Alcohol doesn’t directly affect how Mounjaro works. But drinking alcohol during treatment with Mounjaro can worsen some of Mounjaro’s side effects. And it can make it difficult for Mounjaro to manage your blood sugar.
Mounjaro is used to help manage blood sugar levels in adults who have type 2 diabetes. It’s used along with exercise and some changes in diet.
Keep reading to learn how alcohol can worsen some side effects of Mounjaro.
You might be able to drink alcohol or beer during Mounjaro treatment, but doctors advise you to be cautious.
The manufacturer of Mounjaro doesn’t note that Mounjaro and alcohol or beer can affect each other. But the manufacturer does note that the drug causes some gastrointestinal (GI) side effects.
Further, consuming alcohol can cause these same side effects (see a list in the next section). So drinking alcohol during treatment with Mounjaro increases the risk of these side effects occurring or worsening.
You and your doctor can discuss this risk in more detail.
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
To help avoid (or lessen) these side effects, you should drink plenty of fluids, such as water.
Still, if dehydration becomes severe, it can lead to kidney complications. Some symptoms of dehydration are:
- headache
- thirst
- urinating less often 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 if the side effects or symptoms become severe or persist.
The manufacturer of Mounjaro does not note that tirzepatide (Mounjaro) causes cravings for alcohol. (Tirzepatide is the active ingredient in Mounjaro.)
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 not work in an optimum way. This can make it difficult to manage your blood sugar.
Drinking alcohol during treatment with Mounjaro can worsen some of Mounjaro’s side effects. With diabetes, too, it’s important to be mindful if you drink alcohol during treatment with Mounjaro. 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 your blood sugar.
If you’re using Mounjaro, you should 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 treatment with Mounjaro.
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.