Ozempic has quickly become the world's most popular weight loss medication, closely followed by Wegovy. Even though they were created to treat Type 2 Diabetes, these injectable semaglutide obesity drugs have become the 'go-to' weight management solution for millions of people the world over.
There is no doubt that Ozempic and Wegovy can help you lose weight. This is mainly due to semaglutide's ability to lessen your appetite and promote a feeling of fullness. It also helps to regulate blood sugar levels. But what happens when you stop taking the medication? Will you regain all the weight you lost? Will you suffer withdrawal symptoms or worse? Read on to discover the ten things you can expect when you stop taking Ozempic or Wegovy.
What Happens When You Stop Taking Ozempic or Wegovy?
Here's what you can expect to happen in the days and weeks after stopping your Ozempic or Wegovy injections.
1. Blood Sugar Level Changes
Semaglutide helps to control a person's appetite, so they eat less food. That means that, among other things, they are taking in fewer complex carbohydrates. As a result, they are less likely to experience spikes in their blood sugar levels. These fluctuations cause a cascade of problems, including sugar cravings and energy crashes.
When you stop taking a semaglutide medication, your consumption of carbohydrates is likely to increase. As a result, you'll once again be prone to blood sugar level spikes and all of the problems that come with them.
2. Your Appetite Will Return
Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It mimics the activity of the GLP-1 hormone, which the body releases when we eat food. This slows down stomach emptying, which helps maintain a feeling of fullness.GLP-1 receptors have also been shown to affect the brain’s appetite control center. This contributes to a feeling of fullness.
When you stop taking a semaglutide-containing medication, this artificial feeling of fullness will no longer be present. As a result, you will likely experience an increased appetite, leading to greater calorie consumption.
3. You Will Probably Regain Weight
In order to lose weight, you have to create a negative calorie balance. That means you need to consume fewer calories each day than your body requires to meet all of its energy needs. This forces your body to draw on its stored energy in the form of excess body fat to make up the difference.
Ozempic and Wegovy help you to eat less by stabilizing blood glucose levels and promoting a feeling of fullness.
The cumulative effect of the blood glucose spikes and increased appetite that you will likely experience after stopping Ozempic or Wegovy injections is that you will eat more. This increased caloric intake will interrupt the negative calorie balance that you were able to maintain when you were on the drug. As a result, you can expect to experience some weight regain after you go off your injections.
A 2022 study looked at the amount of weight regained after taking semaglutide medications. The study cohort consisted of 1961 obese adults who did not have Type 2 diabetes. They were divided into two groups and given either 2.4 mg injections of semaglutide or a placebo for 68 weeks. At that point, the injections were discontinued.
After 68 weeks, the semaglutide group lost an average of 17.1% of their body weight, compared to 6.1% for the placebo group. The test subjects were assessed 52 weeks after stopping treatment (120 weeks after starting). The semaglutide group had regained 11.6% of their lost weight, compared with 2% for the placebo group. [1]
It should be noted that both study groups made healthy lifestyle changes during the study period and afterward. These included regular exercise and making healthy food choices. How much weight you will lose or regain is highly individual.
I went on Reddit to gauge the experience of Ozemic users after stopping injections. The majority of commenters experienced substantial rebound weight gain, sometimes making them heavier than they were before starting injections. Here is a typical comment:
I had to go off Ozempic and took my last dose on March 13. Since going off, I feel hungry - SO hungry/HANGRY - almost all the time. Like a frantic hunger, and I'm thinking about food constantly. I've gained weight despite eating more salads and walking more. My portions and frequency of eating are just increased because I'm hungry all the time.
So, although this drug was really helpful, I feel like it was a temporary fix FOR APPETITE/WEIGHT LOSS and I was pretty quickly back to my previous struggles after stopping it.
(Source)
4. ‘Ozempic Face' Will Go Away
People who lose weight very quickly are likely to end up with a gaunt look to the face. This has come to be known as Ozempic face. That is a result of the loss of fat in the cheeks and jowls. Some people consider this to be an unhealthy look.
When you stop taking a semaglutide medication, you are likely to experience some weight regain in the form of body fat. That fit will situate itself all over your body, including in your cheeks and jowls. This means that you will lose your Ozempic face.
5. Side Effects May Subside
The most common side effects of taking a semaglutide medication like Ozempic or Wegovy are gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and stomach pain. Some people may also experience redness, swelling, or pain at the injection site. Others may find that their blood pressure and heart rate increase.
When you stop taking these drugs, you can expect that the gastrointestinal side effects will subside. However, IO noted that more than one Reddit commenter stated that they actually experienced more nausea when they went off Ozempic, as noted below:
Prepare for some serious nausea when you stop. I missed a week due to travel and forgetting the Ozempic at home. Was one of the worst experiences of my life.
(Source)
If you are experiencing injection site issues, these will obviously subside when you stop injecting.
6. Metabolic Changes
You will likely reduce your caloric intake when you start taking Ozempic or Wegovy injections. The body responds to this lower energy intake by going into starvation mode. Part of that response includes reducing the metabolism to conserve energy. Your resting metabolic rate (RMR), which measures how much energy is needed for basic physiological functioning, will go down.
