Guidelines for discontinuing semaglutide

What should I do if I stop taking the weight-loss miracle drug Semaglutide?

Many factors can force patients to stop taking the weight-loss drug Semaglutide

In recent years, GLP-1 receptor agonist based weight loss drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic have become popular worldwide. According to statistics, two-thirds of people in the United States who started taking such drugs in 2021 stopped taking them within a year. As doctors, we believe that Semaglutide needs to be taken for life, but many factors can force patients to stop taking it, including:

1. Medicines are expensive and difficult to pay for in the long term

   
   

2. Serious side effects such as nausea and vomiting

   
   

3. Continuous shortage of drug supply

   
   

4. Limited term medical insurance benefits (such as the UK NHS only reimbursing medication for 2 years)

What would happen if Semaglutide were discontinued? 

Weight rebound: After discontinuing medication, most of the weight loss effects will be lost. In a clinical trial, patients lost an average of 17.3% weight after taking medication and changing their lifestyle, and their weight rebounded by two-thirds one year after discontinuing the medication. This is because the human body naturally maintains its inherent weight, and this tension will recover after discontinuing medication.

Recurrent metabolic problems: After discontinuing medication, the patient's waist circumference, blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and other indicators will deteriorate. Abdominal fat accumulation is closely related to diseases such as fatty liver, heart disease, and insulin resistance.

Appetite rebound: Some patients have reported feeling hungry more easily after discontinuing medication than before.

However, there are still a small number of people who can maintain their weight after discontinuing medication by changing their diet and exercise. In addition, not everyone is effective with Smegglutide. In a clinical trial, nearly 14% of patients who took the medication for over a year still did not reach the threshold of 5% weight loss.

If medication must be discontinued, the following strategies can be adopted:

Gradually reducing the dosage instead of suddenly stopping the medication can help prevent appetite rebound

Continue to maintain the dietary and exercise habits developed during the medication period, and receive mental health counseling

Try other weight loss drugs such as orlistat, or consider weight loss surgery

If weight rebounds, start medication again in a timely manner