10 Things That Happen When Stopping Ozempic/Wegovy (Semaglutide)

Ozempic has shortly develop into the world’s hottest weight reduction medicine, intently adopted by Wegovy. Despite the fact that they had been created to deal with Sort 2 Diabetes, these injectable semaglutide weight problems medicine have develop into the ‘go-to’ weight administration answer for tens of millions of individuals the world over.

There isn’t any doubt that Ozempic and Wegovy will help you drop some weight. That is primarily as a result of semaglutide’s potential to reduce your urge for food and promote a sense of fullness. It additionally helps to control blood sugar ranges. However what occurs while you cease taking the medicine? Will you regain all the load you misplaced? Will you endure withdrawal signs or worse? Learn on to find the ten issues you possibly can count on while you cease taking Ozempic or Wegovy.

What Occurs When You Cease Taking Ozempic or Wegovy?

Here is what you possibly can count on to occur within the days and weeks after stopping your Ozempic or Wegovy injections.

1. Blood Sugar Stage Adjustments

Semaglutide helps to manage an individual’s urge for food, in order that they eat much less meals. That signifies that, amongst different issues, they’re taking in fewer advanced carbohydrates. Because of this, they’re much less more likely to expertise spikes of their blood sugar ranges. These fluctuations trigger a cascade of issues, together with sugar cravings and power crashes.

Whenever you cease taking a semaglutide medicine, your consumption of carbohydrates is more likely to improve. Because of this, you will as soon as once more be vulnerable to blood sugar degree spikes and the entire issues that include them.

2. Your Urge for food Will Return

Semaglutide, the energetic ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It mimics the exercise of the GLP-1 hormone, which the physique releases after we eat meals. This slows down abdomen emptying, which helps keep a sense of fullness.GLP-1 receptors have additionally been proven to have an effect on the mind’s urge for food management heart. This contributes to a sense of fullness.

Whenever you cease taking a semaglutide-containing medicine, this synthetic feeling of fullness will not be current. Because of this, you’ll possible expertise an elevated urge for food, resulting in larger calorie consumption.

3. You Will Most likely Regain Weight

With the intention to drop some weight, you must create a unfavorable calorie stability. Which means you have to devour fewer energy every day than your physique requires to satisfy all of its power wants. This forces your physique to attract on its saved power within the type of extra physique fats to make up the distinction.

Ozempic and Wegovy aid you to eat much less by stabilizing blood glucose ranges and selling a sense of fullness.

The cumulative impact of the blood glucose spikes and elevated urge for food that you’ll possible expertise after stopping Ozempic or Wegovy injections is that you’ll eat extra. This elevated caloric consumption will interrupt the unfavorable calorie stability that you simply had been in a position to keep while you had been on the drug. Because of this, you possibly can count on to expertise some weight regain after you go off your injections.

A 2022 research seemed on the quantity of weight regained after taking semaglutide drugs. The research cohort consisted of 1961 overweight adults who didn’t have Sort 2 diabetes. They had been divided into two teams and given both 2.4 mg injections of semaglutide or a placebo for 68 weeks. At that time, the injections had been discontinued.

After 68 weeks, the semaglutide group misplaced a median of 17.1% of their physique weight, in comparison with 6.1% for the placebo group. The take a look at topics had been assessed 52 weeks after stopping remedy (120 weeks after beginning). The semaglutide group had regained 11.6% of their misplaced weight, in contrast with 2% for the placebo group. [1]

It needs to be famous that each research teams made wholesome life-style adjustments throughout the research interval and afterward. These included common train and making wholesome meals selections. How a lot weight you’ll lose or regain is very particular person.

I went on Reddit to gauge the expertise of Ozemic customers after stopping injections. Nearly all of commenters skilled substantial rebound weight achieve, typically making them heavier than they had been earlier than beginning injections. Here’s a typical remark:

I needed to go off Ozempic and took my final dose on March 13. Since going off, I really feel hungry – SO hungry/HANGRY – nearly on a regular basis. Like a frantic starvation, and I am serious about meals always. I’ve gained weight regardless of consuming extra salads and strolling extra. My parts and frequency of consuming are simply elevated as a result of I am hungry on a regular basis.

So, though this drug was actually useful, I really feel prefer it was a brief repair FOR APPETITE/WEIGHT LOSS and I used to be fairly shortly again to my earlier struggles after stopping it.

