In the event you’ve been looking for new methods to advance your weight reduction efforts, you’ve most likely heard about incretin mimetic medicine like Mounjaro, Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy, and Zepbound. Many individuals have reported dramatic weight reduction by taking most of these drugs.
However what occurs while you cease taking incretin mimetics for weight reduction? Do you achieve weight again after quitting, or do it’s a must to take them ceaselessly to keep up your outcomes?
Quick reply: While you cease taking incretin mimetics, you’ll possible regain a lot of the weight you misplaced.
That may be discouraging when you think about the downsides of long-term use. For starters, there’s the associated fee — each Mounjaro and Ozempic have a listing value of about $1,000 for a month’s provide. Out-of-pocket prices will fluctuate based mostly in your insurance coverage plan, however they will add up rapidly, particularly if it’s a must to issue them into your month-to-month finances ceaselessly.
These drugs are additionally comparatively new to the scene, which suggests their long-term results is probably not absolutely understood. It’s necessary to weigh all of the potential dangers and rewards earlier than deciding whether or not incretin mimetics are best for you. And, in fact, it’s best to all the time speak to your physician earlier than beginning (or stopping!) any treatment.
In the event you’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 referred to as incretins. Therefore, these medicine are known as incretin mimetics.
This hormonal mimicry enhances the physique’s potential to keep up wholesome blood sugar ranges. It additionally helps cut back urge for food and meals consumption by making you’re feeling full sooner and for longer after consuming. Consequently, many individuals expertise weight reduction as a secondary impact.
Whereas these medicine all work in comparatively related methods, there are a number of key variations in relation to their mechanisms of motion and supposed use.
Semaglutide mechanism of motion
These three drugs are manufactured by Novo Nordisk and comprise the identical energetic ingredient, semaglutide. Semaglutide mimics the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) hormone, which helps to advertise insulin manufacturing, gradual digestion, and suppress urge for food.
Ozempic (injectable) and Rybelsus (tablet kind) are each FDA-approved as first-line remedies for kind 2 diabetes. Nonetheless, docs will typically prescribe these drugs off-label — i.e., not as directed — for weight reduction.
Wegovy, then again, 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 not less than one weight-related well being situation.
Tirzepatide mechanism of motion
The energetic 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 leads to extra weight reduction than semaglutide,” says Mir Ali, MD, bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Heart at Orange Coast Medical Heart in Fountain Valley, CA. “This has been attributed to affecting two receptors slightly than one.”
Mounjaro and Zepbound, that are each administered through once-weekly injections, are manufactured by Eli Lilly. Mounjaro is FDA-approved as a diabetes treatment, whereas Zepbound is authorised for weight administration in adults with weight problems, or chubby adults with not less than 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 may help with weight administration whilst you’re taking them. However while you cease taking these medicine, your metabolic operate will revert again to its pre-medication state, and the quantity on the dimensions will possible observe go well with.
Listed below are a number of widespread unintended effects of stopping Mounjaro, Ozempic, and the like:
1. Your urge for food will make a comeback
“[Incretin mimetics’] major 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 possible regain a lot of the burden you misplaced
As soon as your urge for food is again in full swing, you’ll must preserve an in depth eye in your calorie consumption. “If the affected person shouldn’t be cautious, they will begin regaining weight,” Ali says.
One medical trial discovered that, a yr after stopping incretin mimetics, contributors had regained a median of two-thirds of the burden that they had initially misplaced. Their cardiometabolic enhancements went again to baseline, too.
3. Your blood sugar could rise
While 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 current peer-reviewed examine, researchers divided contributors 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 higher enhancements in blood glucose ranges than the dulaglutide group. Nonetheless, two months after stopping remedy, all 4 teams had re-elevated blood glucose ranges — and the tirzepatide teams have been already experiencing rebound weight achieve.
The examine 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 medicine like semaglutide and tirzepatide have an effect on the physique, quitting chilly turkey shouldn’t be suggested with out the steering 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 “fast rebound” in blood glucose ranges and weight achieve after stopping incretin mimetics. These results “usually are 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 doable to cease taking semaglutide and tirzepatide with out regaining a lot weight. However you’ll must be ready to make use of the next way of life methods:
“If a affected person is ready to make important, long-term dietary and way of life adjustments, then they’ve a greater probability of retaining the burden off when the drugs are stopped,” Ali says.
As all the time, it is very important bear in mind it’s best to 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 plenty of hype, but it surely’s necessary to notice that they’re supposed to be long-term remedies for persistent well being points — not only a fast approach to lose a number of cussed kilos.
“These drugs are designed for sufferers categorised as overweight with a physique mass index over 30, or over 27 with different co-morbid circumstances,” Ali says.
Even for many who meet the medical standards, a weight reduction drug is not any substitute for a balanced food plan and common train. Consuming nutrient-dense meals remains to be the easiest way to get the nutritional vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants you want. And a weight reduction treatment can’t stand in for train in relation to bettering energy, cardio capability, coronary heart well being, bone well being, and extra.
How Lengthy Do GLP-1 Medication Keep in Your System?
In keeping with the Meals and Drug Administration, the half-life of tirzepatide is about 5 days. Meaning while you cease taking these medicine, it could take round a month for the drug to be fully gone out of your physique.
The half-life of semaglutide is round seven days, so while you cease taking these medicine, 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, and so they’re supposed for use indefinitely. “Weight problems is being regarded as a persistent illness, comparable to diabetes or hypertension, so sufferers could must be on these drugs long-term,” Ali says.
