Semaglutides and Alcohol: Serious Concerns

Semaglutides are antidiabetic medications used to treat type 2 diabetes and long-term weight management. Many are familiar with the brands: Mounjaro, Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy. Very little scientific research has been published on the effects of these semaglutides. A current scan of the pubmed library (scientific peer review articles)  reveal nine articles with concerns ranging from optimizing fertility, addressing psychiatric illnesses and proving a reduction in alcohol consumption.  The big issue remains-  what are the effects of combining alcohol and a semaglutide?  Ozempic warns of low blood sugar (which produces dizziness and blackouts) when combined with alcohol in addition to worsened cases of diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and upset stomach. Unlike with many other drugs including ambien, there is currently no FDA warning regarding the combination of alcohol and semaglutides. This brings up legal questions of involuntary intoxication. As of April 2025, approximately 1 out of 8 Americans are taking a semaglutide (also known as GLP-1 drug). This is a very serious issue of concern for the DWI practitioner. 




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