Can You Take Ozempic If You Have an Autoimmune Condition?
Key takeaways:
Ozempic (semaglutide) is FDA-approved to treat Type 2 diabetes. But Ozempic is also being studied for use in treating other conditions, including autoimmune diseases.
Early research suggests that GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic may help reduce inflammation and regulate your immune system, which could help relieve symptoms of certain autoimmune conditions.
Most people with autoimmune conditions can safely take Ozempic. Your healthcare team can help you decide if it’s right for you.
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Ozempic (semaglutide) is a weekly injectable medication used to treat Type 2 diabetes. Ozempic helps lower blood sugar and reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Autoimmune conditions develop when your body’s infection-fighting (immune) system mistakenly attacks normal, healthy cells. There are more than 100 different autoimmune disorders, including autoimmune thyroiditis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and rheumatoid arthritis. Autoimmune conditions can cause a wide range of symptoms depending on which part of your body is affected.
If you have Type 2 diabetes and an autoimmune condition, you may wonder if Ozempic is safe to use. Let’s look at what the evidence shows about Ozempic and autoimmune disease.
Can you take Ozempic if you’ve been diagnosed with an autoimmune condition?
Yes, you can probably take Ozempic if you have an autoimmune condition. Autoimmune conditions aren’t listed as absolute contraindications for Ozempic. Absolute contraindications are situations where a medication shouldn’t be used.
This means if you have Type 2 diabetes and an autoimmune condition, you can probably take Ozempic.
But that doesn’t mean everyone with an autoimmune condition should take it. People with autoimmune conditions that affect the gastrointestinal tract may need to be careful. Ozempic side effects can affect your gallbladder, pancreas, and stomach. This may worsen symptoms of certain autoimmune conditions.
Who shouldn’t take Ozempic? People with certain types of thyroid cancer shouldn’t take Ozempic.
Some foods can worsen Ozempic side effects. Our experts review which foods to avoid while taking Ozempic.
What to expect when you take Ozempic: Hear from real people who have taken Ozempic and find out how they managed side effects, from nausea to cravings.
Your healthcare team can help you decide if Ozempic is safe for you. They’ll also check to make sure Ozempic is safe to take with any treatments you’re currently taking for your autoimmune condition.
Can Ozempic make autoimmune diseases worse?
There’s no evidence that Ozempic worsens autoimmune conditions or triggers flares.
In fact, there’s some evidence that Ozempic may help reduce inflammation and regulate the immune system. These things can be helpful if you have an autoimmune condition.
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Here’s what we know so far about GLP-1 agonists and specific autoimmune conditions.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune condition that causes painful swelling and stiffness of your joints. One study found that treatment with a GLP-1 agonist like Ozempic helped relieve RA symptoms. Researchers think that weight loss from Ozempic may help relieve arthritis pain in people with RA.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a skin condition caused by inflammation and damage to the skin from the immune system. There are reports of people with psoriasis noticing an improvement of their psoriasis after starting a GLP-1 agonist.
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune condition that affects your central nervous system. Research suggests that GLP-1 agonists are safe for people with MS. Studies in animals also showed that GLP-1 agonists may help protect the nervous system from immune system attacks in MS.
Does Ozempic increase the risk of developing an autoimmune condition?
There have been rare reports of Ozempic triggering drug-induced lupus. People with drug-induced lupus develop symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus after starting a new medication.
Most cases of drug-induced lupus get better once the triggering medication is stopped.
Currently, there’s no evidence that Ozempic increases the risk of developing other autoimmune conditions.
The bottom line
Ozempic is an injectable medication that’s FDA-approved to treat Type 2 diabetes. But it’s also being studied to see if it can help with certain autoimmune conditions. Ozempic is safe for most people with autoimmune conditions. Early evidence suggests Ozempic may actually help reduce symptoms of certain autoimmune diseases. More research is needed to know if there is a connection between Ozempic and autoimmune conditions.
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References
Autoimmune Association. (n.d.). Autoimmune disease list.
Castellanos, V., et al. (2024). Semaglutide-induced lupus erythematosus with multiorgan involvement. Cureus.
Haran, K., et al. (2024). Impact of GLP-1 receptor agonists on psoriasis and cardiovascular comorbidities: A narrative review. Psoriasis: Targets and Therapy.
Karacabeyli, D., et al. (2024). Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists in patients with inflammatory arthritis or psoriasis: A scoping review. Journal of Clinical Rheumatology.
Kreps, D. J., et al. (2024). Association of weight loss with improved disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A retrospective analysis using electronic medical record data. International Journal of Clinical Rheumatology.
MedlinePlus. (2023). Drug-induced lupus erythematosus.
Novo Nordisk A/S. (2017). OZEMPIC (semaglutide) injection, for subcutaneous use [package insert].
Udawatta, M., et al. (2024). Multiple sclerosis patients taking glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1) agonists: A single-institution retrospective cohort study of tolerability and weight loss. Neurological Sciences.
Yaribeygi, H., et al. (2024). Anti-inflammatory benefits of semaglutide: State of the art. Journal of Clinical and Translational Endocrinology.
