Can You Drink on Ozempic? How Alcohol Can Affect Your Blood Sugar and Weight Loss Goals
Plus find out how to enjoy the occasional drink without worsening GLP-1 side effects.
If you’re taking Ozempic, you already know how important it is to eat a well-balanced diet. But what about your alcohol intake? Can you drink on Ozempic? A glass of wine with dinner or a weekend cocktail may seem like no big deal. But when you’re on a medication that helps balance your blood sugar and curb cravings, it’s important to understand how alcohol might affect both your health and your progress. Here’s what you need to know about drinking alcohol while taking Ozempic.
How does Ozempic work?
Ozempic is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that helps steady your blood glucose levels. The type 2 diabetes medication is also famously used off-label as a weight loss medication. Ozempic works in some smart ways that could change not just your eating habits, but even how you feel about alcohol.
“Ozempic works by slowing down gastric emptying, so you feel fuller for longer,” explains Caroline Apovian, MD, Co-Director of the Center for Weight Management and Wellness at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “It also seems to impact the brain’s reward center, which could reduce cravings for alcohol and other addictive substances.”
In short, while Ozempic helps you manage your appetite, it might also dampen your desire for alcohol. So, although you can drink while on Ozempic, you may notice that you’re simply less inclined to reach for that glass of wine or beer.
Can you drink on Ozempic? How it might affect you
While there is no direct interaction between alcohol and Ozempic, alcohol might sabotage some of Ozempic’s potential benefits and even worsen some common side effects. Here’s what can happen when you mix Ozempic and alcohol:
Alcohol can counter your weight-loss efforts
Ozempic helps with weight loss and health improvement, but alcohol can work against those goals. Alcohol is high in empty calories and lowers your inhibitions, making it easier to reach for unhealthy snacks.
“Alcohol is a toxin,” says Dr. Apovian. “People often believe a glass of wine with dinner is healthy, but it’s not. Alcohol adds calories and can interfere with your weight loss progress.” (That said, there’s certainly no reason to feel guilty about indulging in a drink or two now and then!)
Alcohol can raise the risk of blood sugar spikes
Alcoholic beverages affect the liver’s ability to release glucose, causing blood sugar swings. That means sugary cocktails like margaritas can spike your blood sugar, followed by a crash. Dr. Apovian warns that this is dangerous because low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can be hard to detect when drinking.
Alcohol can worsen Ozempic’s side effects
Ozempic can cause nausea and digestive issues, and alcohol can make these worse. “When you’re on medication for obesity, you tend to eat less, drink less water and get dehydrated, which makes alcohol a bad choice,” says Dr. Apovian. Alcohol irritates the stomach, amplifying side effects like nausea.
How much alcohol is safe to drink on Ozempic?
If you have well-controlled diabetes and you’re not experiencing major side effects, moderate alcohol consumption may be safe. The same holds if you’re taking Ozempic for weight loss. CDC guidelines allow up to one drink per day for women and up to two for men. A drink is 12 ounces of beer, 1.5 ounces of liquor or 5 ounces of wine.
It’s not just how much you drink, but also what you drink. High-sugar cocktails, sweet wines and liquors can spike blood sugar and should be avoided, says Dr. Apovian. Light beer, dry wine and spirits without sugary mixers are better options.
For those who still want to enjoy a drink, Dr. Apovian suggests diluting it. “Try mixing wine with water – half wine, half water,” she says. “That way, you’re consuming less alcohol but still enjoying the experience.”
Better yet, treat yourself to a quality glass and slowly sip it with a meal. “A famous epidemiologist who studied the effects of alcohol used to say ‘A fine wine is meant to be sipped with dinner,” she adds.
Still, do so with caution: avoid drinking on an empty stomach and eat a balanced meal with protein and fiber. This helps keep your blood sugar stable even when you consume alcohol.
Ozempic-friendly alternatives to alcohol
If you’re focused on losing weight or maintaining steady blood sugar levels, alcohol may not always be the best choice. Fortunately, there are plenty of non-alcoholic alternatives that can still feel indulgent.
Look for mocktails made with sparkling water, fresh fruit or herbs and non-alcoholic beers. You can also try flavored seltzers or kombucha, which offer a low-calorie alternative to alcoholic drinks. “There are so many great non-alcoholic fancy drinks out there now,” says Dr. Apovian. “These can be a fantastic choice.”
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