What Happens When You Stop Taking Ozempic and Wegovy?
TW: Talk of weight loss and weight loss medications
There is a lot of talk of the benefits of taking Ozempic and Wegovy off-label without a diabetes diagnosis,, but there is little discourse about the potential pitfalls of taking these drugs.
Here’s what you need to know about what happens when you stop taking ozempic, wegovy and other semi-glutides prescribed for weight loss. Note that this article is not talking about the use of these semi-glutide medications for diabetes management.
What is Ozempic/Wegovy?
Ozempic is a semaglutide that works as a GLP-1 receptor antagonist to help control blood sugar for people with diabetes. Wegovy is the same medication, just prescribed in a higher dose for weight loss. Ozempic is a medication intended to be a second/third line option for those who haven’t been able to successfully manage their diabetes. In clinical trials for Ozempic, it was observed that some people had the side effect of losing weight. This led to the creation of Wegovy, a higher dosed version of Ozempic to try to increase the frequency of the side effect of weight loss. Ozempic has been shown to be effective for those managing diabetes.
What are the effects of taking Ozempic/Wegovy?
Ozempic works to help control blood sugar levels and improve insulin secretion. The same thing applies to those taking Wegovy, except we don’t know the effect of someone taking a high dose diabetes medication when they don’t have diabetes. Concerns from clinicians are the impact on kidneys and pancreas long-term. Wegovy, and in clinical trials Ozempic, causes weight loss in some people due to three mechanisms:
Delayed gastric emptying
Wegovy/Ozempic causes your stomach to hold onto food for longer periods of time. This causes you to feel fuller for longer, which can lead to decreased hunger for some.
Imitation of satiety hormones
Wegovy/Ozempic mimics hormones that normally signal to your brain that you’re full. Even if your body is hungry and needs nourishment, Ozempic signals to your brain that you don’t need food.
Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
One of the biggest side effects of Wegovy/Ozempic is nausea that prevents many from eating throughout the day. This nausea can lead to episodes of vomiting, sometimes daily. Ozempic/Wegovy can also cause gastrointestinal distress that leads to loose bowels and/or diarrhea.
What happens when you stop taking Wegovy and Ozempic when you don’t have diabetes?
There’s a multitude of reasons why you might need to stop taking the medication. For example, it’s very expensive, there are often shortages of the medication, insurance might withhold coverage, the side effects may be harming you physically and mentally, and providers might suddenly stop prescribing Wegovy/Ozempic.
If you stop taking Ozempic/ Wegovy, here’s what you might experience physically and mentally, and how to cope with it.
Physical effects of stopping Ozempic and Wegovy:
Increased hunger - If you stop taking Ozempic, you no longer have extra satiety hormones floating around. Your digestive system begins to function properly and your stomach begins emptying food at a normalized pace. And, as your body tries to stabilize weight and normalize digestive function, it works overtime and requires more calories and more food. As a result, you will most likely experience stronger hunger than before taking Ozempic/Wegovy.
Weight gain - When you stop taking Ozempic/Wegovy, it stops working. This means that when you are no longer taking the medication, you are no longer going to experience the effect of weight loss, which data shows only about 7% of people taking the medication experience. Your hormones start functioning properly, you become more hungry, and your body starts to return to its desired weight, even if this weight is not preferable to you.
Changes in gastrointestinal function - When you stop taking Ozempic/Wegovy, you may experience changes in your gastrointestinal function. When motility has slowed (ie the movement of food in your digestive system) and then it speeds up because you aren't taking the medication, this can lead to gas pains, bloating, constipation and the feeling like food is just sitting in your stomach. These changes can affect your ability to eat and maintain nourishment.
Mental effects of stopping Ozempic and Wegovy:
Dissatisfaction with body image - The experience of weight loss, and then subsequent weight gain, can add strain to your relationship with your body. You might find it difficult to accept your body and the weight gain, especially seeing that you started taking Ozmepic/Wegovy for weight loss, and this might lead to harmful thoughts and beliefs about food and body image and feelings of failure.
Feelings of anxiety about strong hunger cues - It can be overwhelming to experience normal hunger cues after being on Ozempic. You might feel as if you’re binge eating, or become frustrated that your cravings are so strong. These feelings can evoke a lot of stress and fear around food. It’s also common to feel what some call “extreme hunger” after taking ozempic/wegovy due to the suppression of appetite for the amount of time you were on the medication.
Intentional compensation to “make up for'' no longer taking Ozempic/Wegovy - Taking steps to “compensate” for no longer taking Ozempic/Wegovy by restricting food, purging, over-exercising or other harmful behaviors in order to maintain weight loss or lose more weight is common. These behaviors are harmful and can lead to the development of an eating disorder.
3 Tips to Remember When Stopping Ozempic/ Wegovy
#1. It’s okay, normal, and expected for your appetite to increase.
It’s normal for you to have an increased appetite after stopping Ozempic. Your body is trying to return to its normal weight and help your digestive system start functioning properly again. Your body is essentially working in overdrive to get things back to where they were before you started taking the mediation. During this time, it’s important to honor your body’s food cravings, and know that this intense hunger and appetite will pass.
#2. Weight gain and/or intense hunger cues is to be expected.
Diet and wellness culture continue to perpetuate harmful food and body ideals. There will always be a fad diet, a new medication, or some modality of a new “program” infused with weight stigma. If you stop taking Ozempic and experience weight gain or intense hunger cues, your body is doing exactly what it’s supposed to do. It’s your body’s way of asking for nourishment and honoring what it needs.
#3. Be patient with your body and practice self-compassion.
Medications like Ozempic can be really taxing on your body. It’s likely that you will feel out of touch with your body, or like you don’t have control over what’s happening. In moments like these, it’s important to be patient with yourself and practice self-compassion. Know that you and your body are doing the best you can in this moment. Practicing mindfulness in order to reconnect with your body is helpful after stopping a medication like Ozempic.
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Wondering if you should take Ozempic? Have you been recommended Wegovy or a different semi-glutide and you want support from a dietitian while you’re on it? Curious to know more about Ozempic/Wegovy and what happens when you stop taking it?
Bravespace Nutrition’s dietitians are here to answer all your Ozempic, Wegovy and other semi-glutide medication questions! Our caring, nonjudgmental dietitians are here to help learn the truth about nutrition and meet you where you are at with food and body. We know how confusing nutrition can be, and we’re here to help support you in your nutrition journey. To get started, schedule a free 15-minute discovery phone call today!