Sunday, March 29, 2026 –  

Sunday, March 29, 2026 –  

Sunday, March 29, 2026 –  

Sunday, March 29, 2026 –  

Sunday, March 29, 2026 – Tirzepatide may help lower the risk of diabetic retinopathy, a diabetes complication that can lead to vision loss. Douglas Sacha/Getty Images

Weight loss medications Mounjaro and Zepbound, which contain the active ingredient tirzepatide, may lower the risk of diabetic retinopathy.

This diabetes complication occurs when high blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels in the retina at the back of the eye.

Diabetes also raises the risk of other eye diseases, including cataracts and glaucoma.

A widely prescribed type of medication for the management of type 2 diabetes may also help reduce the risk of developing an eye condition that can lead to vision loss.

In a recent study published in Ophthalmology, researchers found that GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Mounjaro and Zepbound, which contain the active ingredient tirzepatide, may lower the risk of diabetic retinopathy in people with type 2 diabetes.

The researchers said that people with type 2 diabetes were less likely to develop new diabetic retinopathy or progress to more dangerous stages of the disease while taking tirzepatide medications.

“Based on findings obtained from a large database of patients across multiple clinical practices, those with diabetic retinopathy may be less concerned that taking tirzepatide is going to make their condition worse,” said Szilard Kiss, MD, an ophthalmologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and lead author of the study, in a statement.

“The findings suggest they may have a reduced risk of requiring more eye treatments with lasers or injections, which are typically required when retinopathy becomes severe,” said Kiss, who is on the board of directors of Adverum Biotechnologies, which is owned by Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Mounjaro and Zepbound.

In the new study, researchers pointed out that previous research had indicated that weight loss medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy could worsen diabetic retinopathy and associated conditions.

The previous study found that semaglutide medications produced some temporary deterioration of diabetic retinopathy in people with type 2 diabetes.

However, those researchers reported that the effects were short-term and that there was no long-term association between semaglutide and increased progression of diabetic retinopathy during the study’s 3-year period.

Tirzepatide lowers diabetic retinopathy risk

To reach their findings, the researchers in the new study analyzed electronic health records from 174,000 people across 70 health systems in the United States.

They focused on participants with type 2 diabetes with weight management issues, comparing people who started tirzepatide with similar patients who pursued only lifestyle interventions such as nutrition therapy or exercise counseling.

The researchers reported that after one year of treatment, the subjects taking tirzepatide had a lower risk of worsening diabetic retinopathy or related complications than those using lifestyle interventions.

As one example, researchers stated that incident mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy occurred in 0.49% of tirzepatide patients compared with 1.2% of the lifestyle intervention group.

Benjamin Bert, MD, an ophthalmologist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, said there may be a simple explanation for the effects of tirzepatide and semaglutide medications on diabetic retinopathy. Bert wasn’t involved in the study.

Bert explained that both types of medications help to suppress the body’s appetite and hunger responses by mimicking the body’s natural GLP-1 hormone. They also help manage blood sugar levels.

Adrian Au, MD, an ophthalmologist at UCLA Health in Los Angeles who wasn’t involved in the study, agreed that reduced blood sugar levels are a key factor in diabetic retinopathy. However, he noted there may be short-term risks.

“The concern with semaglutide largely relates to drops in blood sugar, which can temporarily worsen retinopathy in people who already have advanced disease,” Au told Healthline. “This phenomenon has been observed with intensive glucose control even before [the] popularization of GLP-1 medications.”

“It is likely more about how quickly glucose improves than about a harmful drug effect,” he added. “Over the long term, better blood sugar control is associated with improved retinal outcomes, so these short-term findings may not negatively affect long-term risk.”

As tirzepatide mimics the GLP-1 hormone, it leads to what the study authors described as “greater improvements in insulin sensitivity, weight loss and metabolic inflammation.”

“That’s encouraging, but the question is always how do these drugs perform over the long term?”

Au cautioned that the new study’s results are preliminary. “It’s observational data, so it shows association, not proof of cause and effect,” Au said.

What to know about diabetic retinopathy

A 2021 study published in JAMA Ophthalmology estimated that nearly 10 million people in the United States have diabetic retinopathy.

