In case you’ve been looking for 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 all these medicines.
However what occurs whenever you cease taking incretin mimetics for weight reduction? Do you achieve weight again after quitting, or do you must take them without end to take care of your outcomes?
Brief reply: Once 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 price — 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’ll add up rapidly, particularly if you must issue them into your month-to-month funds without end.
These medicines are additionally comparatively new to the scene, which implies their long-term results is probably not 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, in fact, you need to all the time discuss to your physician earlier than beginning (or stopping!) any treatment.
In case you’re contemplating incretin mimetics or their kin for weight reduction, right here’s what it’s good to 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 capability to take care of wholesome blood sugar ranges. It additionally helps scale 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 medication all work in comparatively related methods, there are a couple of key variations in the case of their mechanisms of motion and meant 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 therapies for kind 2 diabetes. Nonetheless, docs will generally prescribe these medicines 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 meant for adults with weight problems or chubby adults with no 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 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 permitted for weight administration in adults with weight problems, or chubby adults with no 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 Medicine for Weight Loss?
Incretin mimetics can assist with weight administration whilst you’re taking them. However whenever you cease taking these medication, your metabolic perform will revert again to its pre-medication state, and the quantity on the dimensions will possible observe swimsuit.
Listed here are a couple of frequent 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 treatment 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 desirous to eat extra.”
2. You’ll possible regain a lot of the load you misplaced
As soon as your urge for food is again in full swing, you’ll have to hold an in depth eye in your calorie consumption. “If the affected person just isn’t cautious, they’ll begin regaining weight,” Ali says.
One medical trial discovered that, a 12 months after stopping incretin mimetics, members had regained a median of two-thirds of the load 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 chances are you’ll discover a rise in your blood glucose ranges. In a latest peer-reviewed examine, researchers divided members into 4 teams. Three teams took tirzepatide in various doses, whereas the fourth group was given the kind 2 diabetes drug dulaglutide.
One 12 months 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 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 medication like semaglutide and tirzepatide have an effect on the physique, quitting chilly turkey just isn’t 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, nonetheless, suggesting that many individuals expertise a “speedy rebound” in blood glucose ranges and weight achieve 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 objectives, it could be potential 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 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 maintaining the load off when the medicines are stopped,” Ali says.
As all the time, you will need to keep in mind you need 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 Think about Taking Weight Loss Medicine?
Incretin mimetics could also be getting loads of hype, however it’s necessary to notice that they’re meant to be long-term therapies for continual well being points — not only a fast strategy to lose a couple of cussed kilos.
“These medicines 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 is not any substitute for a balanced weight-reduction 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 the case of enhancing power, cardio capability, coronary heart well being, bone well being, and extra.
How Lengthy Do GLP-1 Medicine Keep in Your System?
In line with the Meals and Drug Administration, the half-life of tirzepatide is about 5 days. Meaning whenever 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 whenever 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 meant for use indefinitely. “Weight problems is being considered a continual illness, corresponding to diabetes or hypertension, so sufferers could have to be on these medicines long-term,” Ali says.