For those who’ve been trying to find new methods to advance your weight reduction efforts, you’ve in all probability heard about incretin mimetic medicine like Mounjaro, Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy, and Zepbound. Many individuals have reported dramatic weight reduction by taking a majority of these medicines.
However what occurs if 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 take care of your outcomes?
Quick reply: If you cease taking incretin mimetics, you’ll doubtless 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 worth of about $1,000 for a month’s provide. Out-of-pocket prices will differ based mostly in your insurance coverage plan, however they will add up shortly, particularly if it’s a must to issue them into your month-to-month funds ceaselessly.
These medicines are additionally comparatively new to the scene, which implies their long-term results is probably not totally 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, it’s best to all the time discuss to your physician earlier than beginning (or stopping!) any remedy.
For those who’re contemplating incretin mimetics or their kin for weight reduction, right here’s what it is advisable know.
How Do Mounjaro and Ozempic Work?
Mounjaro, Zepbound, Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy work by mimicking metabolic hormones known as incretins. Therefore, these medicine are known as incretin mimetics.
This hormonal mimicry enhances the physique’s skill to take care of wholesome blood sugar ranges. It additionally helps cut back urge for food and meals consumption by making you are feeling full quicker and for longer after consuming. Because of this, many individuals expertise weight reduction as a secondary impact.
Whereas these medicine all work in comparatively comparable methods, there are just a few key variations in the case of their mechanisms of motion and supposed use.
Semaglutide mechanism of motion
These three medicines 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 sort 2 diabetes. Nonetheless, docs will generally prescribe these medicines off-label — i.e., not as directed — for weight reduction.
Wegovy, however, is an FDA-approved, injectable model of semaglutide formulated particularly for weight administration. It’s supposed for adults with weight problems or obese adults with at the very least 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 ends in 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 moderately 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 remedy, whereas Zepbound is permitted for weight administration in adults with weight problems, or obese adults with at the very least 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 Medicine for Weight Loss?
Incretin mimetics will help with weight administration when you’re taking them. However if you cease taking these medicine, your metabolic perform will revert again to its pre-medication state, and the quantity on the dimensions will doubtless observe go well with.
Listed below are just a few widespread negative 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 remedy is stopped, the urge for food returns to its earlier state and the abdomen resumes emptying on the regular charge. These processes can result in an individual eager to eat extra.”
2. You’ll doubtless regain a lot of the load you misplaced
As soon as your urge for food is again in full swing, you’ll have to preserve a detailed eye in your calorie consumption. “If the affected person will not be cautious, they will begin regaining weight,” Ali says.
One medical trial discovered that, a yr after stopping incretin mimetics, individuals had regained a mean of two-thirds of the load they’d initially misplaced. Their cardiometabolic enhancements went again to baseline, too.
3. Your blood sugar could rise
If 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 sort 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 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 medicine like semaglutide and tirzepatide have an effect on the physique, quitting chilly turkey will not be suggested with out the steerage of a doctor. That mentioned, there isn’t any compelling proof that discontinuing their use will trigger severe withdrawal signs.
There is a rising physique of analysis, nevertheless, suggesting that many individuals expertise a “fast 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 objectives, it might be attainable to cease taking semaglutide and tirzepatide with out regaining a lot weight. However you’ll should be ready to make use of the next way of life methods:
“If a affected person is ready to make vital, long-term dietary and way of life modifications, then they’ve a greater likelihood of retaining the load off when the medicines 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 every other such remedy.
Ought to You Take into account Taking Weight Loss Medicine?
Incretin mimetics could also be getting lots of hype, nevertheless it’s essential to notice that they’re supposed to be long-term remedies for continual well being points — not only a fast method to lose just a few cussed kilos.
“These medicines are designed for sufferers categorised 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 weight-reduction plan and common train. Consuming nutrient-dense meals remains to be one of the simplest ways to get the nutritional vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants you want. And a weight reduction remedy can’t stand in for train in the case of enhancing energy, cardio capability, coronary heart well being, bone well being, and extra.
How Lengthy Do GLP-1 Medicine Keep in Your System?
In keeping with the Meals and Drug Administration, the half-life of tirzepatide is about 5 days. Which means if you cease taking these medicine, it might 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 if you cease taking these medicine, it might keep in your system for roughly 5 weeks after the final dose.
Nonetheless, to take care of their effectiveness, semaglutides and tirzepatides are prescribed for weekly use, and so they’re supposed for use indefinitely. “Weight problems is being considered a continual illness, reminiscent of diabetes or hypertension, so sufferers could should be on these medicines long-term,” Ali says.