The researchers found that 26% of people with the condition had diabetes. They estimated that nearly 2 million people had vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy.

They further noted that the number of people living with diabetic retinopathy had risen substantially since 2004. They predicted that prevalence would continue to grow in the coming decades due to the increasing number of cases of diabetes.

Diabetic retinopathy is an eye condition that can develop in a person with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. It occurs when the retina at the back of the eye is damaged.

The condition usually causes mild vision problems at first, but some people with it can eventually lose their eyesight.

Diabetes can affect the retina when high blood sugar damages the blood vessels in the eye.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) states that diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of preventable blindness in the United States. It’s also the most common eye disease in people with diabetes.

There are four stages of diabetic retinopathy, ranging from mild to severe to proliferative. The condition usually affects both eyes.

It’s uncommon to have symptoms during the early stages of diabetic retinopathy. When symptoms do occur, they include:

floaters or dark spots in vision

difficulty seeing at night

blurred vision

difficulty distinguishing colors

Treatments for diabetic retinopathy usually focus on managing blood sugar and general health with diabetes. The treatments include injections, laser treatments, and surgery. Eye drops are sometimes prescribed to relieve symptoms, but the drops don’t target the underlying blood vessel damage.

People at risk for diabetic retinopathy are advised to eat a healthy diet, quit smoking if they smoke, and get regular moderate exercise.

Au said that weight loss alone can provide overall benefits and improve eye health.

“Sustained weight loss improves blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol, all major drivers of overall health,” he explained.

Diabetes and eye disease

The high blood sugar levels associated with diabetes can cause a number of eye diseases due to the damage caused to blood vessels near the eyes.

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common of these diseases, but diabetes can also raise the risk of macular edema, cataracts, and glaucoma.

More severe cases of diabetic retinopathy can also lead to neovascularization, a condition in which the body forms new blood vessels in the retina. Those new vessels can increase eye pressure and damage the optic nerve, leading to vision loss and, in some cases, blindness.

A recent study concluded that the type 2 diabetes medication metformin may help manage age-related macular degeneration.

Bert recommended that people with type 2 diabetes get screened regularly for eye disease.

“Everyone with diabetes should have a dilated eye exam once a year,” he recommended.

Bert added that anyone with type 2 diabetes who notices a sudden change in vision should see an ophthalmologist promptly.

Au said regular exams, along with maintaining overall good health, are the best way to retain retinal health.

“Control blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol and get regular dilated eye exams,” he said. “If starting a powerful glucose-lowering medication, especially with pre-existing diabetic retinopathy, consider closer short-term eye monitoring during the first few months of treatment.”

Sunday, March 29, 2026 – Reports of people developing scurvy while taking GLP-1 medications are on the rise. Milles Team/Shutterstock

Reports of GLP-1 users developing scurvy have increased in recent months.

GLP-1 drugs can lead to malnutrition since they reduce appetite and food consumption.

People may also consume fewer vitamin C-rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables.

Proper meal planning and supplementation can help prevent scurvy.

Maybe you’ve been using a GLP-1 medication for a while now, and you’ve started to notice that your gums are bleeding a bit, or you seem to be bruising more easily than usual? Could the drug be related to these unusual symptoms?

It turns out that more and more people using these drugs are being diagnosed with scurvy, a severe deficiency of vitamin C.

You might know scurvy as an 18th-century illness associated with long sea voyages, when fresh fruits and vegetables were in short supply. So, why is a disease associated with pirates and sailors now making a comeback in a time when these foods are readily available?

The answer, experts say, has less to do with the medications themselves and more to do with what happens when appetite and consumption of certain foods fall dramatically.

Here’s what’s known about the connection and how to protect yourself while staying on track with treatment.

GLP-1 use is often an overlooked cause of malnutrition

In an opinion published in the BMJ on July 21, 2025, Ellen Fallows noted the risks of prescribing GLP-1 medications to patients who already consume nutrient-poor diets, highlighting that malnutrition cases are already being reported in the U.S.