When you stop taking Ozempic or Wegovy, your body will take some time for the RMR to revert to normal. If you suddenly increase your caloric intake, as is most likely, you will experience increased rebound weight gain due to your slower metabolism.
7. Changes in Insulin Sensitivity
Semaglutide medications like Ozempic and Wegovy are glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. They increase the release of insulin and decrease glucagon levels, it helps to control blood glucose levels. It also improves insulin sensitivity so that your cells respond to insulin more effectively.
When you stop taking Ozempic or Wegovy diabetes drug injections, your insulin levels will go back to what they were before you started taking the drug. You'll also find that you will not respond as efficiently to carbohydrates, possibly leading to blood sugar fluctuations.
8. Digestive Changes
Ozempic and Wegovy can be hard on the digestive system. Nausea, acid, reflux, diarrhea, and constipation are common side effects. All of these should subside or stop altogether when you go off the drugs. You'll also feel less full when you stop taking a semaglutide medication.
These changes in appetite and fullness may affect your eating pattern and food intake patterns. For example, you are likely to end up snacking more often when you stop taking a semaglutide drug.
When you stop taking Ozempic, your stomach will empty at a faster gastric rate. As well as making you more hungry sooner, this may lead to spikes in insulin levels after a meal.
9. Fluctuating Energy Levels
When you take Ozempic or Wegovy, your blood sugar levels will likely stabilize. This promotes an even, consistent level of energy. However, when you go off your medication, the stabilizing effect of semaglutide will no longer be present. This may result in fluctuating energy levels.
The changes in appetite that occur when you stop taking Ozempic may also affect a person's energy levels. For example, cravings for sugary snack foods may cause a quick burst of energy, with a subsequent sudden crash.
10. You May Have Cravings
Food cravings are common when you stop taking Ozempic or Wegovy. They result from the fluctuating insulin and blood sugar levels already discussed, as well as the increased appetite resulting from increased gastric emptying. Some people will experience more severe food cravings than others. They also may not occur immediately but build up over a period of weeks.
The following experience from a Reddit commenter is common to a lot of people:
Hello there! Stopped Ozempic 3 weeks ago. The first two weeks after stopping, apetite was manageable. I get hungry but not bad. But now week 3! apetite came back so hard. I feel like eating everything and I can't control it. Hope it gets better will keep you updated. Any idea how to control my appetite without the drug?
(Source)
Why Stop Taking Ozempic?
Ozempic is a diabetic medication designed to control blood sugar levels. In that setting, it is intended to be taken long-term. People who choose to take Ozempic for weight loss may decide to end their use for a number of reasons. These may include:
- Cost: Ozempic is an injectable medication that comes in the form of a pen containing four doses. You take one weekly injection, so four doses will last a month. You will pay just under $1000 for that month's supply. That is a prohibitive cost for many people and may cause them to stop taking the medication.
- Reach Goal Weight: People might stop taking Ozempic when they reach their desired weight.
- Side Effects: Common Ozempic side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and gastric discomfort. Their severity differs between individuals. If a person is suffering from these effects, they may decide to stop taking the drug.
- Pregnancy: Women who become pregnant or who are planning to do so should discuss their use of Ozempic or Wegovy with their healthcare provider. The use of these semaglutide drugs is generally not recommended for pregnant or nursing women.
Keeping Weight Off After Ozempic
Weight regain is one of the biggest effects of stopping Ozempic or Wegovy injections. Though very common, this weight rebound is not inevitable. Here are half a dozen things you can to keep the weight off once you stop using Ozempic.
1. Follow a Healthy Diet
You should transition to a healthy diet while you are still on Ozempic or Wegovy. The following three healthy nutrition habits you to continue losing weight after you stop Ozempic or Wegovy injections:
Habit One: Eat 3 Times Per Day
Each eating occasion triggers an increase in insulin levels, with insulin playing a pivotal role in weight gain. Opting for three meals a day helps minimize insulin release. It also means cutting out snacks, which will help reduce total caloric intake. Plan to eat your breakfast at approximately 8 am, lunch between 12-1 pm, and dinner between 6 and 7 pm.
Habit Two: Stick to the 1-2-3 Rule
While the macronutrient composition of your meals holds significance, meticulous gram counting isn't a sustainable approach. Simplify the process by seeing your plate divided into six segments. Allocate one segment for healthy fats, dedicate two segments to protein, and assign three segments to low glycemic index carbohydrates (such as plant foods above ground).
Habit Three: Lean Protein
Include a high-quality lean protein source with every meal. While protein is commonly associated with muscle building, it also aids in weight loss. Among the macronutrients, protein has the highest satiety, contributing to a feeling of fullness. Protein also has a greater thermic effect, requiring more energy (calories) for digestion and absorption than fat or carbohydrate-based foods.
2. Regular Exercise
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends getting at least 150 minutes of exercise per week for overall health benefits. If your goal is to lose weight, you should do at least that much exercise to benefit your cardiovascular system and burn calories. Concentrate on exercises that move your whole body with compound movements. Some effective options are rowing, swimming, running, and jumping rope.
