When used to supplement a healthy lifestyle, Wegovy weight loss injections can drive serious results. For instance, participants lost 20.7% of their starting weight on average after taking a 7.2mg dose of Wegovy.
Wegovy works by acting like the natural gut hormone GLP-1. It keeps you feeling fuller for longer and helps to suppress your cravings. And if youâre interested in trying it, you might be wondering whether that means youâll have to give up alcohol.
So, can you drink on Wegovy? Hereâs what you need to know.
Can you drink alcohol on Wegovy?
The short answer is yes, you can. Though there is a âbutâ here: alcohol doesnât interact directly with Wegovy, but it can bring on unwanted effects and work against your health goals. So for best results, weâd suggest avoiding alcohol while using Wegovy.
For one, alcoholic drinks are often high in calories. And if you have one too many, you might find yourself craving greasy, high-calorie foods that donât have any real nutritional benefits. Since you need to eat fewer calories than you burn to lose weight, this can hamper your progress.
Plus, both alcohol and Wegovyâs effects on the body can overlap and make you feel worse. For instance, one of the ways Wegovy makes you feel full is by slowing down your digestion. But alcohol can also have this effect. So, taking them together might make gut symptoms like nausea, vomiting and reflux feel more intense.
Alcohol can also bring on its own side effects that are similar to Wegovyâs , including a change in your bowel movements, tiredness, and headache.
Does Wegovy help with alcohol cravings?
It might. Some studies suggest that Wegovy could make you want to drink less.
By the way: the active ingredient in Wegovy is semaglutide. Wegovy is a brand name, so you might sometimes see the terms used interchangeably.
In one clinical trial, semaglutide significantly dampened alcohol cravings in people with alcohol use disorder after they took the medicine for 9 weeks. Another study in rats found that semaglutide diminished the dopamine hit that alcohol usually gives and led the animals to drink less overall.
This is a new (and exciting!) area of research but we donât yet know the exact link between alcohol cravings and semaglutide. Researchers are currently looking into whether the medicine could be used to treat alcohol use disorder and addictive behaviours.
Side effects of Wegovy and alcohol
Earlier, we mentioned that thereâs no direct interaction between alcohol and Wegovy. Yet because they can both affect your body in similar waysâfor instance, by acting on the gutâthese effects might combine and make your symptoms worse.
Plus, alcohol and semaglutide also each have their own set of side effects that can overlap and, therefore, feel more severe.
Possible side effects include:
- Nausea
- Headache
- Stomach pain and discomfort
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Upset stomach and indigestion
- Vomiting
- Dehydration. Alcohol can dehydrate you, as can being sick. If you are drinking while using Wegovy, be sure to top up your fluids with plenty of water.
- Low blood pressure. By helping you lose weight, Wegovy can lower your blood pressure. Alcohol can also have that effect for up to 12 hours after drinking, so please do be careful
If you do choose to have a drink while on Wegovy, weâd suggest proceeding with caution. Try to limit your intake, starting with a small amount to see how you feel.
If youâre used to drinking large amounts of alcohol and are thinking of stopping, please reach out to your healthcare professional first.
Side effects support at Voy
"If you're using Voy and you experience any side effects, rest assured that our expert clinicians are just a message or phone call away. They can adjust your dose, prescribe medication to ease your symptoms, or simply offer reassurance.
Everyone responds differently to weight loss treatment and we'll help you find what feels right for you."
Key considerations for drinking alcohol on Wegovy
For those who do raise a glass from time to time, here are some tips on how to enjoy alcohol responsibly while using Wegovy.
And if you find that drinking just doesnât feel great while youâre on the medicine, remember that itâs totally okay to stop.
Drinking slowly and in moderation
It sounds obvious, but drinking slowly prevents your blood alcohol levels from creeping up, which might lessen the effects of alcohol. This can also help you keep tabs on how youâre feeling, so you can stop if you need to.
If you are going to drink, itâs best to do it in moderation (again, we suggest avoiding it altogether). More drinks means more calories and a greater risk of side effects.
Stay hydrated and eat beforehand
Alcohol can make you need to pee more, and if you donât top up the fluids lost you might get dehydrated. So itâs super important to drink plenty of water alongside your alcoholic drinks.
Having a meal before or while you drink can also help slow the absorption of alcohol, which might mean that your blood alcohol levels are lower at any one time. But this wonât reduce the overall amount of alcohol that eventually reaches your bloodstream. The idea that food somehow âcancels outâ the amount of alcohol in your system is a myth.
Talk to a healthcare professional
If youâre worried about using Wegovy and drinking alcohol, reach out to your provider (including us!) for adviceâthatâs what theyâre there for. Theyâll be able to give you guidance and answer any of your questions.
And if you want to stop drinking, theyâll help you take steps towards that, too. We know that isnât always an easy decision to make, but investing in your health will pay off. Youâve got this!
Your Wegovy journey
We get that making changes to your lifestyle may feel daunting, particularly if it means giving up something that you enjoy. Reaching for your health goals isnât easy, but trust us, itâs completely worth it.
And weâre here to help you get there. Through our weight loss programme, our team of clinicians and coaches will work with you to create a personalised routine and help you stick with it. Weâll be there to support you at every step. Plus, weâll post weight loss medication to you each month.
Fill out this short form to see if youâre eligible. It wonât take more than a few minutes.
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