Wernicke’s Encephalopathy Following Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Receptor Agonist Use: A Case Report

Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) is a neurological emergency resulting from vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency.It has a classic triad of symptoms: oculomotor dysfunction, ataxia, and altered mental status.WE is mostly associated with alcohol use disorder, malnourishment, and hypercatabolism.An emerging group at risk of developing WE are those taking glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (RAs).GLP-1 RAs have been revolutionary in the treatment of obesity, and worldwide use has risen exponentially.An emerging risk from these agents is nutritional deficiency.We describe a case of a 48-year-old teetotal man using tirzepatide for weight loss who developed WE.