Thinking of stopping your GLP-1? Here’s how to do it safely

You may have heard that older adults are shedding their weight loss drugs in droves, even as a new pill form of the medication has started to hit the market. If you are considering weaning yourself off semaglutides, such as Wegovy or Ozempic, there are a few important things to keep in mind, said Dr. Adrian Dobrowolsky, director of the Bariatric Surgery Weight Loss Program at Hoag.

“The most common reasons people stop taking these medications are financial—their insurance won’t cover or stopped covering them, or they feel that the gastrointestinal side effects outweighed the benefit,” Dr. Dobrowolsky said. “These are often people who have lost significant amounts of weight. So, coming off these drugs puts people at high risk of rapid weight gain.”

Those extra pounds also carry significant health risks, including elevated blood pressure, increased cholesterol and higher A1c levels—all of which can have adverse effects on a person’s long-term health, wellness, and longevity.

If you want to or must wean off weight loss drugs, Dr. Dobrowolsky recommends working with a medical team dedicated to promoting lifestyle interventions, including physical activity, as part of your wellness plan.

“Your medical team is your guide on this journey,” said Dr. Dobrowolsky. “We approach this from educational, lifestyle, medicine, nutrition and exercise perspectives.”

While Dr. Dobrowolsky understands the practical needs many people have for coming off the medication, he cautions people to consider semaglutides in the same way they do other medications for chronic conditions.

“If you take a blood pressure medicine, your blood pressure gets better. If you stop it and your blood pressure goes back to being uncontrolled, you're not going to question if you should go back on your blood pressure medicine. I think that's the place to start with obesity medicines,” he said. “Whether you’re taking these medications long term or short term, working with the right team will set you up to not only lose weight, but keep it off—and reap the longevity benefits.”

Learn more about the Bariatric Surgery Weight Loss Program at Hoag.