Can Ozempic, Mounjaro, Zepbound and Wegovy calm inflammation — not just melt away weight? In this episode of Thriving with Arthritis, Dr. Diana Girnita, board-certified rheumatologist and PhD in immunology, sits down with Dr. Vishnuteja Devalla to unpack the fast-growing science of GLP-1 medications in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.

They break down how GLP-1 drugs actually work, why the same receptor lives on your immune cells, and what the latest evidence really shows for autoimmune disease — separating real science from the headlines and hype.

In this episode:

• What GLP-1 medications are and how they work (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound explained)
• The key difference between semaglutide and tirzepatide — and why GIP matters for weight loss
• How GLP-1 receptors on macrophages, neutrophils, and T cells calm inflammation
• The surprising drop in TNF-alpha, IL-1, IL-6 — the exact targets of our biologics
• What the UCLA study and PASI data reveal for RA and psoriatic arthritis
• Why obesity fuels inflammation and drives worse treatment response
• Will GLP-1s ever replace methotrexate or biologics? (The honest answer)
• Microdosing GLP-1s for inflammation — lower cost, fewer side effects
• The compounded-medication warning every patient needs to hear
• How to safely reduce medication when you start feeling better
• Where GLP-1 therapy is heading in the next 5 years

⚠️ This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always talk with your own rheumatologist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.

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More info about Dr. Diana Girnita, MD PhD

• Website: https://rheumatologistoncall.com/
• Email: Contact@rheumatologistoncall.com
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@rheumatologistoncall
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-girnita-md-phd-07b57810/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rheumatologistoncall/
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/RheumatologistOncall/
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3685130571554200