You may have heard of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1) drugs, like Ozempic, which are used for treating diabetes. These drugs lower blood sugar levels and help with weight loss, but they’re also being studied to see if they can help with other conditions like psoriatic arthritis.

More than 50 percent of people who have psoriatic arthritis also have another related medical condition — called a comorbidity — including obesity or type 2 diabetes. If GLP-1 drugs can help treat diabetes, you may be wondering if they can help with psoriatic arthritis — especially if you have both conditions. Learn more about GLP-1 drugs and psoriatic arthritis including the benefits, limitations, and potential concerns.

What Are GLP-1 Drugs?

GLP-1 drugs are a class of medications primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes. These drugs help lower blood glucose (blood sugar) levels by increasing insulin production, reducing glucagon (a hormone that raises blood sugar), and slowing down how quickly food leaves your stomach. One of the most commonly discussed GLP-1 drugs is semaglutide. This drug is sold under many brand names, including Ozempic, Wegovy (approved for weight loss), and Rybelsus (oral semaglutide). Liraglutide (Victoza) is another GLP-1 drug.

These medications are commonly prescribed to people with diabetes to help manage their blood sugar. They are also sometimes prescribed to help people lose weight. Weight loss can be a significant benefit for people with type 2 diabetes, and it may also be helpful for people living with psoriatic arthritis.

GLP-1 Drugs and Psoriatic Arthritis: What’s the Connection?

In psoriatic arthritis, the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy skin cells, causing inflammation. While there’s limited research on GLP-1 drugs specifically for psoriatic arthritis, we know inflammation plays a role in both psoriatic arthritis and diabetes. Some scientists believe that by helping to reduce overall inflammation, GLP-1 drugs might indirectly help with psoriasis symptoms, which may in turn help with psoriatic arthritis. Research has shown that having obesity or type 2 diabetes can worsen psoriasis symptoms, which suggests that treatments aimed at controlling blood sugar and body weight might benefit people with psoriatic arthritis.

Why Psoriatic Arthritis and Other Conditions Often Coexist

Before diving into the potential benefits and side effects of GLP-1 drugs, it’s important to understand why psoriatic arthritis often coexists with other conditions like diabetes and obesity. Psoriasis is a one of a group of diseases linked to chronic inflammation. This inflammation can affect the entire body, including your joints and skin. Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are linked — about 30% of people with psoriasis also develop psoriatic arthritis.

People with psoriatic arthritis are at an increased risk for developing metabolic syndrome, which includes high blood sugar, increased body fat, and high cholesterol. These factors can all lead to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

The inflammation that drives psoriatic symptoms also contributes to insulin resistance, making it harder for the body to manage blood sugar levels. As a result, many people with psoriatic arthritis also develop diabetes. One study found that insulin resistance is more common for people who have severe psoriatic arthritis, higher body mass index (BMI), and psoriasis that developed later in life.

The Benefits for People With Psoriatic Arthritis

There are several reasons why someone with psoriatic arthritis might consider taking a GLP-1 drug.

Managing Other Diseases

If you have both psoriatic arthritis and type 2 diabetes, managing your blood sugar is crucial. Inflammation in the joints can impact how the body processes sugar. By controlling blood sugar, GLP-1 drugs may also help control psoriatic arthritis symptoms. Additionally, keeping blood sugar stable reduces the risk of complications such as heart disease, which is more common for people with psoriatic arthritis and diabetes. Lowering blood sugar with these drugs also protects against the long-term damage that uncontrolled diabetes can cause to the heart, kidneys, and nerves.

Weight Loss

Many people with psoriatic arthritis also have BMI scores in the overweight or obese range. Studies show that being overweight or obese can make psoriatic arthritis symptoms worse, and losing weight may improve swelling in the joints, fatigue, and pain.

Some GLP-1 drugs, like Wegovy, are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss, making them an option for someone with psoriatic arthritis who is also trying to lower their body weight.

Losing weight with the help of GLP-1 drugs may also help some of the systemic inflammation that fuels psoriatic arthritis symptoms. Research showed that participants with psoriatic arthritis that lost weight experienced less chronic inflammation. This suggests that, beyond just losing weight, reducing overall inflammation can have broader benefits for psoriatic arthritis management.

Reducing Inflammation

Unlike many psoriatic arthritis treatments, GLP-1 receptor agonists do not suppress the immune system. Instead, they may reduce inflammation. These anti-inflammatory effects make GLP-1 drugs potentially useful for people with psoriatic arthritis. While this sounds promising, larger studies are needed to fully understand the potential of these treatments for psoriatic arthritis.

One member of MyPsoriasisTeam shared their experience, “I’m feeling really good taking Ozempic. I have seen less edema on my legs and knees. I’m hopeful.”

Potential Risks and Concerns

While GLP-1 drugs may have some potential benefits for people with psoriatic arthritis, there are also important concerns.

Limited Research

Although the research for GLP-1 drugs for psoriasis has shown promise, the research overall is still limited. Most of the research that has been conducted has been for psoriasis, rather than psoriatic arthritis. Most people who have psoriatic arthritis also have skin psoriasis, so it’s likely that people with psoriatic arthritis will still benefit from the research conducted on GLP-1 drugs for psoriasis. However, the effects of GLP-1 drugs on psoriatic arthritis are not fully understood.

Side Effects

Like all medications, GLP-1 drugs can cause side effects, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. These side effects could be bothersome, especially when you’re already dealing with symptoms like fatigue and joint pain. Adding these side effects to the symptoms you’re already experiencing may take a toll on you.

One MyPsoriasisTeam member shared, “The doctor put me on Wegovy for weight loss, and fatigue is a side effect. I think it’s making my fatigue worse. Getting fresh air seems to help some.”

Additionally, weight loss that is too rapid may lead to other complications, such as nutritional deficiencies or gallstones.

Interaction With Biologic Drugs

Many people with moderate to severe psoriatic arthritis are treated with biologic drugs, which target specific parts of the immune system to reduce inflammation. How do GLP-1 drugs interact with biologics?

There’s limited research on this specific interaction, but doctors advise caution. Both GLP-1 drugs and biologics affect the immune system, so it’s essential to consult your doctor before combining these medications. They’ll want to monitor you closely for any signs of increased infections or unexpected side effects.

Biologics work by dampening certain immune responses, which can make people more vulnerable to infections. Since GLP-1 drugs also have an effect on inflammation and the immune system, combining them with biologics could create a heightened risk of infection or immune-related issues. This might lead to worsening symptoms. Careful monitoring is essential when using both of these treatments together, and your health care provider may adjust your treatment plan accordingly.

Talk to Your Doctor

GLP-1 drugs may offer promise for people who are managing both psoriatic arthritis and other conditions like diabetes or weight issues. While the medications may help with blood sugar control and weight loss, they could also have potential risks, especially when combined with other treatments like biologics. Although the research is promising, it is still pretty limited and focused more on psoriasis than psoriatic arthritis.

As with any treatment, it’s important to discuss the potential benefits and risks with your doctor. They can help you determine the best approach for managing your psoriatic arthritis and any other health conditions.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyPsoriasisTeam is the social network for people with psoriasis and their loved ones. On MyPsoriasisTeam, more than 131,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with psoriasis.

Have you considered trying a GLP-1 medication? Do you have more questions about GLP-1s? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.