Ozempic can cause nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and upset stomach, which may be worse if it's combined with alcohol. There's also a potential risk of serious side effects, including pancreatitis and kidney damage. You may not need to avoid alcohol entirely with Ozempic.
Some People on Ozempic Lose the Desire to Drink. Scientists Are Asking Why. As the diabetes drug gains more attention, a surprising side effect has emerged.
Alcohol (Ethanol) semaglutide
Talk to your doctor before using ethanol together with semaglutide. Alcohol may affect blood glucose levels in patients with diabetes. Both hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) may occur, depending on how much and how often you drink.
So how much (if anything) is safe to drink if you are on Ozempic or metformin? “Generally speaking, it's advisable to limit all alcohol while on these medications. But if you are planning on drinking, limiting yourself to 1 to 2 drinks at most would be the safest thing to do,” says Singh.
Alcohol. Alcohol consumption is not recommended while taking Ozempic as it can increase your risk of developing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or dehydration. If you do choose to drink alcohol while on this medication, it is recommended that you limit yourself to one drink per day.
Additionally, alcohol on its own can have the effect of lowering blood sugar which may be worsened if taken in combination with Wegovy. It is important you discuss your alcohol use with your doctor while taking Wegovy; your provider may recommend avoiding alcohol completely.
Still, Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications will be most effective for weight loss and blood sugar control when combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise. Generally, eating healthy foods and avoiding foods high in sugar, calories, and unhealthy fats while taking Ozempic helps.
Alcohol can negatively affect your blood glucose levels while taking Ozempic, causing them to drop too low (hypoglycemia). If your diabetes is well controlled, it's generally considered okay to drink moderately. That means fewer than two drinks per day for men, and fewer than one drink per day for women.
You may need a higher dosage of Ozempic
The same holds true for Ozempic's weight loss results. People taking higher doses of Ozempic tend to lose more weight. In the landmark study we cited above, people lost 7% of their body weight, on average, within a year and a half of taking 1mg of semaglutide.
A person can stay on Ozempic® so long as they are tolerating the medication and it is deemed appropriate by their treating provider. There is no specific time frame when someone should stop taking Ozempic as it is a medication that is intended for chronic (long-term) use.
Both alcohol and Ozempic have a risk of pancreatitis and kidney damage. A drink or two every now and then may not be a big deal with Ozempic. But if you combine Ozempic with long-term or heavy alcohol use, you may be at higher risk for two serious complications: pancreatitis and kidney damage.
Prof. Jerlhag explained more about the potential underlying mechanisms that the study found, noting: “We found that semaglutide prevents the reward from alcohol, and this might be the mechanism contributing to the reduced alcohol intake observed.
Can you drink alcohol while on semaglutide? If your blood sugar is under control while taking Ozempic, an occasional drink should be fine. Experts recommend one drink for males and two drinks for females. Having more drinks can possibly cause low blood sugar.
Why can't I eat much on Ozempic? Ozempic and many other semaglutide-based medications work to suppress your appetite by influencing hormones in your body.
Ozempic works by adjusting the way your body processes glucose (sugar). This can lead to slower digestion, which means food stays in your stomach longer as it's being broken down. As your stomach works on digesting, it produces additional gas, which can lead to that uncomfortable bloating feeling and stomach pain.
Patients speak out over side effect claim that Ozempic poses risk of "stomach paralysis", and investigations into the prescription drug are showing possible signs of suicidal thoughts in users.
A 2022 study found that most individuals gain weight back a year after stopping the medication.
It's used to lower blood glucose (sugar) levels in adults with Type 2 diabetes. The starting dose of Ozempic is 0.25 mg injected once weekly for 4 weeks. Then, your dose is moved up to 0.5 mg once weekly.
Taking Ozempic with alcohol can also lead to gastrointestinal distress. Alcohol can exacerbate the common side effects of Ozempic, which include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation and stomach pain.
Diarrhea
Like nausea and vomiting, it is most common when increasing your dose of Ozempic and goes away as your body gets used to it. If you experience diarrhea while taking Ozempic, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids, as diarrhea can lead to dehydration.
The maximum dose of Ozempic is 2 mg, administered once weekly on the same day and at the same time. It can be taken both with and without food. You can change the day of the week that you take Ozempic, as long as your last dose was taken 2 or more days before.
Ozempic is also used off-label for weight loss. In particular, it can help reduce the amount of belly fat. This is because Ozempic works by making you feel fuller for longer, which can help you resist overeating by controlling cravings and hunger.