Summary
- Ozempic® affects blood sugar and digestion by slowing gastric emptying, increasing insulin release, and reducing appetite.
- Alcohol can both raise and lower blood sugar—initially spiking it, then causing drops that can be dangerous or harder to manage when combined with Ozempic®.
- Mixing alcohol with Ozempic® increases the risk of serious side effects, including hypoglycemia, dehydration, nausea, vomiting, and pancreatitis.
- Some research suggests Ozempic® may reduce alcohol cravings, but there’s not enough evidence to recommend it for this purpose—and alcohol use is not advised while taking it.
- Talk to your doctor if you’re taking Ozempic® and still drink, and seek professional help if you’re struggling with alcohol—call Alcohol Awareness at any time to be connected with programs that can help.
As medications like Ozempic® become more common for managing type 2 diabetes and weight loss, many people wonder: can you still drink alcohol while taking it?
Here’s what we know about how Ozempic® and alcohol affect the body—and why using them together may carry more risks than you think.
If you’re concerned about your drinking or how it interacts with medication, call our free 24/7 hotline for support. Our team at Alcohol Awareness can connect you with appropriate support and resources to help you take steps towards a healthier relationship with alcohol.
What Is Ozempic® & How Does It Work?
Ozempic® (a branded form of semaglutide) is a prescription medication used to treat type 2 diabetes—and, in some cases, support weight loss. It belongs to a class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists.
GLP-1 medications help regulate your blood sugar by:
- Increasing the amount of insulin your body releases. Insulin lowers your blood sugar by allowing glucose to move from your bloodstream into your cells.
- Slowing your rate of digestion by making a process called gastric emptying take longer.
- Reducing your appetite—because of the above, you may not experience as much hunger when taking semaglutide, even though it takes longer for gastric emptying to occur.
These effects can help you feel full for longer after you eat and avoid blood sugar spikes, but they may also make the body more sensitive to other substances—especially alcohol.
How Alcohol Affects Blood Sugar
Alcohol can interfere with blood sugar levels—especially if you have diabetes or are prone to low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). The sugar and carbohydrates in alcohol can initially cause your blood sugar to go up. However, alcohol also interferes with the liver’s ability to produce glucose and send it into your bloodstream—so eventually, drinking alcohol can actually cause your blood sugar levels to drop.
When this happens, you can develop a condition called hypoglycemia. This condition can be dangerous if not properly managed. Furthermore, symptoms of hypoglycemia—like feeling dizzy, lightheaded, confused, or fatigued—can be hard to distinguish from the symptoms of being intoxicated from consuming alcohol. So if you’re taking a drug that already alters blood sugar—like Ozempic®—then consuming alcohol can make things unpredictable and potentially put your health at risk.
Other Negative Health Effects from Alcohol
Alcohol doesn’t just affect your blood sugar levels—it also has negative impacts on many other parts of your body. These include your brain, heart, liver, pancreas, and numerous other organs.
Learn more about the negative health effects of alcohol here.
What Happens If You Mix Ozempic® & Alcohol?
There is no official contraindication for drinking alcohol while you are taking Ozempic®, but combining these two substances can still cause problems. That’s because both medications have an impact on blood sugar, and have several side effects in common as well.
Blood sugar issues
Because alcohol and the semaglutide in Ozempic® can both alter your blood sugar levels, taking both substances at the same time can make your blood sugar harder to control. You may face an increased risk of hypoglycemia.
It is also possible that the initial blood sugar spike that often occurs in the short term after drinking alcohol could counteract the effects of the insulin produced when you take semaglutide. This could make your medication less effective, especially if you are taking it to manage diabetes.
Increased side effect risk
Some of the side effects of Ozempic® overlap with the effects of alcohol—so taking this medication while drinking could make these effects more likely or potent. These include:
- Nausea and vomiting: Gastrointestinal issues like nausea and vomiting are common side effects of Ozempic®. Nausea and vomiting may also occur after drinking, because alcohol irritates the lining of your stomach.
- Dehydration: drinking alcohol can dehydrate you, because it makes your kidneys less effective at helping your body preserve fluids and causes you to urinate more often. Dehydration is also a possible side effect of semaglutide. Note that dehydration can be life-threatening in severe cases.
- Pancreatitis risk: Ozempic® may cause pancreatitis in some patients. Since pancreatitis can also occur in people who consume alcohol in heavy amounts, combining these substances may make you more likely to experience this condition.
Should You Ever Take Ozempic® If You Drink Alcohol?
Some early research suggests that low doses of semaglutide may actually help reduce cravings for alcohol. One randomized study found that although taking semaglutide did not reduce the number of drinking days for participants, it reduced the number of drinks they consumed per drinking day, as well as their weekly cravings for alcohol. However, more clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings.
In the meantime, it is not recommended that you drink alcohol if semaglutide has been prescribed to you, due to the risks outlined above.
Remember: never take semaglutide—or any drug—unless it has been prescribed to you by a medical professional. Always follow your healthcare provider’s directions.
Other Medications Can Help with Alcohol Withdrawal
Several other medications may be able to support you if you are in the process of recovering from alcoholism. Commonly prescribed medications for this purpose include:
- Acamprosate
- Disulfiram
- Naltrexone
However, it is important only to take medications if they are prescribed to you by a healthcare professional and follow their directions closely.
Learn more about medications that can help with alcohol withdrawal here.
Talk to Your Doctor about Alcohol if You Take Ozempic®
Ozempic and alcohol both affect your blood sugar, and some of their effects can overlap—so combining them can make things more complicated. Whether you’re drinking socially or managing a medical condition, it’s best to talk to your healthcare provider about what’s safe.
Need Help Managing Your Alcohol Use?
Call our free, 24/7 national hotline to connect with appropriate resources and support in your area. Together, we can help you take the next step towards recovery and a healthier life.