Fallows additionally pointed out that, although obesity is often thought of as a case of being “over-nourished,” the opposite is frequently true, with muscle wasting and nutrient deficiencies being just as common in these individuals as in those who are underweight.

When an already unhealthy diet is combined with caloric restriction, it can exacerbate the problem.

Inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and nutrient deficiencies caused by common diabetes medications, such as metformin, can also contribute to malnutrition, she said.

According to Fallows, GLP-1 use is not just linked to vitamin C deficiency. It has been associated with severe thiamine and magnesium deficiencies, among several others.

However, a lack of awareness of this issue is likely leading to both underdetection and under-reporting of malnutrition, she wrote, which may lead to less favorable patient outcomes.

“Good quality wraparound care for patients taking GLP-1 agonists must go further than simple ‘dietary advice’ as recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence,” she advised. “It must include assessment of nutritional status before treatment to identify patients with malnutrition whose risks may only be mitigated with additional support.”

Why scurvy may occur when using a GLP-1 medications

Fiorella DiCarlo, RDN, CDN, of FiorellaEatsTV, told Healthline that GLP-1s slow gastric emptying and motility, which causes people to feel full and lose their appetite. However, they may end up not eating enough to properly nourish their bodies.

“Some people end up eating 600-1000 calories per day without realizing it and thereby undereating vital nutrients and vitamins,” she said, explaining that this is what leads to deficiencies.

When a person doesn’t consume enough vitamin C for an extended period, they can develop scurvy.

“GLP-1 users report low appetite and early satiety, so fruits and veggies that contain Vitamin C are not consumed as often but rather replaced with toast, crackers, and processed food to accommodate GI issues like nausea instead,” said DiCarlo.

She added that food aversions to acidic foods or raw vegetables can also complicate matters.

“Vitamin C deficiencies cause weakened blood vessels, wounds that don’t heal, including acne and bleeding gums,” said DiCarlo.

However, scurvy is reversible with a multivitamin or a 100- to 200-milligram vitamin C supplement, she said.

What you can do to ensure adequate nutrition while taking GLP-1 drugs

According to DiCarlo, the best way to navigate the nutritional challenges of being on a GLP-1 medication is to work with a Registered Dietitian. These healthcare professionals are experts in nutrition and help you plan meals that best support your needs.

“I advise building meals and snacks around protein and eating on a schedule to ensure proper intake throughout the day,” she said.

DiCarlo further suggests getting plenty of fiber from fruit, vegetables, and legumes, as it can help counteract constipation associated with slow motility.

These same foods are also rich in antioxidants and vitamins, which can help reduce your risk of deficiencies, she said.

“The order the macros are eaten at a meal can be important too,” DiCarlo explained. “Begin with some protein, then vegetables to ensure that these nutrients are ingested first, particularly for those feeling fuller faster.”

To be certain that you’re getting enough protein, calcium, and vitamin D, eat high protein snacks like low fat yogurt, cottage cheese, or kefir, she said.

DiCarlo also emphasized the importance of drinking water to reduce your risk of dehydration.

Concluding her comments, she said, “Eating while on a GLP-1 can be very challenging, and while weight loss will occur, the collateral damage from malnutrition can cause physical and psychological feelings that can affect quality of life.”

However, as DiCarlo explains, proper planning and supplementation can help mitigate the risks.

Sunday, March 29, 2026 – Combining GLP-1 drugs with a healthy lifestyle may reduce cardiovascular risks in people with diabetes. Image Credit: Witthaya Prasongsin/Getty Images

A recent study found that people with type 2 diabetes who used GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) in combination with healthy lifestyle habits had a reduced risk of major adverse cardiovascular events.

The findings show that GLP-1 RAs, when combined with healthy habits, independently improved heart health, though to varying degrees. 

The researchers noted that lifestyle interventions remain pivotal in diabetes management and can amplify the benefits of GLP-1 RAs. 

Type 2 diabetes is a growing health concern in the United States, overlapping with the obesity epidemic.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 40.1 million people in the United States have diabetes, either diagnosed or undiagnosed. That is an estimated 12% of the population. 

