Is It Protected To Drink Alcohol on Ozempic? Right here’s What the Analysis Says

Ozempic (semaglutide) has change into a preferred treatment used to deal with kind 2 diabetes and assist with weight reduction. Some folks could also be involved about whether or not the treatment interacts with alcohol. There have additionally been stories of Ozempic reducing cravings for alcohol. You might not must keep away from alcohol whereas taking Ozempic, however there are specific dangers and negative effects to contemplate.

Usually, consuming alcohol whereas utilizing Ozempic is secure. Ozempic impacts digestion by slowing down how shortly meals leaves your abdomen. This causes you to really feel fuller sooner and for longer. It might additionally increase your danger for nausea, vomiting, and abdomen ache.

Alcohol can even trigger these signs, so utilizing each collectively could make them worse. Alcohol additionally impacts your blood sugar ranges and may result in different negative effects that Ozempic could make worse.

Having one to 2 drinks whereas utilizing Ozempic shouldn’t be a difficulty. If you happen to drink extra alcohol for an extended period of time, your danger for negative effects could also be larger.

Ozempic doesn’t instantly work together with alcohol, so it’s technically secure to take each. Nevertheless, each Ozempic and alcohol impact your physique and may not directly have an effect on one another. These negative effects can vary from gentle to extreme, and should embody:

Elevated digestive signs: Alcohol can irritate your abdomen and decelerate how briskly your abdomen empties. Ozempic additionally slows how briskly your abdomen empties (which is why it makes you’re feeling fuller longer). This could result in digestive signs like upset abdomen, nausea, and vomiting. Utilizing alcohol and Ozempic collectively could make these negative effects extra possible and worse.
Too-low blood sugar: Ozempic can decrease your blood sugar. Alcohol additionally lowers your blood sugar, possible as a result of the liver must work to interrupt it down. So, ingesting alcohol whereas taking Ozempic can increase your danger for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). That is particularly harmful if in case you have diabetes or are taking different drugs that may decrease your blood sugar.
Larger danger for pancreatitis: Pancreatitis is the irritation of the pancreas. Each Ozempic and heavy alcohol use can increase your danger for pancreatitis. Ozempic causes the pancreas to make extra insulin, which may result in irritation. Alcohol can have an effect on your pancreas by creating stones that block the openings of the pancreas and trigger irritation.
Larger danger for kidney harm: Heavy alcohol use and Ozempic can even increase your danger for kidney harm. The danger is even larger if you’re dehydrated.
Decreased weight reduction results: Though this isn’t an interplay, alcohol may cause weight acquire. In case you are utilizing Ozempic for weight reduction, ingesting alcohol could offset your outcomes.

Aspect impact dangers are larger whenever you first begin Ozempic and whenever you increase your dose. If you happen to take the treatment persistently as prescribed, the negative effects ought to get higher over time.

Folks taking Ozempic have reported a decrease want to drink alcohol whereas utilizing the treatment. This has led researchers to imagine the treatment could also be helpful for folks with alcohol use dysfunction (AUD). AUD is outlined as sturdy cravings for alcohol, which may trigger destructive feelings and result in a lack of management when managing your alcohol consumption.

A 2024 examine discovered that individuals taking Ozempic for weight problems or kind 2 diabetes reported ingesting much less alcohol. This occurred in each individuals who drank alcohol sometimes and other people with a historical past of AUD.

The way in which Ozempic impacts alcohol cravings isn’t properly understood. Nevertheless, it possible includes dopamine, your mind’s “reward” hormone. Ozempic and different glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs have an effect on dopamine ranges in your mind. This might help you’ve gotten fewer meals cravings and really feel extra full or happy after consuming.

Researchers counsel GLP-1s play the identical position with addictive substances, like alcohol. If you drink alcohol, dopamine is launched in your mind, making you’re feeling good or joyful. Ozempic could block or decrease the impact of this dopamine launch. This implies it’s possible you’ll not have the identical feel-good impact after ingesting alcohol, making you wish to drink much less.

Extra research are wanted to know Ozempic’s position in alcohol use and cravings and whether or not it’s a potential therapy choice for AUD.

In case you are involved about your alcohol use, speak with a healthcare supplier. They might help you establish how alcohol could also be affecting your well being. They will additionally see if alcohol is interacting with any drugs it’s possible you’ll be taking.

In case you are taking Ozempic, let your healthcare supplier learn about your alcohol use and any negative effects it’s possible you’ll be experiencing generally. Observe their recommendation on what number of drinks are secure so that you can eat each day.

Keep away from ingesting alcohol on an empty abdomen to decrease your danger for low blood sugar. In case you have issues about low blood sugar, make sure to monitor your blood sugar ranges while you’re ingesting alcohol. Not ingesting on an empty abdomen can even decrease your danger for abdomen irritation, decreasing the probability of negative effects like nausea and abdomen ache.

Ozempic doesn’t instantly work together with alcohol, so it’s technically secure to take each. Nevertheless, Ozempic and alcohol can have related results on digestion, blood sugar, and irritation. This could result in worsened negative effects like nausea and vomiting in addition to elevated dangers for low blood sugar, pancreatitis, and kidney harm.

There have been some stories of Ozempic reducing cravings for alcohol, which can make the drug helpful for folks with alcohol use dysfunction.

Discuss along with your physician if you’re utilizing Ozempic and in addition consuming alcohol merchandise. They will present suggestions on how secure it’s so that you can drink with the treatment.