Mounjaro® and Alcohol: Risks, Side Effects, & Can You Drink?
Key Takeaways:
Technically, you can drink alcohol on Mounjaro®. There aren’t any guidelines saying you have to stop drinking while taking the medicine.
Drinking on Mounjaro® may slow your weight loss and increase side effects, though.
Drink alcohol in moderation, consider lower-calorie drinks, and keep an eye on side effects.
Check with your GP or private clinician before mixing Mounjaro® and alcohol.
Mounjaro® (tirzepatide) is a medicine that can help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels and people with overweight or obesity lose weight.
Can you drink on Mounjaro®? Technically, you can. But alcohol could make Mounjaro® side effects worse and slow your weight loss progress.
Keep reading for everything you need to know about Mounjaro® and alcohol, including the risks and how to drink safely when taking the medicine.
Can You Drink Alcohol on Mounjaro®?
Technically, you can drink alcohol on Mounjaro®. There aren’t any guidelines saying you need to avoid it, and — currently — there isn’t any research showing the combination is dangerous.
Drinking alcohol while taking Mounjaro® might slow your weight loss progress or increase side effects of the medicine, though. So, the general recommendation is that you drink in moderation or avoid alcohol altogether while on Mounjaro®.
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Side Effects of Mixing Alcohol and Mounjaro®
The side effects of mixing alcohol and Mounjaro® can include slowed weight loss, increased side effects, low blood sugar, and problems with your pancreas.
Here’s more on those Mounjaro® and alcohol side effects.
Slowed Weight Loss
Drinking alcohol on Mounjaro® might slow your weight loss progress. But this might be due to how alcohol affects your weight, rather than how it affects Mounjaro® treatment.
Research over 4 years found that people who didn’t drink alcohol lost more weight than those who did drink alcohol.
Why’s this?
Alcohol contains “empty calories,” or calories with no nutritional value. Plus, when you drink, you might overeat or eat foods higher in calories. Alcohol can also disrupt your sleep, and sleep loss can increase your appetite and food cravings.
All of this makes you more likely to eat more calories. This might slow weight loss progress or even lead to weight gain if you consume more calories than your body needs.
Increased Mounjaro® Side Effects
Potential side effects of Mounjaro® include:
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Constipation
Stomach pain
Drinking alcohol could make these side effects worse. Alcohol can irritate your stomach and intestines while increasing how much digestive stomach acid (gastric acid) you make.
These effects can cause nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain — particularly if you drink a little too much — and add to the gastrointestinal side effects you might already have.
Another thing to be aware of: Mounjaro® slows gastric emptying, meaning food and drinks stay in your stomach longer. That’s one way Mounjaro® works for weight loss, by making you feel fuller.
But this also means you might feel the effects of alcohol more slowly. Be careful not to accidentally drink more than you intended.
Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycaemia)
If you have type 2 diabetes, Mounjaro® increases your risk of low blood sugar if you also take medicines like metformin, insulin, or an insulin secretagogue.
Symptoms of low blood sugar include:
Dizziness
Irritability
Sweating
Weakness
Heart palpitations
Seizure (in severe cases)
Alcohol consumption can also increase your risk of low blood sugar. So, when the two are combined, you might have an even higher risk of low blood sugar.
Inflammation of the Pancreas (Pancreatitis)
Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) is a rare side effect of Mounjaro®. Alcohol can also cause pancreas inflammation. So, again, combining Mounjaro® and alcohol could increase your risk further.
Symptoms of pancreatitis include:
Severe pain in the centre of your stomach
Stomach pain that travels along your back
Nausea
Vomiting
Indigestion
Fever
Let your general practitioner (GP) know if you have a pancreatitis diagnosis or symptoms of the condition before taking Mounjaro®.
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How to Drink Safely on Mounjaro®
You don’t need to stop drinking alcohol while taking Mounjaro® if you don’t want to. You just need to be smart about alcohol consumption.
Here’s how to safely drink alcohol while taking Mounjaro® — or any other weight loss medication, like semaglutide (Wegovy®) or liraglutide (Saxenda®).
