Mounjaro and Alcohol: Do They Interact?

If you have recently been prescribed Mounjaro for weight loss or type 2 diabetes treatment, you may be wondering if you can still drink alcohol with this medication. Is it safe to consume alcohol when taking Mounjaro?

Mounjaro and alcohol are not yet known to interact with each other. However, you may need to be cautious about mixing them. Alcohol may make it harder to lose weight, or it can lower blood sugar levels, increasing the risk of hypoglycemia in those with type 2 diabetes.

This article discusses the interaction between Mounjaro and alcohol in the UK and whether drinking your favourite alcoholic beverage will set you back in your weight loss journey.

Understanding Mounjaro: uses and how it works

Mounjaro is a prescription medication prescribed for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity in adults. This medication contains the active ingredient tirzepatide, a glucagon-like polypeptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist and a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonist.

Mounjaro works by attaching to the naturally occurring hormones in the gastrointestinal tract, GIP and GLP-1, and mimicking their actions. When food is eaten, the body then increases the amount of insulin the pancreas makes, helping control blood sugar levels, reducing appetite and reducing cravings.

This prescription medication also helps:

• Delay gastric emptying
• Stop the liver from making or releasing too much sugar
• Remove excess glucose from the blood

Mounjaro is prescribed in tandem with a healthy diet and regular exercise.

Mounjaro and alcohol use: Can you drink alcohol with Mounjaro?

Mounjaro isn’t known to interact with alcohol, as it is yet to be studied. However, your healthcare provider or pharmacist may advise you to limit the amount of alcohol you drink while using Mounjaro. This is because alcoholic drinks typically affect blood sugar levels as they contain empty calories, so Mounjaro and alcohol use isn’t recommended.

It is advised that men and women should not drink more than 14 units of alcohol per week regularly. 14 units equate to 10 small glasses of low-strength wine or 6 pints of average-strength beer.

Alcohol can affect blood sugar levels. The liver regulates blood sugar levels by releasing glucose when needed. When you consume alcohol, the liver stops releasing glucose to process the alcohol. This causes blood sugar levels to drop, especially if you take Mounjaro, a GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist.

If the alcohol contains lots of carbohydrates or sugars, such as beer and cocktails, it can increase blood sugar levels. Over time, this can lead to hyperglycemia and the excess calories stored as fat in the liver. Excess fat in the liver causes the liver cells to become more resistant to insulin.

Mixing Mounjaro and alcohol: side effects and risks

Some people may experience common side effects when first starting Mounjaro treatments. These side effects fade with time as your body gets used to the medication and dose.

Common side effects of Mounjaro include:

• Nausea
• Diarrhoea
• Stomach pain
• Decreased appetite
• Constipation
• Vomiting
• Indigestion
• Upset stomach

While Mounjaro and alcohol are not known to interact dangerously, alcohol can worsen some of Mounjaro’s side effects. For example, excessive alcohol consumption can lead to indigestion and nausea from a hangover. If you are already experiencing nausea from Mounjaro, a hangover from alcohol consumption can exacerbate your symptoms.

Alcohol, like Mounjaro, can slow down how fast your stomach empties – when mixed, you may experience worse digestive issues.

For people with type 2 diabetes, very low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia) from Mounjaro and alcohol consumption can be life-threatening.

Signs of low blood sugar include:

• Sweating
• Blurred vision
• Rapid heartbeat
• Slurred speech
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Confusion
• Shakiness
• Weakness

Depending on how much alcohol you have consumed, the risk of hypoglycemia may vary. Consuming multiple alcoholic drinks without eating food may seriously increase the risk of developing hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia does not occur immediately; instead, it takes a few hours for symptoms to present.

Excessive drinking may also lead to binge eating, weight gain and obesity, which makes it harder to lose weight when taking Mounjaro.

Mounjaro and heavy alcohol use

Regularly drinking more than 14 units of alcohol per week increases the risk of short-term and long-term health conditions.

Excessive drinking can cause kidney damage and pancreatitis (pancreas swelling). These two complications are also reported as rare side effects of Mounjaro.

Hence, Mounjaro and heavy alcohol consumption may increase your risk of kidney damage or pancreatitis. Those with a medical history of kidney damage or pancreatitis also have an increased risk of developing them.

Digestive side effects, such as nausea and indigestion, may lead to dehydration, which can increase your risk of kidney damage.

Can alcohol impact Mounjaro’s effectiveness?

