Ozempic and alcohol: Can you drink while taking it?

If you are thinking about taking a weekly dose of semaglutide — the active ingredient in medications like Wegovy and Ozempic — you might be wondering how this medication will react with other things you consume.

Taking a medication, like Ozempic, will herald new lifestyle changes to help you lose weight. And, eating nutritious food, exercising and minimizing alcohol consumption are the boxes you will need to tick to meet your health and fitness goals.

Many people wonder if taking semaglutide means limiting or cancelling out alcohol altogether. It's an important question, as alcohol will affect blood sugar levels — the very thing this medication is working to regulate in your body.

Let's look at alcohol consumption and semaglutide, and the risk factors for excessive alcohol use while on this medication.

Can I drink alcohol with Ozempic?

The short answer is yes: you can drink alcohol while taking semaglutide. In the U.S., where Ozempic is created and distributed, the Food and Drug Administration has not provided any specific disclaimers on mixing Ozempic and alcohol [1].

These medications have been rigorously tested by scientists to ensure that lots of things people consume, from chocolate to alcohol, are safe to eat while taking them and that there are no drug interactions. But the science behind the ingredient of semaglutide shows that its effectiveness will be compromised if alcohol consumption is something you do daily or in excess.

Semaglutide helps to control blood sugar levels, and it works with the brain and digestive system to make you feel fuller for longer after meals, reducing your food cravings, and regulating how your body uses sugar and stores fat [2].

The effects of alcohol on blood glucose levels, in particular hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), can make excessive drinking dangerous for people with type 2 diabetes. Alcohol can also make hypoglycemic medications less effective, meaning those with diabetes need to take extra care when drinking.

Does alcohol raise blood sugar levels?

Alcohol technically does not have sugar itself; however, most alcoholic beverages contain sugar that will cause an increase in blood sugar to occur.

Additionally, alcohol contains “empty calories” that do not provide the body with energy but do have to be processed by the body. This keeps the body from processing sugars, causing blood sugar levels to rise while alcohol is metabolized.

Does alcohol lower blood sugar levels?

While alcohol does cause a spike in blood sugar, it usually leads to a drop in sugar after this initial spike. Alcohol changes how the pancreas functions and leads to an increase in insulin while inhibiting the liver’s normal ability to release sugar. This pair of effects leads to an overall drop in blood sugar [3].

Semaglutide isn’t known to interact with alcohol. However, this medication and alcohol both lower your blood sugar, so drinking alcohol while taking weight loss medication may cause severe hypoglycemia.

So, with alcohol either raising or lowering our blood sugar levels, semaglutide will not work as well as usual if alcohol is consumed at a higher-than-moderate level.

Alcohol and diabetes medications

The effects of alcohol on blood sugar, in particular hypoglycemia, can make excessive drinking very dangerous for anyone with diabetes. Alcohol can also make hypoglycemic medications less effective, meaning those with diabetes need to take extra care when drinking.

If you have diabetes and are concerned with alcohol and blood sugar interactions, you should plan on checking your levels both before and after drinking. It’s also important to check levels before going to bed to ensure you don’t enter into a period of hypoglycemia while asleep.

How much alcohol can you drink on semaglutide?

If you're on a weight loss journey and are taking Ozempic, it is advised that you limit alcohol to help maximize the effectiveness of the medication. Excessive alcohol use has been linked with overeating and may be a risk factor for obesity and weight gain — potentially undoing all your hard work [4].

On the other hand, moderate alcohol consumption is not linked with obesity and weight gain. Rather, if you are trying to monitor how your blood sugar is going, it's best to avoid alcohol, which will contribute to spikes.

What will cause a blood sugar spike?

Spikes are dependent on what kind of alcohol you will be drinking; drinking red and white wines, distilled spirits, and low-carb cocktails will stand you in good stead for stabilizing your glucose levels.

Your blood sugar will spike with sweet cocktails that contain syrups and sugar. Avoiding alcoholic drinks containing sodas and juices will be the best option for anyone trying to lose weight.

Moderate alcohol consumption in Canada involves having no more than 10 standard drinks per week for women and no more than 15 for men. It is advisable to spread this consumption over three or more days. Regularly exceeding these limits may increase health risks, so individuals should consider their own health needs and consult with healthcare professionals for personalized advice.

If you drink less than the recommended amount per week, this is considered low-risk drinking. However, there is no such thing as "risk-free drinking". It has been well documented that drinking alcohol can contribute to cancers, strokes, heart disease, liver disease, and brain and nervous system damage [5].

In particular, more impulsive people may be more likely to overeat during or after drinking alcohol, therefore causing glucose to spike even more and rendering semaglutide relatively ineffective.

Are there any side effects of drinking alcohol with semaglutide?

Yes. Like any medication, Ozempic has a list of common side effects, and alcohol can exacerbate these problems.

This medication can trigger diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting as your body starts getting used to it, which in turn may cause a significant loss of fluids (dehydration). Excessive alcohol consumption also causes dehydration [6].

Losing fluids can result in extreme fatigue, light-headedness and fainting. And, if dehydration is chronic, it can affect your kidneys and how they function, leading to long-term kidney problems.

Consuming alcohol while taking diabetes medications has its risks. Ozempic and alcohol use should always be monitored and done with your health and well-being in mind. Speak to your healthcare provider if you are worried about your alcohol intake.

Do I have an alcohol use disorder?

Enjoying a drink responsibly is one of life's great pleasures. But if you think you are relying on alcohol to function during the day and night, you might be suffering from an alcohol use disorder.

An occasional drink is not going to harm you. But if you are drinking to excess and abusing this great pleasure, you're doing a disservice to your body and mind.

What's the deal with using semaglutide for weight loss?

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It's more than just weight loss. Juniper takes a holistic look at your body and lifestyle and helps you make informed decisions about how to lead a healthier life.

With Juniper, you can access weight loss medication tailored to your health and goals — never one-size-fits-all. Our app helps you track progress, connect with your care team, adjust medication as needed, and access expert support. You'll also get structured tools to build lasting habits and ongoing care.

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We help you make lifestyle and habit changes, and we’re in it with you for the long run, having helped thousands of women achieve their weight loss goals.

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