lifestyle
How Long Do You Stay On Semaglutide for Weight Loss?
Weight loss can be a challenging journey, especially when you feel stuck and aren’t sure what to do next. If you’ve recently started semaglutide for weight loss, you might be wondering how long you will need to stay on it to reach your goals. While this medication can help you lose weight effectively, you may have questions about its long-term use, such as, “How long do you stay on semaglutide for weight loss?” This article Does Semaglutide Cause Constipation? is here to help you get answers to your questions. With the right knowledge, you can use semaglutide to reach your weight loss goals and maintain results without long-term dependency.
MeAgain’s GLP-1 app can help you achieve your objectives, such as losing weight with semaglutide, and understanding how long you need to stay on it to reach your goals and maintain results over time. This tool provides ongoing support and guidance throughout your journey, making it easier to transition off semaglutide when the time is right.
Table of Content
Factors That May Impact How Long You Might Take Semaglutide For
Is it Possible to Keep Weight off After Stopping Semaglutide?
Download our GLP-1 app to Turn Your Weight Loss Journey into Your Favorite Game
How Long Do You Stay on Semaglutide for Weight Loss?
If you’ve been taking Ozempic® or Wegovy® (both of which contain the active ingredient semaglutide), you might wonder, How long can you take semaglutide for weight loss?
You can take semaglutide for weight loss as needed, and it can be taken indefinitely. There’s no set cut-off time, as the drug was initially designed as a diabetes medication and intended for long-term use. If you’re tolerating it well and it’s working for you, you can take semaglutide until you reach your goal weight and then beyond for long-term weight management. This could be for the rest of your life.
Not bad, right?
We’ll share more info on long-term semaglutide use, including how long it takes to start working for weight loss and potential long-term effects.
How Long Can You Take Semaglutide for Weight Loss?
There’s no cut-off for when you need to stop taking semaglutide; you may be able to take it long-term. That applies whether you’re taking Ozempic, Wegovy, or compounded semaglutide.
Semaglutide was originally developed to help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels. That means it’s intended for long-term (even life-long) use. If you’re tolerating semaglutide well and it’s helping you lose or manage your weight, you can take it indefinitely. You’ll start on a low dose, gradually increase it, and then maintain a semaglutide dose for weight loss and management.
Studies on Long-Term Wegovy® Use
More studies are needed, but long-term use of Wegovy appears to be safe. Wegovy contains the active ingredient semaglutide and is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for individuals with obesity or being overweight with a weight-related health condition, such as:
High cholesterol
Heart disease
Sleep apnea
Ozempic is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes but sometimes prescribed off-label for weight loss. A 2022 study found that taking Wegovy® for two years was safe and effective.
Four-Year Study Confirms Wegovy®'s Lasting Impact
A more recent 2024 study is currently the longest clinical trial on Wegovy® for weight loss. The study examined nearly 18,000 participants with excess weight or obesity and cardiovascular disease who received weekly Wegovy® injections for four years and made lifestyle changes, including following a reduced-calorie diet and engaging in more exercise.
Participants lost weight during the first 65 weeks of treatment and then maintained their weight loss for the remainder of the experiment. The four-year trial didn’t show any new safety concerns.
Semaglutide in Clinical Trials
The clinical trials typically involved participants taking semaglutide for 68 weeks or more. During these trials, participants experienced significant reductions in body weight, often exceeding 10-15% of their initial weight.
Semaglutide has been found to have positive effects on blood glucose levels, blood pressure, and other cardiometabolic risk factors, making it a valuable medication for individuals with type 2 diabetes or other medical conditions related to excess weight.
STEP 1 Clinical Trial
The STEP 1 trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2021, was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study that evaluated the efficacy and safety of semaglutide 2.4 mg for weight management in 1,961 adults with overweight or obesity, including those who had previously undergone bariatric surgery.
The key findings of this landmark study included:
Significant weight loss: Participants who received semaglutide 2.4 mg experienced a mean weight loss of 14.9% from baseline, compared to only 2.4% in the placebo group after 68 weeks.
High responder rate: 86% of participants in the semaglutide group achieved weight loss of at least 5%, and 75% achieved weight loss of at least 10%, compared to 32% and 15% in the placebo group, respectively.
Improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors: Semaglutide treatment was associated with significant reductions in waist circumference, blood pressure, and triglycerides, as well as improvements in glycemic control and quality of life measures.
Favorable safety profile: The most common adverse events were gastrointestinal, including nausea and diarrhea, which were generally mild to moderate in severity and decreased over time.
Wegovy®: A Game-Changer in Obesity Management and Its Weight Loss Timeline
The magnitude of weight loss achieved with semaglutide was unprecedented among pharmacologic interventions for obesity, making it a game-changer in the field of obesity management. These findings have led to the approval of semaglutide 2.4 mg (marketed as Wegovy) by regulatory agencies, including the FDA, for chronic weight management in adults with overweight or obesity.
