Allodynia and Dysesthesia Associated With Semaglutide and Tirzepatide.
Ahern. Susan S
Key Findings
- Allodynia and dysesthesia have been reported with semaglutide and now also with tirzepatide
- The sensory side effects appear to be dose‑dependent
- Stopping the medication typically resolves the symptoms, sometimes without any other treatment
Practical Outcomes
- Watch for any new tingling, burning, or pain sensations when using these peptides, especially at higher doses. If they appear, consider lowering the dose or discontinuing the drug, as the effects are usually reversible within weeks.
Summary
Both semaglutide and tirzepatide, popular drugs for diabetes and weight loss, can sometimes cause weird skin sensations like pain from light touch (allodynia) or abnormal feelings (dysesthesia). These side effects seem to get worse at higher doses but usually go away after stopping the drug, often within a few weeks.
Abstract
Semaglutide and tirzepatide are two commonly prescribed glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and GLP-1/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GLP-1/GIP) receptor agonists used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management. Allodynia and dysesthesia have been previously reported as effects of semaglutide. This case report adds to the literature on dysesthesia from semaglutide and presents a novel report in a patient taking tirzepatide. This adverse drug reaction occurs in both patients treated for type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management, appears to be dose dependent, and resolves with discontinuation of the drug and may resolve spontaneously after several weeks.
Study Information
pubmed
2025
2025-10-08T00:00:00.000Z
10.7759/cureus.94126
4