Mounjaro and Alcohol: Is this a safe combination?

February 16. 2023

Combining alcohol with medications or drugs is never a good idea. Besides counteracting the effects of the drugs, alcohol and the medication you are taking can interact with each other creating unpleasant and even dangerous side effects. The mix of Mounjaro and alcohol also fall under the category of a dangerous combination.

Mounjaro and Ozempic weight loss are type 2 diabetes medications used as weight loss supplements. Mounjaro is the brand name of the drug tirzepatide; it is manufactured by the American pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly to help manage blood sugar levels. This antidiabetic medication was approved in 2022 and is soon to be approved by the Food and Drugs Administration (ADA) as one of the most effective weight loss aiders in history. Clinical trials showed that Mounjaro, when paired with a healthy diet and regular exercise, helps overweight or obese patients to lose about 15% of body weight in only a few months.

In this article, our weight loss clinic in Chicago experts will tell you more about how this blood sugar medication works, how alcohol can affect your weight loss efforts, the effects of combining Mounjaro and alcohol, and other drug interactions.

How does Mounjaro help you lose weight?

As briefly mentioned, Mounjaro is a type 2 diabetes medication that helps patients manage blood sugar levels. People with diabetes have a hard time controlling their blood sugar levels. Their bodies do not produce or use insulin correctly, leading to high blood sugar levels and health complications.

Mounjaro helps manage blood sugar levels by telling the pancreas to release more insulin and decrease liver glucose production after a meal. These two actions restore or maintain safe glucose or blood sugar levels. But they also have an incredible side effect: weight loss. When the insulin levels increase, and the glucose levels drop down when you eat, your metabolism slows down. The gastric emptying process (food traveling through your digestive tract) undergoes a deceleration, which makes you feel full for longer. What happens when you stay satisfied for longer? You will have less hunger throughout the day and will say goodbye to cravings and sudden hunger spikes.

With a reduced appetite, you can easily follow a healthy meal plan and conquer your weight loss goals. In clinical trials conducted by Eli Lilly & Company, the average weight loss with this drug is 25 pounds after a few months of starting the treatment. The number is really significant, especially compared to other supplements. Of course, that result is possible thanks to this new drug, a proper diet, and physical exercise.

You can increase the Mounjaro weight loss effects by resorting to intermittent fasting. Depending on the genre, age, and genetics, weight loss can be a real challenge for some people. Intermittent fasting for women over 50 struggling to lose weight can be the perfect ingredient to add to the mounjaro recipe.

How does alcohol affect weight management?

You probably heard that some types of alcohol are actually good for your health. For example, a glass of red wine a day can decrease your chances of having heart disease. While that fact is correct, alcohol seems to harm your overall health more than it helps.

One of the hazards of alcohol is that it can easily mess with your weight loss journey. If you are on a weight loss supplement to boost your results, drinking can affect the effects of the supplement you are taking. Besides that, the combination can be dangerous. For example, mixing Phentermine and alcohol can lead to addiction to one or both of these substances.

Here are three ways in which alcohol affects your weight loss efforts:

1. Empty calories: most alcoholic drinks contain “empty” calories – lots of them. Foods and drinks containing too many calories, but none or too little nutritional value, are considered a source of empty calories. There are about 150 calories in a 12-ounce regular beer and 125 calories in a glass of red wine. It is vital to know these facts because if you go out and have a couple of drinks, you will be quickly adding a few hundred extra calories to your daily calorie intake before you even notice it.
2. It can affect your liver: your liver’s job is to filter any external substance that enters your body; it also plays a crucial role in your metabolism. Alcoholic fatty liver is a condition delivered from excessive alcohol consumption. If your liver can not work correctly, it will compromise how your body metabolizes fats and carbohydrates. That can make losing weight a difficult task.
3. It affects judgment calls: alcohol can influence your behavior towards food. Studies show that when you have alcoholic drinks before or during meals, food intake increases up to 30%. Alcohol also grows your craving for greasy and salty foods. As you can see, alcohol and nutrition – at least proper nutrition – are not good friends. 

