A man who took Ozempic to lose weight says the GLP-1 medication affected him in an unexpected way when he drank alcohol.
In 2025, reports suggested roughly 12 to 14 percent of people in the US were using GLP-1 medications to help with weight loss, and Trey Luker-Stewart counted himself among them.
Trey turned to Ozempic as part of his weight-loss plan and says he ultimately dropped 60 pounds while taking the drug.
While he was happy with the results on the scale, he noticed a downside he didn’t anticipate. He said he’d previously been what he described as “a super happy drunk,” but after starting GLP-1s he found himself becoming “a lot more emotional.”
Speaking to the New York Post about his experiences, Trey shared: “Something that was once a fun thing to do now made me anxious and upset. I start overthinking everything and my feelings get hurt easier.”
He also said the after-effects of drinking became much harder to deal with, describing hangovers as significantly worse than before.
“Before, I could wake up after drinking at 7am and go to the gym and be productive,” he said. “But once I started taking a GLP-1, I was down for the count until lunchtime.”
According to Trey, that shift could happen even when he’d only had a couple of drinks.
Trey—who works as a real estate agent and also owns a bar in Dallas, Texas—claimed he’s noticed a broader change in local drinking habits too, suggesting GLP-1 use could be one reason alcohol sales are down.
“In Dallas overall, we’ve seen a 35 percent drop in alcohol sales across the board, and I think a lot of that has to do with GLP-1s,” said Trey. “I know I’m not the only one that feels this way when they go out.”
He said he stayed on the medication for about six months. After he stopped, his appetite and cravings returned, but he didn’t feel that his earlier, more carefree relationship with alcohol came back in the same way.
Now, he reportedly takes a monthly dose to help maintain the weight he lost.
“I expected the alcohol side effects to do the same thing as the food, but it didn’t really ever go away,” he said. “Am I bummed about it? A little bit, because I used to be a fun drunk. But it’s better for my health.”
Researchers have previously looked at how GLP-1 medications may interact with alcohol. One study found that people taking the drugs felt they didn’t become intoxicated as easily, which has been linked to GLP-1s slowing how quickly alcohol reaches the bloodstream.
Because of that, some believe these medications could dampen alcohol’s effects and potentially lead people to drink less.