Key Takeaways
- Ozempic is an injectable medication that helps to lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
- Some rare side effects of Ozempic can cause fluid build-up in the legs, which may feel similar to joint pain.
- No confirmed cases of joint pain are associated with Ozempic. Other diabetes medications (DDP-4 inhibitors) have demonstrated joint pain side effects.
- Additional medical testing, exercises, weight loss, and dietary changes can help relieve joint pain.
Updated by: Joy Emeh
Ozempic is an injectable medication for people with type 2 diabetes to help regulate their blood sugar levels.
This medication is generally prescribed if other medications, diet, and exercise have not effectively lowered blood sugar levels and hemoglobin A1C.
Ozempic is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RAs).
The generic name for Ozempic is semaglutide.
Long-acting once-weekly Ozempic has been found to work especially well at reducing overnight and fasting blood sugar levels and hemoglobin A1C.
GLP-1 RAs work in the following ways:
- Enhance insulin secretion in response to high blood sugar levels and help you return to healthy range blood sugar levels.
- Stop glucagon secretion, which reduces the blood sugar generated by the body.
- Slow the rate at which the stomach empties, preventing high blood sugar levels after meals.
- Lower calorie intake by reducing appetite, increasing fullness, and slowing gastric transit time, leading to weight loss.
While Ozempic has positive effects, all medications can have less favorable side effects.
Ozempic works similarly to DPP-4 inhibitors (another diabetes medication) that have been found to cause joint pain.
A study on 134,488 veterans found that 8.4% were taking DPP-4 inhibitors, and 11.7% were diagnosed with joint pain.
In this article, you’ll learn about the side effects of Ozempic, any links to joint pain, and ways to reduce joint pain.
Can Ozempic Cause Joint Pain?
No studies have found a link between Ozempic and joint pain.
However, some rare side effects from Ozempic might cause symptoms of joint pain.
Acute kidney injury and pancreatitis can cause a rare side effect, fluid accumulation in the legs.
This might cause someone to think they have joint pain when their legs are swelling.
A doctor should monitor kidney function for individuals with impaired kidneys to prevent complications like acute kidney injury.
Additionally, Ozempic should be stopped if any pancreatitis symptoms occur, per the manufacturer's prescribing information.
Why Do I Have Joint Pain While Taking Ozempic?
There are some possible reasons why you may experience pain around your joint area when you are on Ozempic.
Other medications
If you are on Ozempic and taking other medications, they may be the reason you are having joint pain.
Some medications can induce rheumatic diseases (i.e., conditions that affect the bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons, causing chronic pain and stiffness).
For instance, medications like quinidine, estrogen, and hydralazine may contribute to the development of systemic lupus erythematosus, an autoimmune disease that causes widespread inflammation and pain in the joints.
Antibiotics like amoxicillin/clavulanate and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have also been linked to the development of vasculitis.
Vasculitis is the inflammation of the blood vessels and can also cause joint pain.
Autoimmune disorders
Joint pain is a common symptom of autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and lupus.
These conditions are caused by an impairment in the body’s immune system, which causes this defense system to attack normal, healthy cells in the body.
If you have an autoimmune disorder and are on ozempic, it's more likely that your joint pain is a result of the autoimmune condition.
Other health conditions
There are several other medical conditions that can cause joint pain, such as:
- Tendinitis (inflammation of a tendon)
- Gout
- Bursitis (inflammation of the small fluid sac that acts as a pad between the bones of a joint)
- Fibromyalgia (chronic condition that causes widespread pain all over the body)
- Muscle weakness
- Bone erosions
- Ligament damage
- Joint dislocation
- Bone cancer
- Avascular necrosis (death of bone tissue due to insufficient blood flow)
If you experience joint pain while taking Ozempic, consider speaking with a healthcare professional.
They may recommend laboratory tests and examinations to diagnose or rule out other conditions that may be causing your pain.
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Side Effects of Ozempic
Some people may experience certain side effects when taking ozempic. However, the severity of the adverse effects varies from person to person.