Mounjaro and alcohol: Should you avoid this combination?

As a general rule, you should try to avoid drinking alcohol when trying to lose weight or manage your current weight. And yes, alcohol tops the list of Mounjaro foods to avoid – or, more precisely, drinks to avoid.

Here we ask for your full attention because alcohol can do more damage than delaying or sabotaging your weight loss efforts. Combining alcohol with other substances or drugs can lead to multiple side effects. You should ask your doctor if you can drink while on any medication. Alcohol increases the secretion levels of insulin by the pancreas; drinking can potentially lead to low blood sugar. When taking a drug such as mounjaro, developed to decrease and manage blood sugar levels, things can get bad really fast.

Low blood sugar is one of the side effects of taking Mounjaro. When combined with alcohol, this can lead to hypoglycemia – low blood sugar levels. Hypoglycemia can cause dizziness, and confusion, make you pass out, or have a seizure. While on a Mounjaro treatment, it is advised to avoid or limit alcohol consumption to dodge the dangerous side effects of the Mounjaro and alcohol combination.

What are the common Mounjaro side effects (and how to avoid them)

Like most medications, Mounjaro can cause some side effects during the treatment. Tirzepatide is taken in weekly subcutaneous injections. The treatment starts with a low dosage; the dose is increased slowly as the weeks go by. These are some of the most common side effects and how to manage them:

• Nausea and vomiting: nausea is the number one most common side effect of Mounjaro. Vomiting occurred in 18% of the patients during clinical trials. The good news is these side effects usually only happen when you start the treatment and sometimes when you increase the dosage. To avoid them, your healthcare provider has to raise the dose slowly over a period of several weeks. We also advise you to have small meals and avoid fatty foods. You can also calm nausea by drinking tea. One of the many benefits of detox tea is it supports digestive system health.
• Diarrhea: another common side effect of Mounjaro. It often stops once your body gets used to the medication. When going through this side effect is vital to stay hydrated because diarrhea can lead to dehydration.
• Stomach pain: it is normal to feel pain or mild discomfort anywhere between your chest and pelvic area while taking Mounjaro. The stomach pain should go away with time, but in the meantime, you can ask your doctor for medication to relieve an upset stomach.

These are the most common and mild side effects of tirzepatide. Severe side effects are not likely to occur but still possible. Starting and following up on Mounjaro’s weight loss treatment with the guidance of a professional healthcare team is the way to guarantee successful and safe results.

How Mounjaro interacts with other medications

Mounjaro can interact with several medications and supplements. To guarantee precise treatment results and also to avoid health complications is vital to be aware of the different drug interactions.

Tirzepatide can interact with other diabetes medications, such as insulin or sulfonylureas. Taking Mounjaro and other antidiabetic drugs together can lead to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Mounjaro can also interact with certain birth control pills. Usually, doctors recommend switching or adding another birth control method while on the treatment.

These are only two examples of Mounjaro drug interactions. Always consult your healthcare provider before taking any new medication, and let them know if you are already taking any drugs.

Final thoughts

Mounjaro is one of today’s most effective weight-loss programs. Like most drugs, tirzepatide can interact with other medications, supplements, and substances. Combining Mounjaro and alcohol is not safe for your health. And it can also damage your weight loss journey. Eating a healthy diet, exercising, and avoiding alcohol will boost Mounjaro’s weight loss effect.

Do you want to know more about the right diet to follow while on Mounjaro? Schedule a call with us to learn more about this supplement and how to enhance its benefits.

Author

Nurse Walton

Born and raised in Chicago, IL, Chanay received her Practical Nurse licensure and went to work in clinical specialties such as Home Health, Assisted Living, Long-Term Care and Dialysis Centers. Through this work, she realized the importance of diet, nutrition and weight loss among her patients. This led her to open A Better Weigh, Inc. Medical Weight Loss Center in 2009.