When used to supplement a healthy lifestyle, Wegovy weight loss injections can drive serious results. For instance, participants lost 20.7% of their starting weight on average after taking a 7.2mg dose of Wegovy. Wegovy works by acting like the natural gut hormone GLP-1. It keeps you feeling fuller for longer and helps to suppress your cravings. If you’ve done your research, you’ve probably heard of Wegovy and its popular weight loss potential. Wegovy is a weight loss medication that reduces your appetite so you are likely to eat fewer calories and burn fat. By mimicking this hormone, Wegovy slows stomach emptying, increases feelings of fullness, and reduces your appetite so that you consume fewer calories. General guidelines around alcohol consumption with weight loss medication vary depending on the medication and its active ingredients.
One of those key questions is whether you can drink alcohol on Wegovy. So, can you drink on Wegovy?
Can You Drink Alcohol on Wegovy?
The short answer is yes, you can. Though there is a “but” here: alcohol doesn’t interact directly with Wegovy, but it can bring on unwanted effects and work against your health goals. So for best results, we’d suggest avoiding alcohol while using Wegovy.
There is no direct interaction between alcohol and Wegovy, so drinking alcohol in moderation may be possible. Mixing Wegovy and alcohol can increase side effects like low blood pressure, nausea, and dehydration. In severe cases, mixing the two may lead to inflammation of the pancreas. Therefore, when it comes to whether it’s safe to drink on Wegovy, the answer is it depends on how these substances affect you.
In general, you can drink alcohol with weight loss injections like semaglutide or tirzepatide, but moderation is key. These medications can affect your digestion and blood sugar levels, and alcohol can intensify side effects.
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Talk to your doctor before using ethanol (alcohol) together with semaglutide. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Talk to a healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns.
Potential Downsides of Mixing Alcohol and Wegovy
For one, alcoholic drinks are often high in calories. And if you have one too many, you might find yourself craving greasy, high-calorie foods that don’t have any real nutritional benefits. Since you need to eat fewer calories than you burn to lose weight, this can hamper your progress. Alcohol can be high in calories, as one glass of wine can have up to 158 calories on average, while a pint of beer can contain around 222 calories. Given these numbers, your daily calorie count can skyrocket within just a few drinks, leading to unwanted weight gain or barriers to your weight loss progress. Drinking alcohol while on Wegovy may counteract the drug’s benefits and add empty calories.
Plus, both alcohol and Wegovy’s effects on the body can overlap and make you feel worse. For instance, one of the ways Wegovy makes you feel full is by slowing down your digestion. But alcohol can also have this effect. So, taking them together might make gut symptoms like nausea, vomiting and reflux feel more intense. Both hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) may occur, depending on how much and how often you drink.
Alcohol can also bring on its own side effects that are similar to Wegovy’s, including a change in your bowel movements, tiredness, and headache. Consuming alcohol and taking Wegovy each have their own potential side effects. If you combine the two together, they may have even more possible effects.
Overlapping and Intensified Side Effects
Earlier, we mentioned that there’s no direct interaction between alcohol and Wegovy. Yet because they can both affect your body in similar ways-for instance, by acting on the gut-these effects might combine and make your symptoms worse.
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Plus, alcohol and semaglutide also each have their own set of side effects that can overlap and, therefore, feel more severe.
Possible side effects include:
- Nausea
- Headache
- Stomach pain and discomfort
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Upset stomach and indigestion
- Vomiting
- Dehydration. Alcohol can dehydrate you, as can being sick. If you are drinking while using Wegovy, be sure to top up your fluids with plenty of water.
- Low blood pressure. By helping you lose weight, Wegovy can lower your blood pressure. Alcohol can also have that effect for up to 12 hours after drinking, so please do be careful
Mixing Wegovy and alcohol can increase side effects like low blood pressure, nausea, and dehydration. In severe cases, mixing the two may lead to inflammation of the pancreas. Drinking alcohol while taking Wegovy increases the risk of pancreatitis or inflammation of the pancreas. Alcohol is known to irritate the pancreas, and the combined effect with Wegovy can worsen this risk. Proper medical guidance is recommended to manage the risks of these side effects.