Most Common Side Effects
The following were the most commonly reported side effects from individuals taking Ozempic:
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Abdominal pain, and
- Constipation.
Between 5 and 20% of people reported some of these side effects.
Gastrointestinal (GI) side effects are common when starting GLP-1 RAs or increasing the dosage.
Most people experience a spontaneous resolution of their GI symptoms while still taking the medication.
Other Side Effects
Other GI side effects at a lower rate were reported, including dyspepsia (upset stomach), gas, burping, reflux, and gastritis (irritated stomach lining).
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) was reported more often when taking other diabetes medications like metformin or insulin.
Less common effects included injection site reactions (0.2% of people), increased amylase and lipase lab values (signs of pancreatitis), gallstones (0.4 to 1.5% of people), a slight 2-3 beat per minute heart rate increase, taste changes, dizziness, and fatigue.
Adverse Reactions
Ozempic has a warning on the manufacturer's website stating severe side effects. They include:
- Possible thyroid tumors, including medullary thyroid cancer. If a family history of MTC is noted, Ozempic should not be used.
- Pancreatitis (swelling of the pancreas).
- Diabetic retinopathy complications (damage to the blood vessels of the eyes).
- Acute kidney injury or failure.
- Acute gallbladder disease (swelling of the gallbladder).
- Hypersensitivity or allergic reactions.
- Low blood sugar with the use of insulin or sulfonylureas.
Of note, joint pain is not listed as a side effect of Ozempic. But other diabetes medications have confirmed joint pain side effects.
How to Relieve Joint Pain
There are different remedies for treating joint pain, including home remedies, dietary adjustments, and clinical therapy.
Here are some helpful and actionable tips for relieving joint pain.
Contact Your Doctor with New or Worsened Pain
If you find yourself with new or worsening joint pain, seek the care of your doctor.
Your doctor can help look at the whole picture, including medications and health conditions.
They can order tests or lab values to determine the source of your joint pain or any new health conditions.
At-Home Joint Pain Relief
The Arthritis Foundation provides a head-to-toe guide to help relieve different types of joint pain.
Certain types of inflammatory joint pain, like rheumatoid arthritis, require whole-body treatment to reduce the pain.
Other types of joint pain relief include splints, moist heat, modifications to daily life or sleeping, and targeted exercises to help the problematic locations.
Safe and modified movement can alleviate pain.
A physical therapist can help you learn how to move safely and strategies for reducing joint pain.
Weight Loss
Losing weight can help reduce joint pain.
A study of 142 overweight and obese adults with knee osteoarthritis (OA) found that four pounds of pressure on the knees were reduced for every pound of weight loss.
Another study found that further weight loss relieved joint pain in 240 overweight and obese adults with knee OA.
The group losing more than 20% of their starting body weight had 25% less pain, improved knee function, and increased quality of life than those losing 5 or 10% of their original body weight.
Nutrition
Changing your diet can aid in alleviating joint pain.
A systematic review of 19 studies, including 326 people with rheumatoid arthritis, found that anti-inflammatory diets resulted in lower pain levels than regular diets.
Anti-inflammatory diets are high in omega-3 fats, fiber, fruits, and vegetables and lower in refined carbohydrates and sugars.
The diets reviewed in this study included Mediterranean, vegetarian, vegan, and ketogenic diets.
All resulted in lower pain levels.
Consider meeting with a dietitian to determine an appropriate eating style for your lifestyle and health concerns.
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Takeaways
Managing diabetes medications and their side effects with a healthcare team is essential for your health.
Ozempic has not been associated with causing joint pain.
Some less common side effects of Ozempic can cause excess fluid in the legs, which might feel similar to joint pain.
Joint pain should be discussed with your doctor and medical team.
Joint pain can be relieved by exercises, daily life modifications, weight loss, and nutrition changes.
Manage Weight and Diabetes with an RD
Connect with an expert on managing diabetes, nutrition, and weight loss. Joint pain and diabetes can improve with weight loss and a customized nutrition plan.
Find a dietitian near you that accepts insurance using Nourish.
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