A doctor has issued a new warning to anyone using weight-loss jabs that they may need to quit vaping. Dr Crystal Wyllie at Asda Online Doctor said vaping can impact weight-loss treatments and make side effects worse.
Vaping and weight-loss jabs can combine side effects
Dr Wyllie says vaping while using the jabs is 'generally not advised'. She said: “While there is no direct chemical conflict between nicotine vapes and GLP-1 weight-loss treatments like Wegovy and Mounjaro, combining the two can worsen gastrointestinal side effects like nausea and acid reflux. This is because both nicotine and weight-loss injections can irritate the stomach, so vaping or smoking can amplify any nausea, indigestion, and acid reflux that occurs as a result of the medications.”
“Smoking or vaping nicotine products, combined with GLP-1 injection side effects like vomiting or reduced fluid intake, can also increase the risk of dehydration, so it is generally not advised. Anyone considering weight-loss injections should speak with their healthcare provider who will review any smoking habits before beginning treatment.”
Possible link to reduced nicotine cravings
Dr Wyllie said you may find it easier to quit vaping or smoking while you are using the jabs. She said: “Weight-loss injections help to curb food cravings by mimicking the GLP-1 gut hormone, which helps to reduce hunger and slow digestion, making you feel fuller for longer. It has also been reported that GLP-1s could have wider-reaching benefits when it comes to impulse control; many people have said they no longer crave alcohol, gamble, or feel compelled to make impulse purchases. While this could suggest a link between the medications and reduced nicotine cravings, further investigations would be needed to offer more conclusive results.”
A landmark GLP-1 report, ‘Signal in the Food Noise’, found that 24.4% of users who smoked before beginning weight-loss treatment reported a reduced desire for tobacco or nicotine.
Not approved to help quit smoking
Dr Wyllie said: “However, it’s important to note that while early findings might suggest that these medicines may influence craving pathways, they are not approved to be used to help quit smoking or vaping.”
