What happens to your body when you stop taking ozempic

Injectable GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy are designed for long-term use to manage diabetes and obesity. These medications work by regulating appetite and slowing digestion, helping people eat less and feel full. However, when someone stops taking the medication, they usually get back their weight.

Many patients stop taking medication within a year

According to a highly well survey released last year, almost two-thirds of people taking weight loss medications are expected to halt within a year.

A recent study at JAMA Network Open analyzed records from approximately 125,000 patients who started GLP-1 drugs. It was found that 46.5% of patients with type 2 diabetes and 64.8% without a condition stopped taking the drug within a year. Many of them rebooted their drugs within a year of cessation, as they often recovered their weight.

What happens if I stop taking GLP-1?

Emily Duman, 35, a mother of four-year-old twins in Augusta, Georgia, tried three different GLP-1 medications off-label to manage polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) under the guidance of a doctor. She also stayed at Ozempic as it helped her lose weight.

Dumant lost 15 pounds, but after stopping the drug to pursue pregnancy he recovered his weight. (Ozempic is not recommended during pregnancy.)

Last year, Dumant resumed the Ozempics and lost 62 pounds afterwards. “This time, we plan to stay at maintenance dosages, along with regular exercise and healthy diet, to keep weight down,” she said.

A review published in the Journal Obesity analyzed hundreds of studies and followed 2,372 participants who were prescribed GLP-1 drugs and lifestyle interventions such as nutritional counseling and exercise.

On average, despite continuing to change in lifestyle, he regained 53-63% of his body weight after stopping his drug.

GLP-1 drugs are intended to manage chronic diseases

One of the main reasons patients get off Wegovy or Zepbound is that doctors don't explain that the drug is not intended for lifetime use, said MMPH's Selvi Rajagopal, obesity specialist at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore.

GLP-1 is prescribed to manage chronic diseases, similar to treatments for hypertension or high cholesterol, Rajagopal explained. “If someone else's cholesterol improves due to a medication that someone is taking, it won't stop even if blood pressure is controlled,” she said.

Obesity is driven by a combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors, such as access to healthy foods and opportunities for physical activity.

“The medication section addresses abnormal signaling in the body around hunger cues. Taking medication also allows people to add healthy lifestyle opportunities.

What if I want to stop taking Ozempic or Wegovy?

If someone wants to or needs to stop taking medication due to costs or side effects, it's a conversation with the doctor, Rajagopal said. That's why it's important to develop healthy habits when taking medication, such as regular exercise and a nutritious diet.

If the injection is not suitable for you, it will work more slowly, but there are more affordable oral weight loss pills. “While you are waiting for a new drug that might be better for you to come to the market, you can try some useful weight loss pills,” Rajagopal said.

According to Dr. Brian Wojeck, an endocrinologist at Yale School of Medicine, those who stop taking GLP-1 medications can employ certain strategies to maintain weight loss.

These include moderate-intensity exercise every week for at least 300 minutes, “not only walking on flat surfaces,” he said. Healthy and sustainable diet, stress management, and good sleep can also affect weight loss.