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What happens when you stop taking Ozempic?

Medically reviewed by Leigh Ann Anderson, PharmD. Last updated on Feb 5, 2025.

Official Answer by Drugs.com

If you stop using Ozempic injection for type 2 diabetes or weight loss, much of the weight you have lost will most likely return within a few months to one year after you stop treatment, your blood sugar levels will rise and you may lose any positive benefit for heart or kidney health.

Contact your doctor before you stop Ozempic. Type 2 diabetes, obesity or being overweight and chronic kidney disease are long-term health conditions. Your healthcare provider may recommend that you transition to another treatment, reduce your dose to help with possible side effects, and maintain your exercise and diet plan to help control weight gain.

If you are having trouble accessing Ozempic due to a drug shortage or cost concerns, your healthcare provider can recommend alternatives or money-saving options. Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer, may be able to offer copay assistance or patient financial assistance, if you qualify.

Learn more: Will my insurance cover Ozempic?

What happens to your body if you stop Ozempic?

When you stop using Ozempic, all of the drug mechanisms at work to help with blood sugar control, weight loss, and heart and kidney protection will stop. Your medical conditions may worsen and your risk for serious events (like a heart attack, stroke or kidney failure) may increase. Your risk for death due to heart disease event may increase.

When you stop Ozempic, your full appetite may return within a week, increasing your calorie intake and leading to weight regain. In addition, your blood sugar levels may spike, worsening the effects of type 2 diabetes on your blood vessels, which can lead to eye, heart and nerve disease.

Any common, non-serious side effects you may be experiencing should also stop, for example, stomach side effects (diarrhea, nausea or stomach pain) or injection site reactions. Usually these side effects are temporary and clear up once you reach your regular, weekly dose.

How Ozempic works in your body

Studies on stopping semaglutide treatment

STEP 1 trial extension study for semaglutide

The STEP 1 trial extension study looked at weight regain and other effects on the body after stopping treatment with semaglutide. Other studies have shown that stopping weight management treatments usually lead to a regain of the lost weight.

Initially, 1961 adults with overweight or obesity received treatment for 68 weeks with semaglutide 2.4 mg (the usual weight loss dose) or a placebo (an inactive agent), in addition to diet and exercise counseling.

After 68 weeks, 327 of the original 1961 participants stopped treatment and counseling for up to 120 weeks. Investigators wanted to see how stopping treatment for 52 weeks changed weight and effects on the body, like blood sugar levels (HbA1c), blood pressure, cholesterol (lipid) levels and markers of inflammation (called C-reactive protein), which may indicate a risk of heart disease.

Of the 327 participants in the original 68 weeks study, those who had received semaglutide had lost on average 17.3% of their body weight compared to 2% of body weight in the placebo group.

Weight regain

Effects on the heart

Related questions

Why do people stop using Ozempic?

Side effects with Ozempic - like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain or constipation - are common and may be one reason why people stop Ozempic. In most people, these effects usually lessen over a few weeks with continued treatment and slower dose increases.

In studies, about one-third (over 30%) of patients receiving Ozempic experienced stomach side effects, compared to 15% taking a placebo (an inactive treatment). About 3% to 4% of people had to stop treatment due to stomach side effects.

Stomach side effects can get worse with higher doses, so your doctor will slowly increase your dose to help lessen these reactions.

If you and your doctor decide that you should stop treatment because of stomach side effects, these side effects will usually lessen or go away over about one week to one month.

If you restart Ozempic, your doctor will slowly increase your dose to help avoid stomach side effects. Higher doses of Ozempic at the beginning of treatment may worsen these reactions.

Related: What are 4 key Ozempic side effects to watch out for?

5 tips to prevent weight gain after stopping Ozempic

Putting weight back on after stopping a weight loss treatment is common, so know that you are not alone. But there are a few things you can do to help prevent regaining all of your weight.

Will you gain weight if you stop other weight loss medicines like Wegovy or Zepbound? Yes, it appears weight regain is common with other incretin mimetics when treatment is stopped, as also shown in studies with tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound).

In studies with tirzepatide, patients who stopped treatment after 36 months of use regained 14% of their body weight, compared to a 25% weight loss in those who stayed on the medicine.

Learn more: What happens when you stop taking Zepbound?

Finally, don’t beat yourself up. It’s hard to lose weight, we all know that. And putting weight back on, after initially losing it, can take a toll on your mental health. Keep your mood and strength up by staying active, eating healthfully, maintaining your social circles and talking to a trusted friend, family member or healthcare provider when needed.

This is not all the information you need to know about Ozempic (semaglutide) for safe and effective use and does not take the place of your doctor’s directions. Review the full product information and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.

References
  • Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Davies M, et al. Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide: The STEP 1 trial extension. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2022;24(8):1553‐1564. doi:10.1111/ dom.14725
  • Ozempic (semaglutide) prescribing information. Novo Nordisk. Bagsvaerd
    Denmark. Revised Oct 2022. Accessed Sep 18, 2023 at https://www.novo-pi.com/ozempic.pdf
  • Aronne LJ, Sattar N, Horn DB, et al. Continued Treatment With Tirzepatide for Maintenance of Weight Reduction in Adults With Obesity: The SURMOUNT-4 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. Published online December 11, 2023. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.24945

Read next

How do Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Zepbound compare for weight loss?

Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy and Zepbound can all lead to long-term weight loss, but only Wegovy and Zepbound are approved by the FDA for this use. In studies, Zepbound has led to a 21% weight loss in adults using the highest dose, while Wegovy has led to about a 15% weight loss. Continue reading

How long does it take for Ozempic to work?

Your blood glucose (sugar) levels should start to fully decline within the first week after you start using Ozempic (semaglutide) at your regular dose. However, the full effect can take 8 weeks or longer, as this is a long-acting medication that is injected only once per week. Continue reading

Wegovy vs Ozempic: Which is Right for You?

Both Wegovy and Ozempic contain semaglutide, but Wegovy is prescribed for long-term weight management while Ozempic is used to control blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes and help protect kidney function. They both lower the risk for heart-related complications, but they differ in other approved uses, doses, target populations and costs. Continue reading

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