If you happen to’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 some of these drugs.
However what occurs if you cease taking incretin mimetics for weight reduction? Do you achieve weight again after quitting, or do you must take them endlessly to take care of your outcomes?
Brief reply: Whenever you cease taking incretin mimetics, you’ll possible 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 fee — each Mounjaro and Ozempic have a listing worth 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 rapidly, particularly if you must issue them into your month-to-month finances endlessly.
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, in fact, you need to at all times discuss to your physician earlier than beginning (or stopping!) any medicine.
If you happen to’re contemplating incretin mimetics or their kin for weight reduction, right here’s what it’s essential 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 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. In consequence, 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 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, sluggish digestion, and suppress urge for food.
Ozempic (injectable) and Rybelsus (capsule kind) are each FDA-approved as first-line remedies for sort 2 diabetes. Nevertheless, 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 chubby adults with a minimum of 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 relatively 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 medicine, whereas Zepbound is accepted 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 Medicine for Weight Loss?
Incretin mimetics may also help with weight administration when you’re taking them. However if you cease taking these medication, your metabolic perform will revert again to its pre-medication state, and the quantity on the size will possible observe swimsuit.
Listed here 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’] major impact for weight reduction is to suppress the urge for food and sluggish the emptying of the abdomen,” Ali says. “As soon as the medicine 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 eager 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 will not be cautious, they will begin regaining weight,” Ali says.
One medical trial discovered that, a 12 months after stopping incretin mimetics, individuals had regained a median of two-thirds of the load that they had initially misplaced. Their cardiometabolic enhancements went again to baseline, too.
3. Your blood sugar might rise
Whenever 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 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 12 months later, all three tirzepatide teams had better enhancements in blood glucose ranges than the dulaglutide group. Nevertheless, 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 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 will not be suggested with out the steerage of a doctor. That stated, there is no such thing as a compelling proof that discontinuing their use will trigger critical withdrawal signs.
There is a rising physique of analysis, nevertheless, suggesting that many individuals expertise a “speedy rebound” in blood glucose ranges and weight achieve after stopping incretin mimetics. These results “aren’t 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 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 life-style methods:
“If a affected person is ready to make vital, long-term dietary and life-style modifications, then they’ve a greater likelihood of maintaining the load off when the drugs are stopped,” Ali says.
As at all times, it is very important keep in mind you need to at all times seek the advice of a healthcare supplier earlier than stopping and restarting Mounjaro, Ozempic, or another such medicine.
Ought to You Contemplate Taking Weight Loss Medicine?
Incretin mimetics could also be getting loads of hype, however it’s necessary to notice that they’re supposed to be long-term remedies for power well being points — not only a fast option to lose a number of cussed kilos.
“These drugs are designed for sufferers labeled as overweight with a physique mass index over 30, or over 27 with different co-morbid circumstances,” Ali says.
Even for individuals who meet the medical standards, a weight reduction drug isn’t any substitute for a balanced weight loss program 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 medicine can’t stand in for train in relation to enhancing energy, cardio capability, coronary heart well being, bone well being, and extra.
How Lengthy Do GLP-1 Medicine Keep in Your System?
In response to the Meals and Drug Administration, the half-life of tirzepatide is about 5 days. Which means if you cease taking these medication, it might 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 if you cease taking these medication, it might keep in your system for roughly 5 weeks after the final dose.
Nevertheless, 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 power illness, corresponding to diabetes or hypertension, so sufferers might must be on these drugs long-term,” Ali says.