According to research from 2017, the prevalence of diabetes will increase by 54% by 2030. This is an estimated 54.9 million people. 

Type 2 diabetes can lead to various complications, including cardiovascular disease. This is the leading cause of death among people with diabetes. 

A recent study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology found that a combination of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) and healthy lifestyle habits can reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in people with type 2 diabetes. 

“Our findings underscore that, even in the era of highly effective GLP-1 pharmacotherapy, lifestyle habits remain central to diabetes management and cardiovascular risk reduction and can substantially amplify the benefits of modern medications,” Frank Hu, MD, Fredrick J. Stare Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology and chair of the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and corresponding author of the study, said in a press release. 

GLP-1s and 6 healthy habits lower cardiovasculr risk by 43%

The study used data from the Veterans Affairs’ Million Veteran Program from 2011 to 2023.

The researchers looked at the lifestyle habits, GLP-1 RA usage, and cardiovascular outcomes of over 98,000 adults who had type 2 diabetes and no previous history of cardiovascular disease. 

The researchers considered 8 healthy habits: 

healthy diet

regular exercise

not smoking

restful sleep

minimal alcohol consumption

good stress management

social connection and support

not having opioid use disorder

The MACEs they considered were: 

non-fatal stroke

myocardial infarction (heart attack)

cardiovascular death

The study found that using a GLP-1 RA and maintaining a healthy lifestyle significantly reduced the risk for MACE. 

“We know that GLP-1 receptor agonists can improve cardiovascular health in patients with diabetes. We also know that good lifestyle habits such as eating [a] heart-healthy diet, getting regular physical activity, and getting enough quality sleep, are all beneficial in controlling the risk factors that lead to heart disease,” Cheng-Han Chen, MD, board certified interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA, who was not involved in the study, told Healthline. 

“It is thus not surprising that combining both GLP-1 receptor agonists and healthy lifestyle modifications can have additive beneficial effects.”

Individuals who used a GLP-1 RA and adhered to between six and eight healthy habits showed a 43% lower risk of MACE than those who did not use a GLP-1 RA and adhered to three or fewer habits. 

Those who adhered to all eight healthy habits had a 60% reduced risk compared to those who adhered to only one or fewer. Finally, people who used a GLP-1 RA had a 16% lower MACE risk than those who didn’t. 

“From a public health perspective, the results underscore the continued importance of population-level investments and policy in promoting healthy diet, physical activity, sleep, stress management, and social connection, even in a modern drug era,” Hu said in the press release.

“As novel therapies expand, scalable lifestyle interventions remain essential for reducing the overall burden of cardiovascular disease and other chronic diseases.”

More studies needed to understand heart health benefits

The researchers noted that the study had limitations. 

First, the results were based on observational data. This means that it was possible there was some residual confounding by socioeconomic status and other factors. However, these variables were accounted for during analysis. 

Additionally, the study population consisted predominantly of white male veterans.

This may have limited the generalizability of the results. However, the findings were consistent across racial and ethnic groups and between males and females.

“Keeping diabetes under control is a long-term process,” Chen said.

“It is important to understand the composition of your food so that you can make the correct choices. We recommended getting regular physical activity. It is also important to avoid alcohol and tobacco, and to get enough quality sleep.”

Frequently asked questions

How do GLP-1s help manage diabetes?Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1s, or GLP-1 RAs), such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, help manage type 2 diabetes by mimicking the natural hormone GLP-1. This helps increase insulin secretion, reduce liver glucose production, and slow gastric emptying. 

They also help curb appetite, promote weight loss, and lower blood sugar. 

How can lifestyle changes affect diabetes?Healthy lifestyle changes can help delay or prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. They can also help lower your blood glucose (sugar) levels. This can help manage diabetes, potentially help you avoid medication, and even put your diabetes into remission. 

The CDC recommends the following lifestyle habits to help manage type 2 diabetes: manage your stress as much as possible, eat a healthy diet, maintain an active lifestyle, and get plenty of sleep.

What are the risk factors for diabetes?Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include having overweight or obesity, being 35 years old or older, having a family history of diabetes, having prediabetes, having a history of gestational diabetes, and giving birth to a baby weighing 9 lbs or more.

