Those who take oral glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications, such as Wegovy tablets, are advised not to take the medication with morning coffee or tea.
According to FDA prescribing information, Wegovy tablets should be taken on an empty stomach with up to 4 ounces of water — and no other liquids. Patients should wait at least 30 minutes before consuming food, other beverages or oral medications.
As the first FDA-approved oral medication for chronic weight management, the pill has different guidelines than the original injectable options, particularly because absorption through the digestive system can be affected by food and drink.
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Dr. Michael Hall, a board-certified physician, longevity specialist and author of "Infinite Youth," confirmed that oral Wegovy should be taken on an empty stomach, only with water.
"Coffee, tea, juice or other drinks should not be taken with the pill because they can interfere with how the medicine is absorbed," the Miami Beach, Florida-based doctor told Fox News Digital.
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For oral GLP-1 users, Hall recommends the following morning routine.
"Food and beverages other than water, and other oral medicines, can affect absorption if taken too soon," Hall said. "The safest rule is 30 minutes of nothing by mouth except water after the tablet."
The expert added that GLP-1 medications can also slow stomach emptying, which can impact how other oral medications are absorbed.
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Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel agreed that a GLP-1 pill should not be taken with caffeine, but only on an empty stomach with water.
While drinking tea throughout the day generally does not interfere with oral GLP-1s or block their absorption, patients should consult their physicians, Siegel told Fox News Digital.
The doctor added that certain teas, like green, black and white teas, can help support digestion, while ginger and peppermint tea can help alleviate nausea.
Clinical pharmacist and board-certified nutritionist Jim LaValle noted that waiting 30 minutes before consuming food and other drinks is about "protecting the tablet's first absorption window."
"Its oral bioavailability is relatively low, approximately 1% to 2%, so it's important to take it exactly as directed in order for it to absorb," he told Fox News Digital. "There is no evidence that caffeine consumed later in the morning in any way neutralizes semaglutide or eliminates its benefits."
The expert urged users to stay consistent with their dosing routines and to pay attention to tolerability when mixing caffeine with an oral GLP-1.
"In some individuals, coffee may aggravate nausea, reflux, jitteriness or increased heart rate, symptoms that can already occur due to taking Wegovy," LaValle said. "In this case, it is an individual tolerance issue rather than a proven caffeine-semaglutide interaction."
In a statement sent to Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for Wegovy maker Novo Nordisk pointed out that while the above instructions are explicit, Wegovy pill users can "sip and go."
"Thirty minutes goes fast, and we believe the Wegovy pill fits seamlessly into the morning routine," they said. "This is consistent with what we have seen in our clinical trials and in real-world settings."
