Mounjaro and alcohol

Yes, you can drink alcohol while taking Mounjaro, but it should be in moderation. While there are no specific interactions reported between alcohol and Mounjaro, it is generally not recommended to consume large amounts of alcohol when using it.

This is because it can lead to side effects, such as low blood sugar, and can also cause you to consume extra calories, which can impact your weight loss. So, drinking lots of alcohol or drinking frequently while on Mounjaro can impact your weight loss progress.

Alcohol can have various effects on the body depending on how often and how much you drink. For people who do not drink regularly, the effects of alcohol on the body can lead to:

1. After 1 to 2 units – an increased heart rate and expanding blood vessels leading to a warm, talkative feeling.
2. After 4 to 6 units – judgement and decision-making skills start to be affected, leading to recklessness. You may also feel lightheaded and uncoordinated.
3. At around 8 to 9 units – slurred speech, slowed reaction times, and unfocused vision can occur. At this stage, your liver will struggle to filter out the alcohol, and you may wake with a hangover.
4. At 10 to 12 units – highly impaired coordination and drowsiness are typical, which can lead to a higher risk of injury from an accident. At this stage, the amount of alcohol can start to become toxic, and your body will start to pass the alcohol through urine, leading to dehydration and headaches. You may start feeling or being sick (nausea and vomiting) or having diarrhoea. These are also side effects of Mounjaro, and drinking alcohol could make them worse and increase the risk of severe dehydration.
5. After 12 units – at this point, there is an increased risk of alcohol poisoning, which can interfere with your breathing, heart rate, and gag reflex (which protects you from choking). Alcohol poisoning can lead to a person falling into a coma and sometimes causes death.

Some people taking Mounjaro find that the effects of alcohol on their body are increased. This means you might become intoxicated more quickly when taking Mounjaro. Although there is no direct association between Mounjaro and alcohol, mixing the two can intensify gastrointestinal side effects, such as:

• feeling sick
• being sick
• stomach pains
• diarrhoea

You may also notice that drinking alcohol at the same time as Mounjaro can make you feel dehydrated or tired. So, it is important to drink plenty of water and get some rest if you experience these side effects. You may also find that dizziness is worse if you have experienced this side effect on Mounjaro.

Drinking alcohol can increase or worsen Mounjaro side effects. Common Mounjaro side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea, also occur with alcohol use, so they are likely to be worse when you combine them. For people with diabetes, drinking alcohol while on Mounjaro can increase the risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

Mounjaro works by suppressing your appetite and stopping cravings, and drinking alcohol can impact these effects as it lessens restraint and makes it harder to stick to diet plans. Alcohol is also high in calories, with one glass of wine containing around 120 calories and cocktails with mixers having a lot more. This can easily increase your daily calories to more than you had planned.

Mounjaro also helps to improve your metabolism and encourages your body to burn more calories at rest. However, alcohol can have the opposite effect, slowing down your weight loss progress.

If you are going to drink alcohol when on Mounjaro, there are a number of things you can do to stay safe. It’s important to talk with your doctor for personal advice on alcohol and how it will affect your own personal plan. If you are worried about your alcohol intake before starting treatment, let your doctor know during your consultation.

Some other ways to stay safe when drinking alcohol on Mounjaro include:

• starting slowly and paying close attention to your body and any side effects you are experiencing
• staying hydrated and drinking a glass of water between drinks
• limiting alcohol intake or swapping for alcohol free options, although be aware of the sugar and calorie content
• eating a meal before drinking
• avoiding binge drinking
• letting friends and family know that you are trying to lose weight, so that they can help and encourage you