For those who’ve been trying to find new methods to advance your weight reduction efforts, you’ve most likely heard about incretin mimetic medication like Mounjaro, Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy, and Zepbound. Many individuals have reported dramatic weight reduction by taking a lot of these drugs.
However what occurs while you cease taking incretin mimetics for weight reduction? Do you achieve weight again after quitting, or do you must take them without end to keep up your outcomes?
Brief reply: Once you cease taking incretin mimetics, you’ll probably regain many of the weight you misplaced.
That may be discouraging when you think about the downsides of long-term use. For starters, there’s the price — each Mounjaro and Ozempic have an inventory value of about $1,000 for a month’s provide. Out-of-pocket prices will differ primarily based in your insurance coverage plan, however they will add up shortly, particularly if you must issue them into your month-to-month funds without end.
These drugs are additionally comparatively new to the scene, which suggests their long-term results is probably not absolutely understood. It’s essential to weigh all of the potential dangers and rewards earlier than deciding whether or not incretin mimetics are best for you. And, in fact, you must all the time speak to your physician earlier than beginning (or stopping!) any treatment.
For those who’re contemplating incretin mimetics or their kin for weight reduction, right here’s what you should know.
How Do Mounjaro and Ozempic Work?
Mounjaro, Zepbound, Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy work by mimicking metabolic hormones known as incretins. Therefore, these medication are known as incretin mimetics.
This hormonal mimicry enhances the physique’s capacity to keep up wholesome blood sugar ranges. It additionally helps scale back urge for food and meals consumption by making you are feeling full sooner and for longer after consuming. Because of this, many individuals expertise weight reduction as a secondary impact.
Whereas these medication all work in comparatively comparable methods, there are a number of key variations relating to their mechanisms of motion and supposed use.
Semaglutide mechanism of motion
Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy are manufactured by Novo Nordisk and comprise the identical lively ingredient, semaglutide. By mimicking a hormone known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), semaglutide helps to advertise insulin manufacturing, gradual digestion, and suppress urge for food.
Ozempic (injectable) and Rybelsus (tablet type) are each FDA-approved as first-line remedies for kind 2 diabetes. Nonetheless, docs will generally prescribe these drugs off-label — i.e., not as directed — for weight reduction.
Wegovy, alternatively, is an FDA-approved, injectable model of semaglutide formulated particularly for weight administration. It’s supposed for adults with weight problems or chubby adults with a minimum of one weight-related well being situation.
Tirzepatide mechanism of motion
The lively ingredient in each Mounjaro and Zepbound is tirzepatide. Like semaglutide, tirzepatide mimics the GLP-1 hormone and will increase insulin sensitivity. However tirzepatide’s mechanism of motion additionally mimics the gastric inhibitory peptide hormone (GIP), which helps to advertise insulin secretion and regulate urge for food and satiety.
“There have been research that present that tirzepatide ends in extra weight reduction than semaglutide,” says Mir Ali, MD, bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Middle at Orange Coast Medical Middle in Fountain Valley, CA. “This has been attributed to affecting two receptors reasonably than one.”
Mounjaro and Zepbound, that are each administered by way of once-weekly injections, are manufactured by Eli Lilly. Mounjaro is FDA-approved as a diabetes treatment, whereas Zepbound is accredited for weight administration in adults with weight problems, or chubby adults with a minimum of one weight-related well being situation. (Sound acquainted?)
Like Ozempic and Rybelsus, Mounjaro could also be prescribed off-label for weight reduction.
What Occurs When You Cease Taking GLP-1 Medication for Weight Loss?
Incretin mimetics might help with weight administration when you’re taking them. However while you cease taking these medication, your metabolic perform will revert again to its pre-medication state, and the quantity on the dimensions will probably comply with go well with.
