Can I Drink Alcohol While Taking Semaglutide or Tirzepatide?

You can have an occasional drink while taking semaglutide or tirzepatide, but you will probably want less. Alcohol can make nausea and vomiting worse and raise the chance of low blood sugar, swelling of the pancreas and kidney strain, so keep it light and tell your care team how much you drink.

What happens if you drink on these meds?

Pharmacists note that alcohol can worsen nausea and vomiting from tirzepatide and work against weight and blood sugar goals (GoodRx pharmacist review).

The same guidance flags added risks for low blood sugar, swelling of the pancreas (pancreatitis) and kidney harm if vomiting or diarrhea leaves you dehydrated (GoodRx pharmacist review). The official prescribing information for tirzepatide lists no specific ban on alcohol (Zepbound prescribing information, Mounjaro prescribing information).

Will you still want to drink as much?

Many people lose interest in drinking without trying to quit. In a randomized trial in adults with alcohol use disorder, semaglutide lowered how much alcohol people drank when it was available, lowered drinks per drinking day and lowered weekly craving, but it did not change the number of days people chose to drink (JAMA Psychiatry trial).

Researchers also reviewed thousands of Reddit posts about these treatments and surveyed current drinkers with obesity. Semaglutide or tirzepatide users reported lower intake, fewer drinks per episode, lower odds of binge drinking and lower craving than before treatment and compared with controls (obesity drinker study). These results describe what happened in those groups. They do not show these drugs treat addiction.

What women report

On Reddit in April 2024, one user wrote, “I just think about drinking and shiver and feel the nausea wash over me. This is actually AWESOME.” (Reddit compilation)

On Reddit in January 2024, another wrote, “I don't know if this is a side effect but ... Mounjaro makes me drink less!!!!!” (HealthDay report)

Another Reddit thread title from January 2024 asked, “Did scientists accidentally invent an anti-addiction drug?” (HealthDay report)

The pattern was steady. Most said they drank dramatically less after starting or after a dose increase, often because wine, beer or liquor sounded unappealing or brought nausea. A few said little changed for them.