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 its possible that healthier cells provide better oxidation and can help preserve healthy cartilage
For the right patient, they can be highly effective
Gastrointestinal side effects led to treatment discontinuation in 10% of semaglutide patients versus 2% on placebo, though serious adverse events were actually less frequent with semaglutide (33.4% vs 36.4%)
Rare but serious adverse effects such as pancreatitis, diabetic retinopathy complications, and acute kidney injury have also been documented
Its important for patients to have their blood sugar and A1C levels regularly monitored to determine the efficacy of the medication
They can assess whether the symptoms might be related to the medication, explore other contributing factors, and determine the most appropriate course of action