Listed below are a number of frequent unwanted effects of stopping Mounjaro, Ozempic, and the like:
1. Your urge for food will make a comeback
“[Incretin mimetics’] main impact for weight reduction is to suppress the urge for food and gradual the emptying of the abdomen,” Ali says. “As soon as the treatment is stopped, the urge for food returns to its earlier state and the abdomen resumes emptying on the regular price. These processes can result in an individual desirous to eat extra.”
2. You’ll probably regain a lot of the burden you misplaced
As soon as your urge for food is again in full swing, you’ll must maintain a detailed eye in your calorie consumption. “If the affected person isn’t cautious, they will begin regaining weight,” Ali says.
One medical trial discovered that, a yr after stopping incretin mimetics, individuals had regained a median of two-thirds of the burden they’d initially misplaced. Their cardiometabolic enhancements went again to baseline, too.
3. Your blood sugar could rise
Once you cease taking incretin mimetics, Ali says, insulin secretion returns to its earlier state and it’s possible you’ll discover a rise in your blood glucose ranges. In a latest peer-reviewed research, researchers divided individuals into 4 teams. Three teams took tirzepatide in various doses, whereas the fourth group was given the kind 2 diabetes drug dulaglutide.
One yr later, all three tirzepatide teams had larger enhancements in blood glucose ranges than the dulaglutide group. Nonetheless, two months after stopping therapy, all 4 teams had re-elevated blood glucose ranges — and the tirzepatide teams had been already experiencing rebound weight achieve.
The research authors concluded that their findings “recommend a necessity for steady prescription or cautious follow-up when stopping.”
Can You Simply Cease Taking Mounjaro and Ozempic?
Given the extent to which long-term medication like semaglutide and tirzepatide have an effect on the physique, quitting chilly turkey isn’t suggested with out the steerage of a doctor. That mentioned, there isn’t a compelling proof that discontinuing their use will trigger severe withdrawal signs.
There is a rising physique of analysis, nonetheless, suggesting that many individuals expertise a “speedy rebound” in blood glucose ranges and weight achieve after stopping incretin mimetics. These results “are usually not thought of withdrawal signs, however the return of the affected person’s prior physiology,” Ali says.
Preserving weight reduction after quitting incretin mimetics
When you’ve hit your weight reduction targets, it could be attainable to cease taking semaglutide and tirzepatide with out regaining a lot weight. However you’ll have to be ready to make use of the next life-style methods:
“If a affected person is ready to make important, long-term dietary and life-style adjustments, then they’ve a greater probability of maintaining the burden off when the drugs are stopped,” Ali says.
As all the time, you will need to keep in mind you must all the time seek the advice of a healthcare supplier earlier than stopping and restarting Mounjaro, Ozempic, or another such treatment.
Ought to You Contemplate Taking Weight Loss Medication?
Incretin mimetics could also be getting a number of hype, nevertheless it’s essential to notice that they’re supposed to be long-term remedies for persistent well being points — not only a fast technique to lose a number of cussed kilos.
“These drugs are designed for sufferers categorized as overweight with a physique mass index over 30, or over 27 with different co-morbid situations,” Ali says.
Even for many who meet the medical standards, a weight reduction drug isn’t any substitute for a balanced eating regimen and common train. Consuming nutrient-dense meals continues to be one of the best ways to get the nutritional vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants you want. And a weight reduction treatment can’t stand in for train relating to bettering power, cardio capability, coronary heart well being, bone well being, and extra.
How Lengthy Do GLP-1 Medication Keep in Your System?
In response to the Meals and Drug Administration, the half-life of tirzepatide is about 5 days. Which means while you cease taking these medication, it could take round a month for the drug to be utterly gone out of your physique.
The half-life of semaglutide is round seven days, so while you cease taking these medication, it could keep in your system for about 5 weeks after the final dose.
Nonetheless, to keep up their effectiveness, semaglutides and tirzepatides are prescribed for weekly use, they usually’re supposed for use indefinitely. “Weight problems is being regarded as a persistent illness, resembling diabetes or hypertension, so sufferers could have to be on these drugs long-term,” Ali says.