Alcohol doesn’t directly affect how Mounjaro works. But drinking alcohol during your Mounjaro treatment can worsen some of the drug’s side effects and make it more difficult to manage your blood sugar.
Doctors prescribe Mounjaro to help manage blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. You can combine it with exercise and diet changes to improve your health.
Keep reading to learn how alcohol can worsen some of Mounjaro’s side effects.
You can drink alcohol or beer during Mounjaro treatment, but doctors advise being cautious.
Mounjaro’s manufacturer doesn’t note that Mounjaro and alcohol or beer can affect each other. But the manufacturer notes that the drug causes some gastrointestinal (GI) side effects.
Alcohol can cause some of these same side effects (see list in the next section). So drinking alcohol during your Mounjaro treatment increases the risk of these side effects occurring or worsening. You and your doctor can discuss this risk in more detail.
If you consume alcohol during Mounjaro treatment, it may be a good idea to avoid drinks with added sugar to help prevent a rise in your blood sugar levels. Examples of drinks with added sugar include certain cocktails like margaritas or piña coladas.
Learn more about which foods and drinks to avoid with Mounjaro. You can also find out which types of alcohol may be better choices for people with diabetes.
Mounjaro can cause GI side effects. So can alcohol, plus it can worsen Mounjaro’s GI side effects. These include:
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- dehydration, if the above side effects become severe
Drink plenty of fluids such as water to help avoid (or lessen) these side effects.
If dehydration becomes severe, it can lead to kidney complications. Some symptoms of dehydration are:
- headache
- thirst
- less urination than usual
- urine that smells strong and is dark yellow
- dry mouth, lips, and eyes
- tiredness
- dizziness
If you have GI side effects or dehydration symptoms, contact your doctor right away. Be sure to let them know whether the side effects or symptoms become severe or persist.
Some people may use Mounjaro along with other medications, such as insulin, to manage diabetes. This combination may cause low blood sugar, which can lead to blurry vision. This is a sign that blood sugar is low and needs treatment.
Drinking alcohol may also cause blurry vision, which may mask blurry vision caused by low blood sugar. Because of this, it may be beneficial to avoid alcohol use during your Mounjaro treatment. To learn more, talk with your doctor.
Mounjaro’s manufacturer doesn’t state that the drug causes cravings for alcohol.
In fact, a
This study also noted a 40% lower rate of opioid overdose among people with opioid use disorder who used GLP-1 drugs.
Experts said these study results are promising, but more research is necessary into the connection between GLP-1s and decreased cravings for alcohol and opioids.
If you have diabetes, drinking alcohol can affect your blood sugar. Remember, Mounjaro is approved to help manage blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. So drinking alcohol can make Mounjaro less effective. This can make it difficult to manage your blood sugar.
Drinking alcohol during your Mounjaro treatment can worsen some of the drug’s side effects. With diabetes, too, it’s important to be mindful if you drink alcohol during your Mounjaro treatment. This is because Mounjaro helps manage blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. So drinking alcohol can make it more difficult for Mounjaro to manage blood sugar.
If you’re prescribed Mounjaro, ask your doctor whether it’s safe for you to drink alcohol during your treatment. Your doctor can advise how much, if any, alcohol is safe to drink during Mounjaro treatment.
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.