(Source)

4. ‘Ozempic Face’ Will Go Away

Individuals who drop some weight in a short time are more likely to find yourself with a gaunt look to the face. This has come to be often called Ozempic face. That may be a results of the lack of fats within the cheeks and jowls. Some folks think about this to be an unhealthy look.

Whenever you cease taking a semaglutide medicine, you might be more likely to expertise some weight regain within the type of physique fats. That match will situate itself throughout your physique, together with in your cheeks and jowls. Which means you’ll lose your Ozempic face.



5. Aspect Results Might Subside

The most typical uncomfortable side effects of taking a semaglutide medicine like Ozempic or Wegovy are gastrointestinal issues akin to nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and abdomen ache. Some folks may expertise redness, swelling, or ache on the injection website. Others could discover that their blood stress and coronary heart price improve.

Whenever you cease taking these medicine, you possibly can count on that the gastrointestinal uncomfortable side effects will subside. Nonetheless, IO famous that multiple Reddit commenter said that they really skilled extra nausea once they went off Ozempic, as famous beneath:

Put together for some critical nausea while you cease. I missed every week as a result of journey and forgetting the Ozempic at house. Was one of many worst experiences of my life.

(Source)

If you’re experiencing injection website points, these will clearly subside while you cease injecting.

6. Metabolic Adjustments

You’ll possible scale back your caloric consumption while you begin taking Ozempic or Wegovy injections. The physique responds to this decrease power consumption by going into hunger mode. A part of that response contains lowering the metabolism to preserve power. Your resting metabolic price (RMR), which measures how a lot power is required for primary physiological functioning, will go down.

Whenever you cease taking Ozempic or Wegovy, your physique will take a while for the RMR to revert to regular. Should you abruptly improve your caloric consumption, as is almost definitely, you’ll expertise elevated rebound weight achieve as a result of your slower metabolism.

7. Adjustments in Insulin Sensitivity

Semaglutide drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. They improve the discharge of insulin and reduce glucagon ranges, it helps to manage blood glucose ranges. It additionally improves insulin sensitivity in order that your cells reply to insulin extra successfully.

Whenever you cease taking Ozempic or Wegovy diabetes drug injections, your insulin ranges will return to what they had been earlier than you began taking the drug. You will additionally discover that you’ll not reply as effectively to carbohydrates, presumably resulting in blood sugar fluctuations.

8. Digestive Adjustments

Ozempic and Wegovy might be arduous on the digestive system. Nausea, acid, reflux, diarrhea, and constipation are widespread uncomfortable side effects. All of those ought to subside or cease altogether while you go off the medicine. You will additionally really feel much less full while you cease taking a semaglutide medicine.

These adjustments in urge for food and fullness could have an effect on your consuming sample and meals consumption patterns. For instance, you might be more likely to find yourself snacking extra typically while you cease taking a semaglutide drug.

Whenever you cease taking Ozempic, your abdomen will empty at a sooner gastric price. In addition to making you extra hungry sooner, this may increasingly result in spikes in insulin ranges after a meal.

9. Fluctuating Power Ranges

Whenever you take Ozempic or Wegovy, your blood sugar ranges will possible stabilize. This promotes a good, constant degree of power. Nonetheless, while you go off your medicine, the stabilizing impact of semaglutide will not be current. This may increasingly lead to fluctuating power ranges.

The adjustments in urge for food that happen while you cease taking Ozempic may have an effect on an individual’s power ranges. For instance, cravings for sugary snack meals could trigger a fast burst of power, with a subsequent sudden crash.

10. You Might Have Cravings

Meals cravings are widespread while you cease taking Ozempic or Wegovy. They outcome from the fluctuating insulin and blood sugar ranges already mentioned, in addition to the elevated urge for food ensuing from elevated gastric emptying. Some folks will expertise extra extreme meals cravings than others. In addition they could not happen instantly however construct up over a interval of weeks.

The next expertise from a Reddit commenter is widespread to lots of people:

Hi there there! Stopped Ozempic 3 weeks in the past. The primary two weeks after stopping, apetite was manageable. I get hungry however not dangerous. However now week 3! apetite got here again so arduous. I really feel like consuming every little thing and I can not management it. Hope it will get higher will preserve you up to date. Any concept learn how to management my urge for food with out the drug?

(Source)

Why Cease Taking Ozempic?

