Weight gain
GLP-1s need to be taken weekly for them to work best. When you pause your treatment, you’re at risk of gaining back the weight you’ve lost, especially if you fall into unhealthy food habits.
In a Wegovy clinical study, people who stopped treatment regained about two-thirds of the weight they lost after 50 weeks. Any cardiovascular improvements also reversed as the weight returned. Likewise, those who stopped using tirzepatide (Mounjaro) had an average weight gain of 14%. [popoer id=ref4]
GLP-1s turn off hunger signals. This suppresses your appetite and increases satiety – meaning you’ll feel fuller for longer. When you stop taking it, these signals are turned on again and your appetite and cravings will increase. These hunger singles can feel more intense when you stop suddenly, especially during Christmas when there’s a lot of rich food around. It’s best to gradually taper off your dose to give yourself a better chance of maintaining the lost weight.
Experiencing side effects
Typically, when you stop taking GLP-1s, you’ll slowly reduce the dosage. This is to help you avoid side effects and withdrawal symptoms like weight gain, increased appetite, high blood sugar levels, and high blood pressure. These symptoms may make you feel worse than if you had continued using them.
When you stop Mounjaro, there’s a higher risk of getting side effects due to its dual effect mechanism, compared to Wegovy or Nevolat. But this risk will differ for each individual depending on how their body reacts.
Difficulty restarting
Restarting weight loss injections can be challenging, especially if you slip into unhealthy food habits. You’ll need to go through the process you did when you started the first time around. This means potential side effects, as well as re-finding the mental and physical commitment.
Your doctor may also restart your treatment at a lower dose than where you left off, slowing your progress down. This is to help your body readjust to the medicine. But it can be frustrating noticing that the treatment isn’t as effective as it previously was. And it may take several weeks for it to reach maximum effectiveness again.
Additionally, the body may adapt to the treatment over time, meaning a previously effective dose may feel less potent now. This is why it’s best to maintain your current dose throughout Christmas.
