 2019. She has worked in nursing homes, dialysis centers, and clinics. Kimberli’s goal as a healthcare provider is to improve her patients' lives.

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