Wondering what happens when you stop taking Ozempic? Find out the potential effects on your health and how to safely discontinue this medication to manage your diabetes effectively.
Ozempic is a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes and is administered by subcutaneous injection. This drug belongs to a class of drugs known as GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1) receptor agonists, which mimic the effects of this natural peptide that helps regulate blood sugar.
Ozempic’s mechanism of action is focused on increasing insulin secretion by the pancreas in response to blood glucose levels, slowing gastric emptying and decreasing the release of glucagon after meals, which together improve blood glucose control. Additionally, semaglutide has been observed to help reduce appetite and caloric intake, which contributes to weight loss.
What Happens When You Stop Taking Ozempic.
This expert explains that when you stop taking the drug , you may experience several changes during that transition period. The first of these is an increase in appetite , since when you stop taking Ozempic, both the brain and the intestine no longer receive the satiety signal that it provided. As a result, it is common to start feeling hungry again.
In addition, blood sugar levels also increase . Without the action of the medication on the pancreas to help control sugar, these levels may increase. For those with diabetes and obesity, it may be necessary to resort to other medications to keep sugar levels in an acceptable range. Even for those who do not have diabetes, it is advisable to consume foods with a low glycemic index to stabilize blood sugar levels.
Another change that Dr. Yates warns about is that, in most cases, when people regain the weight they have lost, they can also experience a return to their previous blood pressure and cholesterol levels . In the same way, the lost weight is regained in the form of fat, since this is gained more quickly than in the form of skeletal muscle.
Ozempic side effects
As with all medicines, Ozempic can cause side effects that should be taken into account. Some of the most common adverse effects are listed in its leaflet:
- Gastrointestinal disorders : These include symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain. These problems may be especially common at the beginning of therapy and tend to decrease over time.
- Hypoglycemia : Although this risk is lower compared to other antidiabetic medications, Ozempic can cause hypoglycemia, especially when used in combination with other treatments that also lower blood sugar.
- Pancreatitis : There is a small risk of inflammation of the pancreas, which can be serious and requires immediate medical attention.
- Vision changes : As with any diabetes treatment, rapid improvement in glycemic control may lead to temporary changes in vision until blood sugar levels stabilize.