Study throws light on what happens when you stop weight-loss drugs

Weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy have become popular worldwide. Many people have also reported suffering some serious side effects. However, quitting the drugs can also lead to severe health issues, as per a study. 

The two drugs contain semaglutide, which is the active ingredient in them. Researchers found that most people who stopped taking it regained nearly two-thirds of the weight they had lost. They also saw deteriorating health issues, such as higher blood pressure and cholesterol and increased risk of heart disease, Daily Mail reported.

Wegovy and Ozempic trigger weight loss by mimicking the actions of a hormone called GLP-1 in the brain, making one feel full and helping regulate appetite. 

The study done by Northwestern University researchers states that it is not clear how stopping GLP-1 RAs affects heart health in the long term. However, it might increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The report was published in JAMA. 

The researchers stated, "Nearly 30 per cent of individuals discontinued semaglutide in the SELECT trial, with real-world estimates for GLP-1 RA discontinuation in the range of 50 to 75 per cent at 12 months."

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Ozempic, Wegovy for weight loss

In the US, nearly 12 per cent of adults said that they had used a GLP-1 receptor agonist. Six per cent of people said they were still using it. The study noted that around 85 per cent of those who had started taking the drugs stopped using them within two years. Nearly 71 per cent stopped using them within the first year. This was either because they had reached their desired weight or because they found them too expensive to continue. Notably, Ozempic and Wegovy can cost around $1,000 per month. 

Notably, semaglutide took the market by storm and was found to be effective in treating diabetes and obesity. Other research also suggested that taking these drugs can also lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke.

Now researchers are saying it is important to understand whether taking the drugs offers any lasting health benefits or whether the downsides of stopping the drugs outweigh the pros of taking them. 

The researchers did not say whether people need to take these drugs forever in order to ensure continued benefits. But their findings hint that long-term use might be needed to maintain the benefits.