Sunday, March 29, 2026 – A new study found that semaglutide benefits extend beyond weight loss by easing osteoarthritis symptoms. Tatsiana Volkava/Getty Images

A new study reports that GLP-1 semaglutide medications may help reverse the effects of osteoarthritis in the joints.

The researchers say the drugs accomplish this by repairing tissue damage by reprogramming cells that maintain healthy cartilage.

Experts say weight loss is the most effective strategy to combat osteoarthritis, but regular exercise and a healthy diet can also help.

Researchers report that a specific type of GLP-1 weight loss medication may help reverse tissue damage in people with osteoarthritis.

A new study published on March 3 in Cell Metabolism found that GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, which contain the active ingredient semaglutide, can help ease the effects of osteoarthritis on joints.

The findings suggest that the benefits go beyond weight loss, which, in itself, can ease osteoarthritis by reducing pressure on joints.

The researchers say that semaglutide drugs help repair tissue damage by reprogramming the metabolism of cells that synthesize and maintain healthy cartilage. This allows cartilage to generate more energy.

“This work not only highlights the potential off-target effect of semaglutide as an effective drug to treat metabolic osteoarthritis but also reveals a weight loss-independent repair mechanism that targets metabolic pathways and mediators essential to cartilage repair under osteoarthritis conditions,” the study authors wrote.

“This may lead to new strategies to develop disease-modifying therapies for osteoarthritis,” they continued.

Matthew Baker, MD, an assistant professor of medicine in immunology and rheumatology at Stanford University in California, said the study, although limited in size and scope, does provide a hypothesis for future breakthroughs. Baker wasn’t involved in the study.

“Most current therapies target symptoms such as pain rather than the underlying structural drivers of disease,” Baker told Healthline. “As a result, truly disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs have remained elusive despite decades of research.”

How weight loss drugs can ease osteoarthritis

There are two basic types of the new generation of weight loss medications, known as GLP-1 drugs, that are prescribed for weight loss and type 2 diabetes treatment.

One group contains the active ingredient tirzepatide. The medications sold under the brand names Mounjaro and Zepbound are among them.

The other group contains the active ingredient semaglutide. The medications sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy are among them.

Both types of GLP-1 drugs have proven to be effective in helping people lose weight by using mechanisms that help suppress appetite.

Losing weight is considered one of the best ways to help reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis, especially in the knee joints. It works by reducing pressure on joint cartilage and lowering inflammation.

In their new study, researchers said they wanted to determine whether the reduction in osteoarthritis symptoms with GLP-1 drugs extended beyond weight loss.

They first experimented with an animal model, examining obese mice with osteoarthritis. Some of the mice were treated with semaglutide drugs while others weren’t. The researchers reported that both groups lost similar amounts of weight, but the semaglutide mice received better cartilage protection.

The results were due to a complicated metabolic pathway that affects how various cells produce energy.

The researchers then studied 20 people ages 50 to 75 with obesity and osteoarthritis. Some of this group, which comprised seven males and 13 females, received semaglutide medications while others did not.

The researchers reported that at the end of a 24-week treatment period, subjects who received semaglutide had significant improvements in knee joint function.

They noted that MRI analyses revealed thicker cartilage and recent cartilage growth in the inner joint areas among the semaglutide group.

Bert Mandelbaum, MD, a sports medicine specialist, orthopedic surgeon, and co-director of the Regenerative Orthobiologic Center at Cedars-Sinai Orthopedics in Los Angeles, said it’s possible that healthier cells provide better oxidation and can help preserve healthy cartilage. Mandelbaum wasn’t involved in the study.

“We’re learning more as we go,” Mandelbaum told Healthline. “It’s like trying to put together a big puzzle.”

“Rather than regenerating cartilage de novo, semaglutide likely stabilizes cartilage and enables limited repair by improving the metabolic environment within the joint,” said Baker.

What to know about osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, affecting nearly 33 million adults in the United States.