Dehydration
Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it causes your cells to expel more water and leads to more frequent urination-this results in cellular dehydration. Inner cellular hydration is an essential part of weight loss, ensuring that your cells are hydrated and able to convert fat into energy. Some of Wegovy’s side effects, like vomiting and diarrhea, can also lead to dehydration. Combining these two may increase the risk of severe dehydration.
Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia is a condition where your blood sugar is lower than normal. A low blood sugar can lead to symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, and confusion. Meanwhile, drinking alcohol can also have effects on your blood sugar. When your liver is processing alcohol, it stops releasing glucose, which can cause your blood sugar levels to drop quickly. Alcohol may affect blood glucose levels in patients with diabetes.
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Therefore, combining Wegovy and alcohol can lead to severely low blood sugar levels. Symptoms of low blood sugar include dizziness, confusion, and even fainting. Alcohol further blocks the liver’s ability to release glucose, worsening the risk.
Poor Dietary Choices
Drinking alcohol can affect your decision-making, which isn’t helpful if you’re trying to be more mindful of your eating habits. A night out involving alcohol can quickly turn to craving and eating greasy, fatty foods that increase your calorie intake and, overall, are not beneficial for weight loss. Excessive alcohol consumption can also lead to overeating. Alcohol lowers inhibitions and affects judgment, which can make it harder to stick to healthy eating plans. Overeating can result in consuming high-calorie foods that sabotage weight loss efforts.
Potential Impact on Liver Health
Wegovy does not appear to harm the liver. In large clinical trials, people taking Wegovy did not have more liver enzyme problems than those taking a placebo or other treatments. Drinking alcohol, on the other hand, can damage the liver, especially for people with alcohol use disorder with heavy or long-term use. Alcohol-related liver disease is a serious condition that results from excessive drinking. While Wegovy is processed in the liver, there is no evidence that it causes liver problems.
Does Wegovy Help with Alcohol Cravings?
It might. Some studies suggest that Wegovy could make you want to drink less.
By the way: the active ingredient in Wegovy is semaglutide. Wegovy is a brand name, so you might sometimes see the terms used interchangeably.
In one clinical trial, semaglutide significantly dampened alcohol cravings in people with alcohol use disorder after they took the medicine for 9 weeks. Another study in rats found that semaglutide diminished the dopamine hit that alcohol usually gives and led the animals to drink less overall. Some people report that semaglutide lowers their interest in alcohol. This may be because it changes how your brain responds to cravings and appetite.
This is a new (and exciting!) area of research but we don’t yet know the exact link between alcohol cravings and semaglutide. Researchers are currently looking into whether the medicine could be used to treat alcohol use disorder and addictive behaviours. However, a 2023 study revealed that semaglutide may reduce alcohol consumption behaviors, potentially by diminishing alcohol-induced reward and affecting mechanisms in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Additionally, the research highlights that clinical studies should explore whether semaglutide can effectively reduce alcohol intake and body weight in overweight patients with alcohol use disorder.
Key Considerations for Drinking Alcohol on Wegovy
For those who do raise a glass from time to time, here are some tips on how to enjoy alcohol responsibly while using Wegovy.
And if you find that drinking just doesn’t feel great while you’re on the medicine, remember that it’s totally okay to stop. If you’re eager to lose weight and improve your health, avoiding alcohol will maximize the effectiveness of Wegovy.
Before drinking while taking weight loss medications, or drinking during any weight loss effort, there are several factors you should consider. Everybody is different and may have varying risk levels for taking a medication like Wegovy while drinking alcohol. Weight loss should never come at the expense of your health. Mindfulness is the key to any weight loss journey. If you plan on drinking alcohol during your weight loss efforts, you should consider all the above factors and make sure you pay close attention to how your body responds so you can maintain a strong grip on your overall health and wellness.
