What Happens When You Stop Taking Mounjaro or Ozempic?

If you’ve been looking for new ways to advance your weight loss efforts, you’ve probably heard of incretin mimetic medications like Mounjaro, Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy, and Zepbound. Many people have reported dramatic weight loss when taking these types of medications.

But what happens when you arrest taking incretin mimetics for weight loss? Do you gain weight back after quitting or do you have to take them forever to maintain the results?

Short answer: When you stop taking incretin mimetics, you will probably regain most of the weight you lost.

This can be discouraging when you consider the disadvantages of long-term use. For starters, there’s the cost: both munjaro and Ozempic It has a list price of about $1,000 for a month’s supply. Out-of-pocket costs will vary depending on your insurance plan, but they can add up quickly, especially if you have to factor them into your monthly budget. forever.

These medications are also relatively new on the scene, meaning their long-term effects may not be fully understood. It is important to weigh all the potential risks and benefits before deciding if incretin mimetics are right for you. And, of course, you should always talk to your doctor before starting (or stopping!) any medication.

If you’re considering incretin mimetics or their like for weight loss, here’s what you need to know.

How do Mounjaro and Ozempic work?

Mounjaro, Zepbound, Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy work imitating metabolic hormones called incretins. Therefore, these drugs are called incretin mimetics.

This hormonal mimicry improves the body’s ability to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. It also helps reduce appetite and food intake by making you feel full faster and longer after eating. As a result, many people experience weight loss as a side effect.

While all of these medications work relatively similarly, there are some key differences when it comes to their mechanisms of action and intended use.

Semaglutide mechanism of action

These three medications are manufactured by Novo Nordisk and contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide. Semaglutide mimics glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) hormonewhich helps promote insulin production, slow digestion and suppress appetite.

Ozempic (injectable) and Fishing (in pill form) are approved by the FDA as first-line treatments for type 2 diabetes. However, doctors sometimes prescribe these medications. off label (i.e. not as directed) to lose weight.

Wegovy, on the other hand, is an FDA-approved injectable version of semaglutide formulated specifically for weight control. It is intended for adults with obesity or adults who are overweight and at least one weight-related health condition.

Mechanism of action of tirzepatide

The active ingredient in both Mounjaro and Zepbound is tirzepatide. Like semaglutide, tirzepatide mimics the GLP-1 hormone and increases insulin sensitivity. But tirzepatide’s mechanism of action also mimics the gastric inhibitory peptide hormone (GIP), which helps promote insulin secretion and regulate appetite and satiety.

“There have been studies showing that tirzepatide produces greater weight loss than semaglutide,” he says. Mir Ali, MDbariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Weight Loss Surgical Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA. “This has been attributed to it affecting two receptors instead of one.”

Mounjaro and Zepbound, which are administered by injection once a week, are manufactured by Eli Lilly. Mounjaro is approved by the FDA as diabetes medicationwhile Zepbound is approved for weight control in adults with obesity or adults who are overweight and at least one weight-related health condition. (Sound familiar?)

Like Ozempic and Rybelsus, Mounjaro can be prescribed off-label for weight loss.

What happens when you stop taking GLP-1 weight loss medications?

Incretin mimetics may help control weight while taking them. But when you stop taking these medications, your metabolic function will improve. go back to your pre-medication state, and the number on the scale will likely do the same.

Here are some common side effects when stopping Mounjaro, Ozempic, and the like:

1. Your appetite will return

“[Incretin mimetics’] The main effect for losing weight is to suppress appetite and slow stomach emptying,” says Ali. “Once the medication is stopped, appetite returns to its previous state and the stomach empties again at the normal rate. These processes can lead a person to want to eat more.”

2. You are likely to gain back much of the weight you lost

Once your appetite is back in full swing, you’ll need to closely monitor your calorie intake. “If the patient is not careful, they can start to regain weight,” Ali says.

One clinical trial found that, one year after stopping incretin mimetics, participants had recovered an average of two thirds of the weight they had originally lost. Their cardiometabolic improvements also returned to baseline values.

3. Your blood sugar may rise

When you stop taking incretin mimetics, Ali says, insulin secretion returns to its previous state and you may notice an increase in your blood glucose levels. in a recent peer-reviewed studyThe researchers divided the participants into four groups. Three groups took tirzepatide at varying doses, while the fourth group received dulaglutide, a type 2 diabetes drug.

One year later, all three tirzepatide groups had greater improvements in blood glucose levels than the dulaglutide group. However, two months after stopping treatment, all four groups had raised blood glucose levels again, and the tirzepatide groups were already experiencing rebound weight gain.

The study authors concluded that their findings “suggest the need for continued prescribing or careful monitoring upon discontinuation.”

Can you stop taking Mounjaro and Ozempic?

Given the extent to which long-term medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide affect the body, it is not recommended to quit cold turkey without a doctor’s guidance. That said, there is no convincing evidence that stopping use causes severe withdrawal symptoms.

There is However, increasing research suggests that many people experience a “fast rebound”on blood glucose levels and weight gain after discontinuing incretin mimetics. These effects “are not considered withdrawal symptoms, but rather the return of the patient’s previous physiology,” Ali says.

Preserving weight loss after stopping incretin mimetics

Once you have reached your weight loss goals, you may be able to stop taking semaglutide and tirzepatide without regaining much weight. But you will need to be prepared to employ the following lifestyle strategies:

“If a patient is able to make significant long-term changes to their diet and lifestyle, then they will have a better chance of maintaining their weight when they stop taking the medications,” Ali says.

As always, it is important to remember that you should always consult a healthcare provider before stopping and restarting Mounjaro, Ozempic, or any other similar medication.

Should you consider taking weight loss medications?

Incretin mimetics may be getting a lot of hype, but it’s important to keep in mind that they are intended to be long-term treatments for chronic health problems, not just a quick way to lose some stubborn kilos.

“These medications are designed for patients classified as obese with a body mass index greater than 30 or greater than 27 with other comorbid diseases,” Ali says.

Even for those who meet clinical criteria, a weight loss medication is no substitute for a balanced diet and regular exercise. Eating nutrient rich foods It is still the best way to obtain vitamins, minerals, fiberand antioxidants you need. And a weight loss drug cannot replace exercise when it comes to improving strength, aerobic capacity, heart healthbone health and more.

How long do GLP-1 medications stay in your system?

According to the Food and Drug Administration, the half-life of tirzepatide It’s about five days. That means that when you stop taking these medications, it can take about a month for the medication to completely disappear from your body.

He semaglutide half-life It’s about seven days, so when you stop taking these medications, it can stay in your system for about five weeks after the last dose.

However, to maintain their effectiveness, semaglutides and tirzepatides are prescribed for weekly use and are designed to be used indefinitely. “Obesity is being thought of as a chronic illnesssuch as diabetes or hypertension, so patients may need to take these medications long-term,” Ali says.