Perform a combination of slow, steady-state exercise and High-Intensity Interval Training. Your steady-state workouts should be at a pace where you could converse but with some difficulty. This equates to training at Zone 2 of the five heart rate zones, being between 60-70% of your maximum heart rate. Research shows this is the best fat-loss zone [2].
High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) involves switching between short, intense bursts of activity and even shorter rest periods. A popular form of HIIT is the 20/10 protocol, where you go all out for twenty seconds and then recover for ten seconds. This is repeated for eight rounds. [3]
3. Mindful Eating Practices
Mindful eating involves applying the principles of mindfulness at the dinner table. It's all about connecting with your food by slowing down, enjoying it, and being in the moment. By doing this, you can enjoy better the flavor, texture, and taste of what you put into your mouth.
Mindful eaters are more aware of their real hunger level and will be better able to gauge fullness to know when to stop.
The following tips will help you to become a mindful eater:
- Before taking the first bite, ask yourself if you are hungry. Are you eating out of habit or because it's time to do so? Or are you using food to deal with stress or boredom?
- Don't do other things when you are eating. If you have the habit of watching TV or working on your computer while eating your dinner, start weaning yourself off that habit. Give your full attention to your meal.
- Eat more slowly. Stop shoveling food into your mouth as if you're on a mission to get it over with. Learn to enjoy every mouthful. Put your utensils down between bites and converse with your dinnermates. By slowing down, you will improve your body's ability to digest your food, and you will appreciate it much more.
- Pause halfway through the meal. Give yourself a quick hunger check. Are you still hungry? Remember, you do not have to finish off the whole plate if you already feel satisfied.
4. Make Use of the Hunger Gauge
The hunger gauge is a handy tool that will allow you to assess your hunger and whether your need is for food or something else. There are six levels to the hunger gauge as follows:
- Level One: You are ravenously hungry, feeling faint, and unable to think of anything else.
- Level Two: You are extremely hungry, experiencing stomach rumbles and fatigue.
- Level Three: You have a moderate but manageable hunger level. You look forward to eating but are not desperate for food.
- Level Four: You feel pleasantly full.
- Level Five: You have eaten too much and feel stuffed. You know you should have stopped before dessert and now feel uncomfortably overfed.
- Level Six: You feel bloated. You have gone completely overboard and now feel like a beached whale.
You should eat when you reach level three when you are moderately hungry. Stop when you reach Level Four, where you are pleasantly full.
By using the Hunger Gauge, you will be able to avoid overeating, ensuring that you are putting food into your body for the right reason.
FAQs
Will I experience withdrawal symptoms when I stop taking Ozempic?
No, you will not experience withdrawal symptoms when you go off Ozempic. That is because it is not an addictive drug. You should not have physiological cravings for Ozempic in the days and weeks after you stop using it. However, if you gain weight and have a sudden increase in hunger, you may have a strong mental desire to resume your treatment.
How Can I prevent weight regain after I stop using Ozempic?
The best way to avoid regaining the weight you have lost while on Ozempic is to monitor your caloric intake strictly. Your goal should be to maintain the same daily caloric intake that you had while on the drug. You should exercise several times a week to burn extra calories and avoid high glycemic index carbohydrate foods in favor of lean proteins and healthy fats.
Will Ozempic side effects stop when I discontinue my injections?
Yes, the side effects of taking Ozempic should disappear once you stop taking the drug. The most common side effects are nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, and constipation. About one in three Ozempic users experience one or more of these effects. They usually subside over time, but for some people, they persist. For them, stopping Ozempic injections may be the only way to get relief.
Wrap Up
There are a number of reasons that a person might stop taking Ozempic or Wegovy. In this article, we've covered the ten most common things that will happen to you once you stop your injections.
While many people regain most of the weight they've lost, there are things you can do to ensure that the fat stays off when you stop your medication. Establish and maintain a healthy, calorie-reduced diet, burn calories through exercise, monitor blood sugar levels, learn to eat mindfully, and address emotional eating issues. If you can do these things before you go off your injections, your transition to being semaglutide-free will be more seamless, allowing you to avoid the most common problems.
References:
- Wilding, J. P. H., Batterham, R. L., Davies, M., Van Gaal, L. F., Kandler, K., Konakli, K., Lingvay, I., et al. (2022). Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide: The STEP 1 trial extension. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.14725
- Knechtle B. Belastungsintensität und Fettverbrennung--Theoretische Grundlagen und praktische Uberlegungen [Exercise intensity and fat burning--theoretical principles and practical considerations]. Praxis (Bern 1994). 2002 May 22;91(21):915-9. German. doi: 10.1024/0369-8394.91.21.915. PMID: 12085547.
- 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 training for weight loss in adults with obesity: a randomised controlled non-inferiority trial. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2021 Jul 20;7(3):e001021. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2020-001021. PMID: 34367654; PMCID: PMC8292807.
Steve Theunissen
Author