- Drinking slowly and in moderation: It sounds obvious, but drinking slowly prevents your blood alcohol levels from creeping up, which might lessen the effects of alcohol. This can also help you keep tabs on how you’re feeling, so you can stop if you need to. If you are going to drink, it’s best to do it in moderation (again, we suggest avoiding it altogether). More drinks means more calories and a greater risk of side effects. Limit your intake. Moderate alcohol consumption generally does not affect blood glucose levels if your diabetes is under control. However, it may be best to limit alcohol intake to one drink daily for women and two drinks daily for men (1 drink = 5 oz wine, 12 oz beer, or 1.5 oz distilled spirits) in conjunction with your normal meal plan.
- Stay hydrated and eat beforehand: Alcohol can make you need to pee more, and if you don’t top up the fluids lost you might get dehydrated. So it’s super important to drink plenty of water alongside your alcoholic drinks. Stay hydrated. Both alcohol and semaglutide can dehydrate you. In dry places this can become a bigger issue. Avoid drinking alcohol on an empty stomach or following exercise, as it may increase the risk of hypoglycemia. Having a meal before or while you drink can also help slow the absorption of alcohol, which might mean that your blood alcohol levels are lower at any one time. But this won’t reduce the overall amount of alcohol that eventually reaches your bloodstream. The idea that food somehow “cancels out” the amount of alcohol in your system is a myth. Eat before you drink.
- Pay attention to how you feel: If you do choose to have a drink while on Wegovy, we’d suggest proceeding with caution. Try to limit your intake, starting with a small amount to see how you feel.
- Avoid alcohol during the first few weeks: Drinking alcohol too soon after taking Wegovy may intensify side effects like nausea and vomiting. Consult your healthcare provider to determine when it may be appropriate to drink alcohol after taking Wegovy.
- Talk to a healthcare professional: If you’re worried about using Wegovy and drinking alcohol, reach out to your provider (including us!) for advice-that’s what they’re there for. They’ll be able to give you guidance and answer any of your questions. And if you want to stop drinking, they’ll help you take steps towards that, too. We know that isn’t always an easy decision to make, but investing in your health will pay off. You’ve got this! Talk to a healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns.
If you’re used to drinking large amounts of alcohol and are thinking of stopping, please reach out to your healthcare professional first.
Wegovy Dosage and Administration
Wegovy contains semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist for weight loss management. It targets areas in the brain that regulate appetite and blood sugar levels. Medical professionals prescribe Wegovy with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical exercise. The Wegovy FDA approval underscores the safety and efficacy of the individuals undertaking the treatment.
Wegovy works in the body by activating the GLP-1 receptors in the brain, regulating hunger and digestion. It suppresses the appetite, leading to reduced food intake and increased feeling of fullness. Effects of Wegovy on Metabolism and Appetite Control: Wegovy promotes more significant fat reduction, contributing to overall weight reduction.
Food may affect the absorption of semaglutide when taken orally. It is recommended that oral semaglutide be taken 30 minutes before first food, beverage, or other oral medications of the day with no more than 4 ounces of plain water. You may experience more side effects including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea if you fast longer than 30 minutes after the semaglutide dose.
Wegovy has a half-life of about one week. The half-life is the time it takes for half of the drug to be eliminated from the body.
Alcohol Metabolism and its Impact
Alcohol affects various aspects of health, especially when consumed too much. Excessive alcohol drinking can lead to numerous diseases, such as brain damage, heart disease, liver cirrhosis, and cancer.
After ingestion, alcohol is primarily broken down by the liver. Enzymes like alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) play crucial roles in this process. ADH converts alcohol into a toxic substance, and ALDH metabolizes it into harmless acetate. Impact of Alcohol on Metabolism and Appetite: Alcohol distracts the body processes, slowing fat breakdown and delaying fat burning for up to seven hours after consumption.
Alternatives to Wegovy
Tirzepatide may offer greater weight loss results compared to semaglutide for some people. It targets two receptors instead of one, which could lead to better appetite control and improved blood sugar levels.
Retatrutide is a newer medication currently being studied for its powerful weight loss potential. It targets three different hormone receptors, which may make it even more effective than tirzepatide at reducing body weight and improving metabolic health.
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