It is a degenerative condition that causes inflammation in the joints. Some of the common symptoms include:

pain or stiffness in the joints

loss of flexibility

reduced range of motion

tenderness when pressing on an affected area

grating or clicking sounds when joints are moved

bone spurs

Osteoarthritis is caused by gradual joint and cartilage damage. Risk factors include:

genetics

previous injuries

being over the age of 50

menopause

having an occupation that requires kneeling, climbing, or heavy lifting

obesity

Mandelbaum and Baker agreed that weight is the number one factor in the development and progression of osteoarthritis.

“There is no question that there is an association between osteoarthritis and body weight,” said Mandelbaum.

“Excess body weight is one of the strongest modifiable risk factors for osteoarthritis, particularly for knee osteoarthritis,” said Baker. “Higher body mass increases mechanical load across joints, accelerating cartilage wear with every step.”

“Obesity contributes to systemic inflammation and metabolic dysfunction that can directly affect joint tissues, even in non-weight-bearing joints,” he added.

Baker noted that osteoarthritis can be difficult to treat.

“Osteoarthritis is difficult to treat because cartilage has very limited intrinsic healing capacity due to its avascular, low-cellularity structure,” he said. “Osteoarthritis is also biologically heterogeneous, involving cartilage, bone, synovium, nerves, and systemic metabolic factors rather than a single disease pathway.”

Mandelbaum said there are lifestyle factors people can adopt to help lower the risk of osteoarthritis as well as its painful effects. They include:

maintaining a healthy body weight

exercising regularly

adopting a plant-based diet such as the Mediterranean diet

limiting alcohol consumption

Baker agreed there are strategies to help reduce risks.

“Maintaining a healthy weight or preventing further weight gain is one of the most effective ways to reduce osteoarthritis risk, particularly for the knees,” he said.

“Regular physical activity, including low impact aerobic exercise and strength training, helps preserve joint function, improve biomechanics, and reduce pain,” he added. “Preventing joint injuries through balance training, fall prevention, and appropriate footwear is especially important in older adults.”

“Managing metabolic health conditions such as diabetes and insulin resistance may also reduce osteoarthritis risk by limiting systemic inflammatory and metabolic stress on joint tissues,” Baker said.

Beyond weight loss: Other benefits of GLP-1s

The latest research is not the first to report that GLP-1 drugs have benefits beyond weight loss.

In a 2023 study, researchers said that GLP-1 drugs’ anti-inflammatory properties may help reduce cancer risks.

In 2024, researchers reported that GLP-1 medications may help ease rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.

In 2025, researchers reported that GLP-1 medications can reduce the risk of sudden death and hospitalization in people with a common type of heart failure.

In another 2025 study, GLP-1 drugs were found to be beneficial in lowering the risk of heart disease and stroke in people with type 2 diabetes.

In February 2026, researchers concluded that weight loss drugs containing tirzepatide may help lower the risk of eye disease in people with type 2 diabetes.

Sunday, March 29, 2026 – Recent research has found that GLP-1s may reduce the need for emergency care in those with chronic migraine. Image Credit: Maskot/Getty Images

A recent study suggests that GLP-1 drugs, like Ozempic, may make people with chronic migraine less likely to require emergency care. 

People using GLP-1s may be less likely to need new preventive migraine medications. 

The study does not prove that GLP-1s lower emergency care needs for people with chronic migraine, but it shows an association. 

More research is needed to determine how GLP-1s could help in the future of migraine management. 

Migraine is a common condition both worldwide and throughout the United States. It may affect females more than males, but anyone can experience migraine. 

According to the American Migraine Foundation, 148 million people worldwide live with migraine.

This condition affects 37 million people in the United States. It is the third most common disease in the world and one of the 10 most disabling conditions. 

Of those who experience migraine, 2% experience chronic migraine. Migraine is considered chronic when a person experiences 15 or more days per month with a headache for more than 3 months. Of these, at least 8 days per month have other features of migraine, such as aura, nausea, and heightened sensitivity to light and sound. 

A recent preliminary study by researchers in Brazil and the United States suggests that GLP-1 medications for weight loss, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, may reduce the need for emergency care among people with chronic migraine compared with those who are treated with topiramate for migraine prevention. 