Ozempic is a diabetic medicine designed to manage blood sugar ranges. In that setting, it’s supposed to be taken long-term. Individuals who select to take Ozempic for weight reduction could resolve to finish their use for quite a lot of causes. These could embrace:

1. Price: Ozempic is an injectable medicine that comes within the type of a pen containing 4 doses. You are taking one weekly injection, so 4 doses will final a month. You’ll pay just below $1000 for that month’s provide. That may be a prohibitive value for many individuals and will trigger them to cease taking the medicine.
2. Attain Objective Weight: Folks would possibly cease taking Ozempic once they attain their desired weight.
3. Aspect Results: Widespread Ozempic uncomfortable side effects embrace nausea, diarrhea, and gastric discomfort. Their severity differs between people. If an individual is affected by these results, they might resolve to cease taking the drug.
4. Being pregnant: Girls who develop into pregnant or who’re planning to take action ought to focus on their use of Ozempic or Wegovy with their healthcare supplier. The usage of these semaglutide medicine is usually not beneficial for pregnant or nursing girls.



Preserving Weight Off After Ozempic

Weight regain is without doubt one of the largest results of stopping Ozempic or Wegovy injections. Although quite common, this weight rebound will not be inevitable. Listed below are half a dozen issues you possibly can to maintain the load off when you cease utilizing Ozempic.

1. Comply with a Wholesome Weight loss program

It’s best to transition to a nutritious diet when you are nonetheless on Ozempic or Wegovy. The next three wholesome diet habits you to proceed dropping pounds after you cease Ozempic or Wegovy injections:

Behavior One: Eat 3 Instances Per Day

Every consuming event triggers a rise in insulin ranges, with insulin enjoying a pivotal function in weight achieve. Choosing three meals a day helps decrease insulin launch. It additionally means slicing out snacks, which can assist scale back complete caloric consumption. Plan to eat your breakfast at roughly 8 am, lunch between 12-1 pm, and dinner between 6 and seven pm.

Behavior Two: Keep on with the 1-2-3 Rule

Whereas the macronutrient composition of your meals holds significance, meticulous gram counting is not a sustainable method. Simplify the method by seeing your plate divided into six segments. Allocate one phase for wholesome fat, dedicate two segments to protein, and assign three segments to low glycemic index carbohydrates (akin to plant meals above floor).

Behavior Three: Lean Protein

Embody a high-quality lean protein supply with each meal. Whereas protein is usually related to muscle constructing, it additionally aids in weight reduction. Among the many macronutrients, protein has the very best satiety, contributing to a sense of fullness. Protein additionally has a larger thermic impact, requiring extra power (energy) for digestion and absorption than fats or carbohydrate-based meals.

2. Common Train

The Facilities for Illness Management (CDC) recommends getting at the very least 150 minutes of train per week for general well being advantages. In case your aim is to drop some weight, it’s best to do at the very least that a lot train to profit your cardiovascular system and burn energy. Focus on workouts that transfer your entire physique with compound actions. Some efficient choices are rowing, swimming, operating, and leaping rope.

Carry out a mixture of gradual, steady-state train and Excessive-Depth Interval Coaching. Your steady-state exercises needs to be at a tempo the place you would converse however with some problem. This equates to coaching at Zone 2 of the 5 coronary heart price zones, being between 60-70% of your most coronary heart price. Analysis exhibits that is the very best fat-loss zone [2].

Excessive Depth Interval Coaching (HIIT) entails switching between quick, intense bursts of exercise and even shorter relaxation durations. A well-liked type of HIIT is the 20/10 protocol, the place you go all out for twenty seconds after which recuperate for ten seconds. That is repeated for eight rounds. [3]

3. Conscious Consuming Practices

Conscious consuming entails making use of the rules of mindfulness on the dinner desk. It is all about connecting together with your meals by slowing down, having fun with it, and being within the second. By doing this, you possibly can get pleasure from higher the flavour, texture, and style of what you place into your mouth. 

Conscious eaters are extra conscious of their actual starvation degree and will probably be higher in a position to gauge fullness to know when to cease.

The next ideas will aid you to develop into a conscious eater:

• Earlier than taking the primary chew, ask your self in case you are hungry. Are you consuming out of behavior or as a result of it is time to take action? Or are you utilizing meals to cope with stress or boredom? 
• Do not do different issues when you’re consuming. When you have the behavior of watching TV or working in your laptop whereas consuming your dinner, begin weaning your self off that behavior. Give your full consideration to your meal.
• Eat extra slowly. Cease shoveling meals into your mouth as should you’re on a mission to get it over with. Study to get pleasure from each mouthful. Put your utensils down between bites and converse together with your dinnermates. By slowing down, you’ll enhance your physique’s potential to digest your meals, and you’ll admire it rather more.
• Pause midway by way of the meal. Give your self a fast starvation test. Are you continue to hungry? Bear in mind, you wouldn’t have to complete off the entire plate should you already really feel happy.

