In the event you’ve been trying to find new methods to advance your weight reduction efforts, you’ve in all probability 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 acquire weight again after quitting, or do you need to take them ceaselessly to take care of your outcomes?
Quick reply: Once you cease taking incretin mimetics, you’ll probably 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 fee — each Mounjaro and Ozempic have a listing value of about $1,000 for a month’s provide. Out-of-pocket prices will fluctuate primarily based in your insurance coverage plan, however they will add up rapidly, particularly if you need to issue them into your month-to-month finances ceaselessly.
These drugs are additionally comparatively new to the scene, which implies their long-term results might not be totally 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, after all, you need to at all times speak to your physician earlier than beginning (or stopping!) any remedy.
In the event you’re contemplating incretin mimetics or their kin for weight reduction, right here’s what you have to know.
How Do Mounjaro and Ozempic Work?
Mounjaro, Zepbound, Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy work by mimicking metabolic hormones referred to as incretins. Therefore, these medication are known as incretin mimetics.
This hormonal mimicry enhances the physique’s capability to take care of 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. In consequence, many individuals expertise weight reduction as a secondary impact.
Whereas these medication all work in comparatively related methods, there are a couple of key variations relating 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 (capsule kind) are each FDA-approved as first-line therapies for sort 2 diabetes. Nonetheless, docs will typically prescribe these drugs 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 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 fairly 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 remedy, whereas Zepbound is accepted 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 may help with weight administration when you’re taking them. However while you cease taking these medication, your metabolic operate will revert again to its pre-medication state, and the quantity on the size will probably comply with go well with.
Listed here are a couple of widespread unintended 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 fee. These processes can result in an individual eager 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 have to 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, members 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 might rise
Once you cease taking incretin mimetics, Ali says, insulin secretion returns to its earlier state and you could discover a rise in your blood glucose ranges. In a current peer-reviewed research, researchers divided members 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 had been already experiencing rebound weight acquire.
The research authors concluded that their findings “counsel 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 shouldn’t 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 acquire after stopping incretin mimetics. These results “will not be 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 potential 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 vital, long-term dietary and way of life adjustments, then they’ve a greater probability of protecting the burden off when the drugs are stopped,” Ali says.
As at all times, you will need to keep in mind you need to at all times seek the advice of a healthcare supplier earlier than stopping and restarting Mounjaro, Ozempic, or some other such remedy.
Ought to You Think about Taking Weight Loss Medicine?
Incretin mimetics could also be getting a variety of hype, but it surely’s necessary to notice that they’re supposed to be long-term therapies for power well being points — not only a fast option to lose a couple 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 isn’t any substitute for a balanced weight loss plan and common train. Consuming nutrient-dense meals remains to be one of the best ways to get the nutritional vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants you want. And a weight reduction remedy can’t stand in for train relating to bettering energy, cardio capability, coronary heart well being, bone well being, and extra.
How Lengthy Do GLP-1 Medicine Keep in Your System?
Based on 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 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 regarded as a power illness, equivalent to diabetes or hypertension, so sufferers might must be on these drugs long-term,” Ali says.