Mounjaro is prescribed to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes. If you have type 2 diabetes, drinking alcohol can increase or drop your blood sugar levels, making it more difficult for Mounjaro to control blood sugar levels.

Regularly drinking alcohol can lead to weight gain, as alcohol can slow down your metabolism, adding additional calories to your diet. Thus, alcohol can make it harder for you to lose weight.

Guidelines for alcohol consumption while on Mounjaro

There is no one-size-fits-all guideline for alcohol consumption. Everyone’s risks with mixing alcohol and Mounjaro differ. Lilly, the manufacturer of Mounjaro’s, has yet to study whether any specific amount of alcohol is safe to drink with this medication.

It is best to check with your healthcare provider, endocrinologist (diabetes specialist) or pharmacist first. They can best advise if it is safe for you to have an occasional drink while taking Mounjaro.

It is in your best interest to be upfront with your alcohol consumption. This information can help your healthcare provider determine your alcohol consumption guidelines without increasing your risk for hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, or other weight-related health conditions.

Avoiding alcohol on Mounjaro

If you would like to reduce or completely stop drinking alcohol, the NHS has some great tips on cutting down. Some simple ways you can cut on alcohol consumption include:

• Make a plan. If you are going out, set a limit on how much you will drink or opt for nonalcoholic drinks such as mocktails.
• Set a budget. Only take a fixed amount of money to spend on drinks.
• Take it day by day. If you drink daily, try reducing the amount you drink each day little by little.
• Reduce the size of your drink. Try a smaller drink, like a bottled beer, instead of a pint.
• Let your friends and family know. You could get support from your family and friends.
• Have a lower-strength drink. Try swapping strong ABV in % drinks for lower-strength options. This information is on the bottle.
• Take a break. Try to have several alcohol-free days, or participate in dry January or sober October.

If you realise you have a problem with alcohol, you have already completed the first step in getting help. You may need help with alcohol if you:

• Get into trouble when you drink alcohol
• Often feel you need to have a drink
• Have other people telling you that you may be drinking too much
• Think your drinking is causing you additional problems

Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about how much you drink and if there are any problems it may be causing you.

Useful contacts:

• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
• Drinkline a free national helpline - Call 0300 123 1110
• Al-Anon Family Groups
• Adfam
• SMART Recovery

Next steps: prioritise your health with Cloud Pharmacy

If you have recently been prescribed Mounjaro for weight loss, talk to your pharmacist about whether you can drink alcohol or how much alcohol you can drink during your treatment. They will take into account your personal weight loss goals, as well as your medical history.

If you would like to know more about Mounjaro and how Mounjaro works, Cloud Pharmacy can help you determine if this medication is the most appropriate treatment. Once prescribed, your medication is safely and discreetly delivered to your UK address.

Consult with a Cloud Pharmacy Pharmacist today to find out what weight loss medication is suited to you.

FAQs

What can you not take with Mounjaro?

Before using Mounjaro, let your pharmacist or healthcare provider know if:

• You take diabetes medications such as sulphonylurea or insulin
• You have ever had pancreatitis or a family history of pancreatitis
• You have problems with food digestion
• You have any eye problems, such as macular oedema or diabetic retinopathy
• You are taking oral contraceptives

Sources & method

• https://www.cloudpharmacy.co.uk/online-doctor/weight-loss-treatments/mounjaro-weight-loss-injection/
• https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mhra-authorises-diabetes-drug-mounjaro-tirzepatide-for-weight-management-and-weight-loss
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10159347/
• https://medical.lilly.com/us/products/answers/can-you-take-mounjaro-tirzepatide-and-drink-alcohol-165630
• https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-empty-calories
• https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/calculating-alcohol-units/#:~:text=The%20idea%20of%20counting%20alcohol,can%20process%20in%20an%20hour.
• https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.15481.pdf
• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/low-blood-sugar-hypoglycaemia/
• https://medical.lilly.com/us/products/answers/can-you-take-mounjaro-tirzepatide-and-drink-alcohol-165630
• https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/tips-on-cutting-down-alcohol/
• https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/
• https://www.al-anonuk.org.uk/
• https://www.adfam.org.uk/
• https://www.smartrecovery.org.uk/
• https://www.cloudpharmacy.co.uk/online-doctor/weight-loss-treatments/
• https://www.cloudpharmacy.co.uk/
• https://www.cloudpharmacy.co.uk/guides/why-you-should-go-sober-for-october/