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 medication like Mounjaro, Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy, and Zepbound. Many individuals have reported dramatic weight reduction by taking all these medicines.

However what occurs while you cease taking incretin mimetics for weight reduction? Do you acquire weight again after quitting, or do it’s important to take them eternally to take care of your outcomes?

Quick reply: While you cease taking incretin mimetics, you’ll doubtless 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 primarily based in your insurance coverage plan, however they’ll add up rapidly, particularly if it’s important to issue them into your month-to-month funds eternally.

These medicines are additionally comparatively new to the scene, which suggests their long-term results is probably not absolutely 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, you must at all times discuss to your physician earlier than beginning (or stopping!) any treatment.

For those who’re contemplating incretin mimetics or their kin for weight reduction, right here’s what it’s worthwhile 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 potential 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 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 just a few key variations in terms of their mechanisms of motion and meant use.

Semaglutide mechanism of motion

These three medicines are manufactured by Novo Nordisk and include 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 kind 2 diabetes. Nevertheless, medical doctors will generally prescribe these medicines 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 meant for adults with weight problems or obese 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 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 treatment, whereas Zepbound is accredited for weight administration in adults with weight problems, or obese 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 can assist with weight administration whilst 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 doubtless observe go well with.

Listed here are just a few frequent uncomfortable side 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 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 maintain an in depth eye in your calorie consumption. “If the affected person just isn’t cautious, they’ll begin regaining weight,” Ali says.

One scientific trial discovered that, a 12 months after stopping incretin mimetics, members had regained a mean of two-thirds of the load 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 you might 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 kind 2 diabetes drug dulaglutide.

One 12 months later, all three tirzepatide teams had larger 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 have 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 just isn’t suggested with out the steering of a doctor. That mentioned, there isn’t a compelling proof that discontinuing their use will trigger critical withdrawal signs.

There is a rising physique of analysis, nonetheless, suggesting that many individuals expertise a “fast rebound” in blood glucose ranges and weight acquire after stopping incretin mimetics. These results “usually are not thought-about 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 doable to cease taking semaglutide and tirzepatide with out regaining a lot weight. However you’ll should 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 preserving the load off when the medicines are stopped,” Ali says.

As at all times, you will need to keep in mind you must at all times seek the advice of a healthcare supplier earlier than stopping and restarting Mounjaro, Ozempic, or every other such treatment.

Ought to You Take into account Taking Weight Loss Medicine?

Incretin mimetics could also be getting a variety of hype, nevertheless it’s essential to notice that they’re meant to be long-term therapies for continual well being points — not only a fast strategy to lose just a few 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 circumstances,” Ali says.

Even for individuals who meet the scientific 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 one of the best ways to get the nutritional vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants you want. And a weight reduction treatment can’t stand in for train in terms of bettering 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. Which means while 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 while 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 meant for use indefinitely. “Weight problems is being considered a continual illness, akin to diabetes or hypertension, so sufferers could should be on these medicines long-term,” Ali says.