Tirzepatide and Alcohol: Risks and Recommendations

Key Takeaways:

• You can drink alcohol on tirzepatide, but it may slow your weight loss and worsen side effects.

• If you drink on tirzepatide, limit how much you drink, consider lower-calorie drinks, and watch out for worsening side effects.

• Check with your healthcare provider before drinking on tirzepatide to make sure it’s safe for you personally.
  

Tirzepatide (Mounjaro^®, Zepbound^®) can help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels and people with overweight or obesity lose weight.

There are no guidelines saying you can’t drink on tirzepatide. But there are a few risks and possible unwanted side effects you should know about.

We’ll cover what happens when you mix tirzepatide and alcohol and how you can do it safely if you want to drink.

Technically, you can drink on tirzepatide. There are no guidelines from the drug manufacturer saying you can’t drink while taking the tirzepatide injections Mounjaro^® and Zepbound^®. And there isn’t any research showing that the combination is dangerous.

“While taking tirzepatide, alcohol can make side effects more noticeable and may slow progress toward weight-related goals,” says board-certified physician Lynn Marie Morski, MD. “For many patients, reducing or avoiding alcohol helps them feel better and get the most benefit from treatment.”

If you mix alcohol and tirzepatide, you might get unwanted effects, such as:

• Reduced weight loss

• Increased gastrointestinal side effects

• Low blood sugar

• Problems with your pancreas

Here’s what you need to know.

Reduced Weight Loss

Drinking alcohol could slow your weight loss progress while taking tirzepatide. One study (of people not on tirzepatide) found that people who didn’t drink lost more weight over 4 years than those who did.

There are a few reasons for this:

• Alcoholic drinks tend to be high in “empty calories” — calories without much nutrition.

• When you’re drinking, you might also eat foods higher in calories or overeat.

• Alcohol disrupts your sleep. This can increase your appetite and food cravings.

All these factors mean you might consume more calories, which can lead to reduced weight loss or even weight gain if you’re consuming more calories than your body needs.

→ Learn more: Alcohol and Weight Loss

Increased Tirzepatide Side Effects

Alcohol could make the side effects of tirzepatide feel worse.

The most common side effects of Mounjaro^® and Zepbound^® include gastrointestinal side effects. Alcohol can increase how much stomach acid your body makes, causing gastrointestinal side effects, too.

So, when tirzepatide and alcohol are combined, alcohol can add to the gastrointestinal problems you might already have while taking tirzepatide.

Here’s how the side effects of alcohol and tirzepatide overlap.

Low Blood Sugar

If you take tirzepatide and insulin or an insulin secretagogue, you have a higher risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

Alcohol adds to this risk because it can also cause low blood sugar, especially if you drink too much alcohol without eating enough food.

Symptoms of low blood sugar include feeling:

• Shaky

• Dizzy

• Tired

• Lightheaded

• Irritable

• Hungry

If you’re drinking, you might not notice early symptoms, and low blood sugar can become more severe.

Symptoms of severe low blood sugar include fainting and having a seizure.

Inflammation of the Pancreas

Tirzepatide can cause inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). Heavy drinking can also cause pancreatitis. So when you use them together, you’re increasing your risk. 

Symptoms of pancreatitis can include:

• Pain in the upper abdomen

• Swollen or tender abdomen

• Pain in the back

• Fever

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Fast heartbeat

If you have any of these symptoms, let your healthcare provider know right away.

You don’t have to give up alcohol while taking tirzepatide. There are a few steps you can take to minimize the risks and adverse effects of drinking on the medication.

Here’s what to do.

Drink in Moderation

Consider drinking only every now and again on tirzepatide. And when you do drink, have only small amounts of alcohol.

General guidelines say women should stick to one drink a day or less.

There’s some research suggesting you might feel the effects of alcohol more slowly when taking a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, like tirzepatide. So, take care not to accidentally drink too much.

Make Healthy Swaps

With weight loss in mind, consider these healthy swaps when drinking alcohol while taking tirzepatide:

• Go for lower-calorie drinks, like spirits and soda water, over sugary cocktails.

• Choose light beer over full-calorie or stronger beer.

• Drink smaller servings — e.g., a single serving of spirits or a small glass of wine vs. a large glass.

• Alternate between an alcoholic beverage and an alcohol-free option.

Besides what you’re drinking, think about what you’re eating. Keep nutritious snacks on hand, like olives, edamame, air-popped popcorn, and roasted chickpeas.

If you mindlessly snack or overeat when you drink, eat a meal high in protein and fiber beforehand. That way, you’re less likely to be hungry later.

Stay Hydrated

Alcohol consumption can dehydrate you. And if you experience tirzepatide side effects, like vomiting and diarrhea, you’re already losing fluids and at risk of dehydration.

Sip water throughout the day, and set reminders to go off on your phone if you need a gentle nudge. When drinking, consider having a glass of water as well or alternating between alcoholic and hydrating beverages, like sparkling water.

Check With Your Healthcare Provider 

To be safe, check with your healthcare provider before drinking on tirzepatide. They can let you know if it’s safe, taking into account any medical conditions you have or other medications you’re on.

If you get tirzepatide through Hers, you’ve got 24/7 unlimited access to your Care Team to ask questions about alcohol and tirzepatide — or anything else that crops up.

Rest assured, you can drink alcohol on tirzepatide if you like — you just need to be smart about it.

Here’s the key info on tirzepatide and alcohol:

• Alcohol can slow weight loss progress. Go for lower-calorie drinks, limit alcohol in general, and keep nutritious foods on hand if you tend to drink and snack or overeat.

• Alcohol can make tirzepatide side effects worse. You might feel more gastrointestinal upset when you drink. Monitor side effects and avoid alcohol if it’s making yours worse.

• Drink in moderation to reduce the risks. Go for smaller serving sizes and fewer drinks overall. Or drink only on special occasions while you’re on tirzepatide.

Finally, check with a healthcare professional for personalized advice on whether alcohol and tirzepatide is a safe combination for you.

Get answers to frequently asked questions about tirzepatide and alcohol.

How much alcohol is safe on tirzepatide?

There aren’t any guidelines on how much alcohol is safe on tirzepatide. Healthcare providers often suggest limiting the amount of alcohol you drink when taking tirzepatide. General guidelines recommend women stick to one drink a day or less and no more than two drinks for men.

Does tirzepatide reduce alcohol cravings? 

Yes, research suggests tirzepatide may reduce alcohol cravings. The medication might lower the desire to drink, your overall alcohol intake, how many drinks you have per session, and the odds of binge drinking. Tirzepatide isn’t FDA-approved for alcohol use disorder, though.

Can you drink alcohol when taking weight loss injections?

Yes, you can drink alcohol when taking weight loss injections like semaglutide (Ozempic^®, Wegovy^®) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro^®, Zepbound^®). But alcohol might slow your weight loss progress and increase side effects, like nausea and vomiting. It’s recommended that you drink in moderation when taking weight loss injections.

What alcohol can I drink on tirzepatide?

You can drink any type of alcohol you want on tirzepatide. That said, if you’re going to drink while taking this medication, go for lower-calorie drinks, like a spirit mixed with soda water, dry wine, or light beer. Avoid sugary cocktails and drinks with a high alcohol content. Remember to drink in moderation.

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 doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards.