GLP-1 medications have become increasingly popular for treating Type 2 diabetes and assisting with weight loss. Drugs such as semaglutide and tirzepatide are now used by millions of Americans. They are fully legal to use, provided that the user has a prescription. Yet, they are not necessarily wholly safe.
As their use becomes more widespread, some people facing DUI or DWI allegations have begun asking whether these medications could have affected their breath test results or otherwise influenced alcohol or drug-related testing following an arrest for impaired driving. The answer to these questions can be consequential in some cases.
What drivers taking GLP-1 medications need to know
GLP-1 medications work in several ways, including slowing stomach emptying. This effect helps people feel full longer and can improve blood sugar control. However, delayed gastric emptying may also contribute to digestive symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, acid reflux and regurgitation in some patients.
Why does this matter in a DUI or drug-related impairment investigation? Breath-testing devices are designed to measure the alcohol present in deep-lung air. If alcohol from the stomach or esophagus enters the mouth shortly before testing, the device may potentially detect what is known as “mouth alcohol,” which can affect results. Conditions that increase reflux or regurgitation have long been discussed as potential factors that may interfere with breath test accuracy under certain circumstances.
Some defense attorneys and experts have raised questions about whether the digestive effects associated with GLP-1 medications could increase the likelihood of reflux-related issues during breath testing. However, the mere fact that someone takes a GLP-1 medication does not automatically mean a breath test was inaccurate. Each case depends on its specific facts, including a person’s medical history, symptoms, testing procedures and the timing of the breath test at issue.