Limit Your Alcohol Consumption
According to the National Health Service (NHS), you should drink a maximum of 14 units of alcohol a week.
One unit is:
Half a pint of low-to-normal-strength lager
Half a pint of low-to-normal-strength cider
A single shot of spirits
Just under a small glass of wine (a small glass is 1.5 units)
It’s best to spread out your alcohol consumption across several days and have some alcohol-free days each week.
Monitor how you feel when you mix alcohol and Mounjaro®. If it causes side effects, cut back or stop drinking alcohol for now. Mounjaro® side effects are more common when you first start treatment, but they should get better with time.
Stay Hydrated
Alcohol can dehydrate you, and Mounjaro® side effects — like vomiting and diarrhoea — can cause you to lose fluids and become dehydrated. So, it’s even more critical to stay hydrated if you drink on Mounjaro®.
Sip water throughout the day, and set reminders if you find yourself forgetting to drink water.
When drinking alcohol, consider alternating between an alcoholic drink and a more hydrating beverage like sparkling water.
Make Healthy Swaps
With your weight loss journey in mind, consider what you’re drinking. Go for smaller servings, fewer alcoholic beverages overall, or lower-calorie options or mixers.
You could:
Order a bottle of beer over a pint
Choose a lower-strength beer or cider
Go for a gin and slimline tonic over a sugary cocktail
Add soda water to white wine
Also, keep an eye on what you eat when you’re drinking. If you find yourself snacking or overeating when you drink, plan ahead with healthy snacks on hand, like carrot sticks and hummus or air-popped popcorn.
These healthy swaps can help you reach your weight loss goals without going teetotal.
Check With Your GP or Private Clinician
Check with your GP or prescribing private clinician to make sure it’s safe for you to drink while taking Mounjaro® injections.
A healthcare professional can take into account any other medication you’re on or medical conditions you have, including any problems with your blood sugar, pancreas, or liver.
If you get Mounjaro® through Hers, you have unlimited access to your Care Team to ask questions and get advice about Mounjaro® and alcohol — or anything else that’s on your mind.
Mounjaro® and Alcohol U.K.: Final Tips
You can drink alcohol while taking Mounjaro® if you like, but there are a few things to keep in mind:
You might feel more side effects. Both Mounjaro® and alcohol can cause gastrointestinal side effects, like nausea and vomiting.
You might notice less weight loss. Alcoholic drinks are often high in calories, and drinking can lead to overeating or eating foods higher in calories.
Drink in moderation. If you want to drink on Mounjaro®, limit your alcohol intake, consider lower-calorie drinks, and monitor side effects to stay safe and make the most of your weight loss injections.
Finally, check with your GP or a private clinician to find out if taking Mounjaro® and drinking alcohol is safe for you. If you’re already taking Mounjaro® through Hers, you can reach out to your Care Team any time with Mounjaro® alcohol questions.
Learn more about weight loss treatments through Hers.
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FAQs
Get answers to frequently asked questions about Mounjaro® and alcohol below.
Does Mounjaro® stop binge drinking?
Mounjaro® may stop binge drinking for some people, but this isn’t what the medicine is licensed for. There’s some research suggesting that the active ingredient, tirzepatide, might reduce alcohol cravings and lower your odds of binge drinking.
Does Mounjaro® stop alcohol cravings?
Mounjaro® may reduce alcohol cravings. Some research shows that people taking tirzepatide — the active ingredient in Mounjaro® — report a reduced desire for alcohol, craving reduction, drinking less, and lower odds of binge drinking. Mounjaro® isn’t licensed for alcohol use disorder, though.
Does alcohol make Mounjaro® less effective?
Alcohol could make Mounjaro® less effective, but it’s probably because alcohol can affect your weight, rather than alcohol affecting the medicine. Alcoholic drinks are often high in calories and may lead to overeating or eating foods higher in calories. This can slow weight loss.
Does Mounjaro® affect alcohol tolerance?
Mounjaro® probably won’t affect your alcohol tolerance. But it slows stomach emptying, which might slow how quickly alcohol is digested and how quickly you feel the effects.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your GP about the risks and benefits of any treatment.