Q. I have arthritis in my knees and ankles. I was on a GLP-1 for 18 months and lost a significant amount of weight. The arthritis in my knees and ankle got far worse after I stopped the GLP-1. Could this be caused by stopping the GLP-1?
A
GLP-1 medications like semaglutide (Ozempic®, Wegovy®) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro®, Zepbound®) are now prescribed for diabetes, weight loss, cardiovascular risk, sleep apnea, liver disease, kidney disease and a range of other conditions. In addition to assisting with glucose management and weight loss, GLP-1s have broad anti-inflammatory effects on several systems in the body. Studies are investigating GLP-1s as an adjunct treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Since arthritis is often caused or exacerbated by inflammation, stopping a GLP-1 could potentially result in worsening arthritis symptoms. The increased arthritis in weight bearing joints like the knee and ankle may be a result of more weight and pressure on the joints if you are gaining weight after stopping the GLP-1.