4. Make Use of the Starvation Gauge

The starvation gauge is a helpful instrument that can help you assess your starvation and whether or not your want is for meals or one thing else. There are six ranges to the starvation gauge as follows:

• Stage One: You’re ravenously hungry, feeling faint, and unable to consider the rest.
• Stage Two: You’re extraordinarily hungry, experiencing abdomen rumbles and fatigue.
• Stage Three: You’ve a reasonable however manageable starvation degree. You sit up for consuming however aren’t determined for meals.
• Stage 4: You’re feeling pleasantly full. 
• Stage 5: You’ve eaten an excessive amount of and really feel stuffed. You realize it’s best to have stopped earlier than dessert and now really feel uncomfortably overfed.
• Stage Six: You’re feeling bloated. You’ve gone fully overboard and now really feel like a beached whale. 

It’s best to eat while you attain degree three when you’re reasonably hungry. Cease while you attain Stage 4, the place you might be pleasantly full. 

Through the use of the Starvation Gauge, it is possible for you to to keep away from overeating, guaranteeing that you’re placing meals into your physique for the proper motive.

FAQs

Will I expertise withdrawal signs once I cease taking Ozempic?

No, you’ll not expertise withdrawal signs while you go off Ozempic. That’s as a result of it isn’t an addictive drug. You shouldn’t have physiological cravings for Ozempic within the days and weeks after you cease utilizing it. Nonetheless, should you achieve weight and have a sudden improve in starvation, you might have a robust psychological want to renew your remedy.

How Can I stop weight regain after I cease utilizing Ozempic?

One of the best ways to keep away from regaining the load you could have misplaced whereas on Ozempic is to watch your caloric consumption strictly. Your aim needs to be to take care of the identical every day caloric consumption that you simply had whereas on the drug. It’s best to train a number of instances every week to burn further energy and keep away from excessive glycemic index carbohydrate meals in favor of lean proteins and wholesome fat.

Will Ozempic uncomfortable side effects cease once I discontinue my injections?

Sure, the uncomfortable side effects of taking Ozempic ought to disappear when you cease taking the drug. The most typical uncomfortable side effects are nausea, abdomen ache, diarrhea, and constipation. About one in three Ozempic customers expertise a number of of those results. They normally subside over time, however for some folks, they persist. For them, stopping Ozempic injections will be the solely option to get aid.



Wrap Up

There are a variety of causes that an individual would possibly cease taking Ozempic or Wegovy. On this article, we have coated the ten commonest issues that can occur to you when you cease your injections.

Whereas many individuals regain many of the weight they’ve misplaced, there are issues you are able to do to make sure that the fats stays off while you cease your medicine. Set up and keep a wholesome, calorie-reduced weight-reduction plan, burn energy by way of train, monitor blood sugar ranges, be taught to eat mindfully, and tackle emotional consuming points. If you are able to do this stuff earlier than you go off your injections, your transition to being semaglutide-free will probably be extra seamless, permitting you to keep away from the commonest issues.

References:

1. Wilding, J. P. H., Batterham, R. L., Davies, M., Van Gaal, L. F., Kandler, Ok., Konakli, Ok., Lingvay, I., et al. (2022). Weight regain and cardiometabolic results after withdrawal of semaglutide: The STEP 1 trial extension. Diabetes, Weight problems and Metabolism. Advance on-line publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.14725
2. Knechtle B. Belastungsintensität und Fettverbrennung–Theoretische Grundlagen und praktische Uberlegungen [Exercise intensity and fat burning–theoretical principles and practical considerations]. Praxis (Bern 1994). 2002 Might 22;91(21):915-9. German. doi: 10.1024/0369-8394.91.21.915. PMID: 12085547.
3. D’Amuri A, Sanz JM, Capatti E, Di Vece F, Vaccari F, Lazzer S, Zuliani G, Dalla Nora E, Passaro A. Effectiveness of high-intensity interval coaching for weight reduction in adults with weight problems: a randomised managed non-inferiority trial. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2021 Jul 20;7(3):e001021. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2020-001021. PMID: 34367654; PMCID: PMC8292807.