If you’re considering starting Saxenda, or you’re already taking it, you may be wondering whether it’s safe to drink alcohol. The short answer is yes… but in moderation. Let’s explore this further. 

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What is Saxenda? 

Saxenda is a prescription weight loss injection. It contains the active ingredient liraglutide, which replicates the naturally occurring GLP-1 hormone to regulate appetite and help you lose weight. 

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This medication works by reducing your appetite and slowing down the rate at which your stomach empties, ultimately leaving you feeling fuller for longer. This ultimately makes it much easier to maintain a calorie deficit, which is necessary for weight loss. 

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You take Saxenda once a day, injecting yourself in your abdomen, thigh or upper arm with a pre-filled injection pen.

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Does Alcohol Have a Negative Interaction with Alcohol?

There are no known interactions between Saxenda and alcohol. However, while alcohol does not work against Saxenda, it can affect your choices. 

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Alcohol can make you intoxicated, and whilst under the influence of alcohol, you may make poor decisions with food. For example, you may be more likely to opt for a takeaway kebab meal (which can contain over 2,000 calories!), instead of making yourself a healthy meal. 

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Anecdotally, some people also report feeling more intoxicated with less quantities of alcohol and also feeling more hungover than usual!

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If you maintain a calorie deficit and drink alcohol in moderation, Saxenda can still be highly effective.  

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Combined Side Effects

When you drink alcohol whilst on Saxenda, you may experience side effects. Saxenda can cause side effects such as: 

• Nausea
• Headaches
• Dizziness

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So can alcohol. Drinking alcohol whilst on this treatment may worsen these side effects. Likewise, the gastrointestinal discomfort that some people experience on weight loss drugs can be intensified by alcohol consumption. 

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Saxenda and Alcohol: Blood Sugar

Saxenda and alcohol can both affect your blood sugar levels. Saxenda is designed to regulate your blood glucose levels, but alcohol can disrupt this. Alcohol can lower your blood sugar levels, increasing the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). This can be dangerous if you're being treated for diabetes. 

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If you drink alcohol whilst taking Saxenda and you have diabetes, make sure that you regularly monitor your blood sugar levels – and of course, drink in moderation. 

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Saxenda and Alcohol: Liver Function

In the UK, alcohol consumption is the leading cause of liver disease, with 6 in 10 cases being alcohol-related. If you have a liver impairment, Saxenda may not be the best choice for you.

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We do not recommend Saxenda to patients with severe liver problems. A study with subjects with mild, moderate and severe hepatic impairment found that compared to healthy patients, there was a decrease in absorption of Saxenda: 

• 11% lower in subjects with mild hepatic impairment
• 14% lower in subjects with moderate hepatic impairment
• 42% lower in subjects with severe hepatic impairment

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This suggests that your body will not absorb Saxenda as effectively if you have liver impairment.

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Will Alcohol Stop Saxenda From Working? 

In short, no – alcohol consumption does not prevent Saxenda from working. However, alcohol does reduce some of Saxenda’s weight loss benefits. 

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In a study, patients who drank alcohol whilst taking Saxenda experienced reduced weight loss compared to non-drinkers. Here are the key findings: 

• Patients who drank alcohol experienced 5.9% weight loss
• Patients who did not drink alcohol experienced 7.1% weight loss

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This is because alcohol contains ‘empty’ calories which can slow down your metabolism and add to your daily calorie intake, which in turn, can hinder your weight loss efforts.

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Alcohol and Calories

A calorie deficit leads to weight loss - but frequent and excessive alcohol consumption can make it tough to stay in a deficit. Let’s explore how many calories (on average) that certain alcoholic drinks contain: 

• Vodka and Coke - 236 calories
• Bottle or can of beer - 153 calories 
• Standard glass of wine - 125 - 128  calories
• Pina colada - 380 calories 
• Mimosa - 75 calories 
• Shot of Vodka, Gin, Rum, Whiskey - around 98 calories 

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Alcoholic drinks contain ‘empty calories’ – calories that contain a lot of calories but very little nutrients. If you have 4 bottles of beer, you could be consuming over 500 calories. Alongside your breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, this can mean you are consuming more calories than you are burning - which means you could gain weight instead of lose it.

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So, although alcohol does not necessarily stop Saxenda from working, it can make it more difficult to lose weight due to an increased calorie intake. 

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Is Saxenda an Effective Medication for Weight Loss?

Yes, Saxenda is an effective weight loss medication for those with a BMI of 30 or higher (or 27 or higher with weight-related medical issues).

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In Saxenda clinical trials:

• 3 in 5 patients taking lost over 5% of their body weight
• 1 in 3 people lost more than 10% of their body weight
• Overall, 86% of patients lost weight whilst taking Saxenda

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However, there are more effective options out there. If you are looking for an effective medication to aid weight loss, we recommend Mounjaro - this is one of the most effective (if not the most effective) weight loss drugs available in the UK at this time. 

Researchers suggest that patients can lose up to 26.6% of their body weight on Mounjaro. If you’re looking to get started on Mounjaro, complete a consultation today with Dr Frank’s weight loss clinic.

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