This study has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. It will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting, April 18–22, 2026, being held in Chicago and online. 

“People with chronic migraine often end up in the emergency room, or they need to try several preventive medications before finding one that can work for them,” study author Vitoria Acar, MD, of the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and one of the study authors, said in a press release. 

“Seeing these patterns of lower use of emergency care and lower use of drugs to stop migraines or trying additional drugs to prevent migraines among people taking GLP-1 drugs for other conditions suggests that these therapies may help stabilize the disease burden in ways that we haven’t fully appreciated yet,” Acar said.

GLP-1s lower ER visits for chronic migraine by 10%

For this study, the researchers analyzed data from a health record database of people with chronic migraine based on medical records. 

They compared people who had begun taking a GLP-1 medication for other reasons, like weight loss, within a year of receiving a diagnosis of chronic migraine to individuals who started taking topiramate during the same period. 

Each group consisted of around 11,000 people. The two groups were matched for factors such as: 

age 

body mass index (BMI)

other health conditions 

prior migraine treatments

The GLP-1 medications included in the study were: 

liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza)

semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy)

dulaglutide (Trulicity)

exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon)

lixisenatide (Adlyxin)

albiglutide (Tanzeum, Eperzan)

The researchers found that 23.7% of people using GLP-1 drugs visited the emergency room in the following year. This is compared to 26.4% of those using topiramate. 

Overall, they found that individuals using GLP-1s were 10% less likely to visit the emergency room, 14% less likely to be hospitalized, and around 13% less likely to need a nerve block procedure or receive a triptan prescription than those taking topiramate.

“The mechanisms are not yet fully understood in humans, but preclinical studies point to several overlapping pathways,” said Hsiangkuo (Scott) Yuan, MD, associate professor at Thomas Jefferson University, clinical research director at Jefferson Headache Center, and one of the study authors.

“These include anti-inflammatory effects within the trigeminal pain system, reduction of intracranial pressure through decreased CSF [cerebrospinal fluid] secretion, and modulation of CGRP [calcitonin gene-related peptide] (a key migraine-promoting signaling molecule),” Yuan said.

“Weight loss itself, regardless of how it is achieved, has also been associated with migraine improvement in patients with obesity, as supported by recent meta-analyses, though high quality RCT evidence remains limited,” he told Healthline.

GLP-1s reduce need for new preventive migraine drugs

The researchers also found that the group that was using GLP-1s was less likely to need new preventive migraine medications. 

When compared to those taking topiramate, GLP-1 users were: 

48% less likely to start valproate

42% less likely to start calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) monoclonal antibodies

35% less likely to start tricyclic antidepressants

23% less likely to start the class of drugs called gepants

However, there was no significant difference between the two groups, and the need to begin taking beta-blockers. 

Yuan noted that it is important to remember that this was observational data: it shows an association, not causation. 

“We cannot yet conclude that GLP‑1 RAs treat migraine, and patients should not seek these medications specifically for that purpose outside of a clinical trial or established indication,” he said. 

“It is also worth noting that our comparison with topiramate, which shares a weight loss property, may partly reflect topiramate’s poor real-world tolerability and compliance rather than a true pharmacological advantage of GLP‑1 RAs.” 

However, he also stated that the overall signal is encouraging and justifies further investigation. 

Medhat Mikhael, MD, pain management specialist and medical director of the non-operative program at the Spine Health Center at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, who was not involved in the study, agreed. 

“I believe it is a good start, but it is far too early to consider it as an agent or drug to use for [the] prevention of migraine. We need several large-scale trials to assess safety, particularly in young and middle-aged women, [who] constitute the majority of the population with migraine.”

Treatment for migraine

The main goal of migraine management is to treat the symptoms and prevent future attacks. 

“Managing migraine nowadays has been very advanced, and it depends on the cause and frequency of the migraine,” said Mikhael. 

Some quick steps to ease symptoms include: 

rest or nap in a quiet, dark room

place an ice pack or cool cloth on your forehead

drink plenty of fluids, especially if the migraine causes vomiting

Short-term treatments include: 

triptan drugs

CGRP drugs

over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or acetaminophen

nausea relief medications

Preventive medications include: 

anticonvulsants

beta-blockers

calcium channel blockers

antidepressants

If you experience migraine, speak with your healthcare professional to decide what care plan is best for you.

