— Dawn M. Sweet, Ph.D.

While coffee and alcohol are not prohibited while taking a GLP-1 medication, it is important to consider how each or both in combination might affect you.

Designed with active ingredients that mimic the naturally occurring glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) hormone, weight loss medications like Ozempic and Zepbound have fast become part of the fabric of many people’s lives, not unlike that first cup of morning coffee or the occasional alcoholic drink with dinner. As with any medication, it’s important to take precautions with Ozempic and coffee, Zepbound and coffee, and other GLP-1 medications and coffee.

In addition to questions like, “can I drink coffee on Zepbound?” or “is there a relationship between Ozempic and caffeine sensitivity?” it is also important to consider how alcohol consumption may fit with your GLP-1 medication. 

Let’s start by considering coffee and Ozempic and Zepbound and caffeine while keeping in mind that this applies more broadly to coffee and GLP-1 medications.

Coffee and GLP-1 Medications

While there are no known interactions between coffee and GLP-1 medications, it is important to exercise moderation when pairing Ozempic and coffee or Zepbound and coffee and other GLP-1 medications and coffee. 

GLP-1 medications have gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and bloating. If coffee is consumed on an empty stomach while taking a GLP-1 medication, these GI side effects could be amplified. 

Coffee is acidic, it contains citric and malic acid in its beans; this gives coffee its bright or crisp taste. The acidity of coffee could lead to heartburn, stomach inflammation, or acid reflux, which could exacerbate GLP-1 side effects.

Coffee can also disrupt your gut’s microbiome, an ecosystem, or a community of organisms, that is unique to you. Your gut’s microbiome facilitates digestion, the absorption of nutrients, and helps your immune system. A disruption in your gut microbiome could lead to GI issues like diarrhea, constipation, or bloating — each of which is also a side effect of GLP-1 medications. The acidity could exacerbate a GLP-1 medication’s side effects.

Coffee also acts as an appetite suppressant. If you are an adult of a particular age, you may recall people drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes as a strategy to reduce food consumption. GLP-1 medications also have an appetite suppressing effect (anorexigenic effect), so pairing Ozempic and coffee or Zepbound and coffee and other GLP-1 medications and coffee could amplify this effect, thereby presenting a challenge to consuming a nutrient-dense diet. 

Coffee could also affect your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels if you add sugar, milk or cream or splurge on a flavored latte — the syrup in flavored lattes is a source of sugar. Because GLP-1 medications help patients with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar, consuming coffee and Ozempic or Zepbound and coffee and other GLP-1 medications and coffee could lead to spikes in blood sugar levels.

Coffee also has caffeine, which could act as a laxative for some people. Because diarrhea is a side effect of GLP-1 medications, consuming coffee and Ozempic or Zepbound and coffee and other GLP-1 medications and coffee could amplify the diarrheal side effect.

 So, if you are wondering if can you drink caffeine on Ozempic — or if caffeine and Ozempic are safe — the answer is yes, as long as you don’t have a condition that does not requires you to exclude caffeine from your diet and as long as you consume caffeinated coffee in moderation, if you are allowed to consume caffeine. 

 

Strategies for Pairing GLP-1 Medications and Coffee

·         Drink coffee in moderation, no more than two cups per day

·         Drink black coffee; wean yourself off sugar, milk, or cream

·         Transition to de-caffeinated coffee — or try drinking a cup with half caffeinated and half decaffeinated coffee

·         Don’t drink coffee on an empty stomach

Alcohol and GLP-1 Medications

It is generally recommended to avoid alcohol while on a GLP-1 medication. Alcohol could lead to spikes and dips in blood sugar levels, increasing the chances of experiencing hyper- or hypoglycemia, which is especially problematic for patients with type 2 diabetes. 

 Alcohol could also be an irritant for your digestive system. Like caffeine, it could amplify the GI side effects of GLP-1 medications.

 Alcohol can could also lead to dehydration. Like caffeine, it is as diuretic, which means it facilitates the reduction of fluid and salt in the body. A common side effect of GLP-1 medications is vomiting and diarrhea, which puts patients at risk for dehydration. Consuming alcohol while taking a GLP-1 could exacerbate the fluid loss due to these GI side effects. This further puts patients at risk for loss of appetite and insufficient nutritional intake. Alcohol is a source of empty calories, offering no nutritional benefits. When taking a GLP-1 medication, it is critical to make every calorie count.

Medications are metabolized by your liver or kidneys — think acetaminophen and ibuprofen, which are metabolized by your liver and kidneys, respectively. When a medication is metabolized, your body is chemically altering the medication so that it can be eliminated from your body more easily. Your liver and kidneys are implicated in metabolizing GLP-1 medications, so by introducing alcohol into your system, you are adding another substance that your organs need to metabolize. Your liver processes alcohol, and alcohol could interfere with how your body is metabolizing your GLP-1 medication, thereby elevating the risk of complications or exacerbated side effects. 

 If you decide to consume alcohol while taking a GLP-1 medication, be sure to keep in the mind the following strategies:

 Drink in moderation. Do not exceed the recommended daily intake of alcohol. The recommendation is for women to consume no more than one standard drink per day and for men to consume no more than two standard drinks per day. According to the CDC, a standard drink is:

·         12 ounces of beer with five percent alcohol

·         Eight ounces of malt liquor with seven percent alcohol

·         Five ounces of wine with 12 percent alcohol

·         A shot or 1.5 ounces of liquor or distilled spirits (80 proof)

o   80 proof = 40 percent alcohol

 Stay hydrated. Be sure to consume water in conjunction with alcohol to reduce your risk of becoming dehydrated.

While coffee and alcohol are not prohibited while taking a GLP-1 medication, it is important to consider how each or both in combination might affect you. Coffee and alcohol can amplify the GLP-1’s GI side effects and thus compromise your nutrition intake.

Meeting the RDA of Macronutrients and Micronutrients

Including macronutrients and micronutrients (e.g., lean protein, fiber, complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, and fruits and vegetables, vitamins, and minerals) are the foundation of a healthy lifestyle. To supplement this approach, consider Biocare. Biocare is a nutrient-dense dietary beverage that is designed to counteract nutritional deficiencies associated with weight loss medications. It contains probiotics and prebiotic fiber to promote gut health and contains specialized ingredients to help manage GLP-1 side effects. Biocare also contains high-quality whey protein to help maintain lean muscle mass, and two servings provide 100 percent of the recommended daily intake of 26 vitamins and minerals.

 Biocare is unique because it includes absorbable nutritional ingredients whose effectiveness is supported by evidence-based, empirical research. Biocare’s nutritional parameters could help you reach your daily recommended allowance (RDA) for macronutrients and micronutrients.

 Be sure to consult your healthcare provider if you have questions or concerns about consuming Ozempic and coffee or Zepbound and coffee and other GLP-1 medications and coffee or alcohol and GLP-1 medications.

 Prior to starting any weight loss program, whether it includes anti-obesity medication or not, be sure to consult with your healthcare provider to make sure your desired weight loss strategy is right for you. 

 

About the Author: Dr. Dawn M. Sweet has over 20 years of experience in the field of communication. Dr. Sweet has given several invited talks to and workshops for academic and private sector audiences on the role of nonverbal and verbal communication in achieving positive outcomes and mitigating bias. Her research has been published in several top ranked peer-review journals, and it has been featured on NPR’s River to River / All Things Considered, Buzzfeed, and Science Daily. Her research has also been used to inform expert testimony.