Can Ozempic cause muscle pain?

In this article:

• How Ozempic works in the body
• Does Ozempic cause muscle and joint pain?
• Other Ozempic side effects
• How to manage muscle pain and other Ozempic side effects
• Ozempic alternatives 

In this article

• How Ozempic works in the body
• Does Ozempic cause muscle and joint pain?
• Other Ozempic side effects
• How to manage muscle pain and other Ozempic side effects
• Ozempic alternatives 

Ozempic (semaglutide) is an injectable medication approved for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. It’s part of a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, which help people with Type 2 diabetes lower their blood sugar and reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease.

Although Ozempic can play an important role in improving the health of people with Type 2 diabetes, it’s not without side effects. Because it slows digestion, some of the most commonly reported side effects of Ozempic are gastrointestinal, like nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. However, some people report other side effects, including headaches, back pain, and acid reflux.

RELATED: Does Ozempic cause headaches?

Some people have reported muscle pain while taking Ozempic. However, the drug’s manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, does not report it as a side effect. Here’s why you might be experiencing muscle pain while taking Ozempic and what you should do about it.

How Ozempic works in the body

By mimicking GLP-1, a hormone that affects glucose in the body, Ozempic helps lower blood sugar in three ways:

1. By telling the pancreas to make more insulin
2. By stopping the liver from releasing too much glucose into the bloodstream
3. By delaying gastric emptying (i.e., slowing down the rate at which food moves through the digestive system)

Ozempic doesn’t directly impact your muscles or your musculoskeletal system. However, losing large amounts of weight quickly—as can sometimes happen on Ozempic—may cause sarcopenia, the loss of muscle mass and strength. 

“Weight loss, in general, can cause the breakdown of muscle, which is why it is very important to exercise regularly and maintain a balanced diet with nutritious foods that have adequate amounts of protein,” says Akhil Shenoy, MD, endocrinologist and medical adviser at Aeroflow Diabetes.

Does Ozempic cause muscle and joint pain?

According to Dr. Shenoy, there have been reports of ligament sprains with Ozempic, but they aren’t common: The frequency is less than 5%. 

The more likely cause of muscle and joint pain on Ozempic is a combination of dehydration and dietary changes, says Katrina Mattingly, MD, obesity medicine specialist and chief medical officer of physician-supervised weight loss center Options Medical Weight Loss. 

Because Ozempic decreases your appetite, you’ll eat less while taking it. But Dr. Mattingly says that can also cause you to take in fewer fluids and protein, as well as electrolytes like sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, which are important to muscle health. When you’re dehydrated and deficient in key nutrients, you might experience muscle cramping or aches and pains. 

Another possible reason for muscle pain while taking Ozempic is related to why you may be taking the drug in the first place: Type 2 diabetes. Although well-controlled diabetes shouldn’t cause muscle pain, per Dr. Mattingly, some medications prescribed for diabetes-related symptoms can cause muscle pain, like statins and blood pressure medications.

Other Ozempic side effects

The most common side effects of Ozempic are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and stomach pain. These can often be mitigated by eating small, bland meals, increasing hydration, and avoiding high-fat and high-sugar foods. 

However, in some cases, people experience more serious side effects when taking Ozempic, such as allergic reactions, kidney problems, small bowel obstruction, pancreatitis, and gallstones or gallbladder inflammation. If you experience any severe side effects while taking Ozempic, contact your healthcare provider right away or seek emergency medical care.

How to manage muscle pain and other Ozempic side effects

One of the recommendations for managing the gastrointestinal side effects of Ozempic is to increase hydration, and that’s also true for managing muscle pain. Dr. Mattingly recommends drinking plenty of fluids and increasing your lean protein and electrolyte intake.  

“Electrolyte water or a low-sugar electrolyte drink may help, as well as a daily multivitamin,” Dr. Mattingly says. “For anyone experiencing nausea or an upset stomach, sipping protein shakes or bone broth can help replace some of the vitamin, mineral, and protein deficiencies and hydrate your body.”  

Dr. Mattingly also recommends doing some light massage and stretching exercises to alleviate muscle soreness or—if you’re really sore—taking an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen or alternating heat and ice packs.

If these at-home treatments don’t relieve your muscle pain, get evaluated by your healthcare provider. Your muscle pain may not be related to Ozempic. A thorough history and exam, and possibly x-rays, may diagnose a different condition with a different treatment plan. Possibly, you may just need to adjust your Ozempic dose since higher doses are associated with a higher risk of side effects. But since muscle pain isn’t a commonly reported side effect of Ozempic, it’s a good idea to reach out to your provider if you’re consistently having this symptom.

“If your muscle pain persists, a dose adjustment or discontinuation [of the drug may be] warranted,” says Dr. Shenoy, adding that other explanations for your muscle pain should be explored if you’re still experiencing it several weeks after stopping Ozempic.

Ozempic alternatives 

“There are many alternatives to Ozempic that don’t include muscle pain as a side effect,” Dr. Mattingly says, so if you think Ozempic is causing your muscle pain, talk to your healthcare provider about other options. Similar alternative medications include Rybelsus and Jardiance, as well as other GLP-1 injectable drugs like Mounjaro, Trulicity, and Saxenda.

“However, it’s also worth noting that poorly managed diabetes can cause nerve damage over time, possibly resulting in muscle aches, numbness, and tingling,” Dr. Shenoy says. While Ozempic should help you maintain the blood sugar levels needed to manage your diabetes, muscle discomfort could be a sign that the medication isn’t providing the intended effect. Whatever you think may be the cause, contact your healthcare provider if you’re having consistent muscle pain on Ozempic.