Sunday, March 29, 2026 – A small study has found that people may be able to maintain their weight loss with fewer GLP-1 injections. Image Credit: Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

A recent small study found that reduced GLP-1 frequency may help people maintain their weight loss. 

The study shows that people who dosed as little as once every two months maintained weight loss and other improved health markers. 

Tapering GLP-1s may not be right for everyone, but the researchers suggest it may help reduce long-term medication use. 

People taking GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy to help treat obesity lose an average of 15–20% of their body weight.

These medications are generally considered a long term, potentially lifelong treatment, as studies show that when individuals stop taking them, they often quickly regain the pounds they’ve lost, returning to their original weight within less than two years. 

Yet, 32% of people who begin taking GLP-1 weight loss medications stop within a year due to several reasons, including the high cost and severity of side effects.

However, a recent study published in Obesity suggests that people may be able to maintain their weight loss with fewer doses.

“These findings support structured de-escalation as a promising strategy to reduce treatment burden without sacrificing efficacy,” noted the study authors. 

“Although this study involved a small patient sample, I have had similar experiences in my practice,” said Mir Ali, MD, bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, who wasn’t involved in the study.

“Many patients who have been successful on GLP-1 medications are able to use a lower dose or less frequent injections to help maintain their weight loss,” Ali told Healthline.

How effective are fewer doses of GLP-1s?

The typical dosing regimen for GLP-1 weight-loss medications is a once-weekly injection. Some types may even recommend a daily injection. 

However, this small study of 30 people suggests that less frequent injections may help people maintain their weight loss and make it easier for them to use the medications long-term. 

“There is no single solution for all patients,” Ali said. “While some can taper successfully and maintain their results, others require a consistent dose. Most individuals regain significant weight once these medications are stopped.”

Of the participants, 21 were using tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound), and nine were using semaglutide. 

The reduction in injection frequency was led by the individuals, with 24 participants reporting a minimum of 2 weeks between injections. The longest interval was 6 weeks apart. The other six participants reported a frequency of 10 to 14 days. 

Participants maintained a reduced dosing frequency for an average of 36 weeks. 

Nearly every participant maintained the same BMI following the reduced frequency. Only four saw a slight regain, with the largest increase being 8 lbs.

Many participants even saw a slight reduction in their body mass index (BMI). 

Improvements in other health markers, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar, were also experienced by most participants.

“I have patients who have lost 50 to 70 pounds during their nearly two-year weight loss journey,” said Victoria Finn, MD, board certified endocrinologist with Medical Offices of Manhattan and contributor to LabFinder, who wasn’t involved in the study.

“To find the lowest effective dose for maintaining their achieved target weight, we gradually decrease the dose and reduce the frequency of dosing,” she told Healthline.

Finn noted that while “GLP-1 medications are incredibly powerful tools,” they should “not be considered magic wands,” and should always be “combined with regular physical activities and dietary adjustments” for the best results.

Ali noted that people with obesity should view it as a “chronic, long-term disease — similar to hypertension or diabetes.”

“Those using GLP-1 medications should approach them as a long-term treatment plan,” Ali said.

Tapering GLP-1s may not be effective for everyone

Experts note that the findings of this study are based on a very small sample, and tapering GLP-1 medications may not be an effective strategy for everyone.

For example, even in the recent study, four people returned to their original dosing schedule after they began regaining weight. 

Nevertheless, tapering GLP-1 medications may be a preferable option to stopping altogether for some people.

“Stopping cold turkey is not recommended. Instead, reducing the frequency of dosing to lower doses is the best way to maintain results and reduce the financial burden of treatment,” Finn said. 

If reduced doses of GLP-1 drugs prove viable for more people, the strategy may be a game-changer for obesity treatment.

“Larger randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings and may help address concerns about indefinite therapy, lower healthcare costs, ease supply constraints, and broaden access to GLP-1 medications to improve public health,” said the researchers.