Expected weight loss timeline:
After 4 weeks: Some weight loss is typically seen within the first 4 weeks of starting semaglutide, but the amount can vary widely between individuals. The STEP 1 trial reported an average weight loss of 3.8% after 4 weeks on the 2.4 mg semaglutide dose.
After 12 weeks: At the 3-month mark in the STEP 1 trial, participants on semaglutide 2.4mg had lost an average of 9.6% of their baseline body weight, compared to 2.8% with placebo.
After 6 months: In the same STEP 1 trial at 6 months, those on semaglutide 2.4mg had lost an average of 13.8% of their initial weight versus 3.7% with placebo.
After 12 months: Individuals can expect to lose approximately 15 to 17% of their baseline body weight on average after one year of treatment with the 2.4mg once-weekly semaglutide injection when combined with lifestyle interventions. Of course, the weight loss response is variable, with some losing more than 20% and others experiencing a more modest 5 to 10% reduction.
When Weight Loss May Plateau
For most people, the weight loss achieved with semaglutide begins to plateau around 9 to 12 months of treatment, provided the individual adheres to the medication and lifestyle recommendations. The overall weight loss sustained at 1 to 2 years is often 10 to 15% in responders.
Why You Might Stop Taking Semaglutide
While there’s no official cut-off point, a few factors could mean you have to stop taking semaglutide injections.
These include:
If you want to get pregnant
If you experience troubling side effects
Your prescribing healthcare provider can make sure GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist drugs are right for you before prescribing them. If not, they can recommend an alternative weight loss drug.
Individual Responses and Timelines for Semaglutide
Let your provider know about any changes in your circumstances or if the side effects of semaglutide are causing you concern. They may want to adjust your dose or recommend medication to help manage common side effects.
How Long Does It Take for Semaglutide to Work?
How long does it take for semaglutide to work?
This isn’t the straightforward question it sounds like. Everyone is unique, so there’s no set answer or guarantee. The effectiveness of semaglutide will vary from person to person. You may notice a change in your weight within the first few weeks of weight loss treatment. However, significant weight loss typically takes longer to achieve.
Initial 2021 Study: Early & Sustained Weight Loss with Wegovy®
A 2021 study looked at nearly 2,000 adults with excess body weight or obesity who didn’t have diabetes. Participants received once-weekly Wegovy® injections or a placebo for 68 weeks and followed healthy lifestyle changes, including a nutritious diet and increased physical activity.
Participants experienced weight loss by the four-week mark, and this trend continued for the remainder of the experiment.
Do You Have to Take Semaglutide Forever?
No, you don’t have to take semaglutide for weight loss forever. You can stop if the side effects are unmanageable or when you reach your weight loss goal.
But always let your healthcare provider know before you stop taking semaglutide (or any other medication). Bear in mind that you may regain some of the weight you lost if you stop taking Wegovy. So, you don’t have to take semaglutide forever, but you might want to for chronic weight management.
Here are the key points to remember:
Semaglutide is designed for long-term use: Studies spanning four years have shown that ongoing use of Wegovy is safe. If your body reacts well to it, you can take semaglutide for the rest of your life to help manage your weight.
You don’t have to take semaglutide forever: You can theoretically take semaglutide forever to lose weight and then maintain a healthy BMI (body mass index), but you don’t have to if you don’t want to. Mindful eating, regular exercise, and other lifestyle interventions can help prevent weight regain after you’ve lost it.
How long does it take semaglutide to work?: It’s different for everyone. Most people see noticeable changes in their body weight after a few weeks.
How long can you take Wegovy®?: Perhaps indefinitely. Consider the factors that determine how long you can take semaglutide. For instance, trying for a baby or developing troubling side effects or a medical condition can affect how long you take this drug.
Related Reading
Factors That May Impact How Long You Might Take Semaglutide For
1. Efficacy: The Key to Staying on Semaglutide for Weight Loss
How long you take semaglutide for weight loss depends on whether your body is responding to it. If you’ve lost adequate weight and aren’t struggling with side effects, your prescribing provider may suggest that you take the drug long-term.
Since the medications often help by decreasing your appetite, they can be beneficial in both losing weight and maintaining weight loss. If you haven’t lost at least 5% of your body weight after taking the full dose of a drug for three to six months, your provider may discontinue or change your weight loss treatment. Together, the two of you may decide to try a different drug to see if it works better or stop using medications altogether.
2. Tolerance to Semaglutide and Weight Loss Medications
As you just read, all medications come with the potential for side effects. Some people experience no side effects, whereas others may find them overwhelming. If you’re finding your medication is more bothersome than you can bear, especially if it is interfering with your daily life and activities, let your health care team know.
Your prescribing provider might be able to adjust the medication dosage to reduce your symptoms. Another option is to try a different weight-loss drug to see if it’s effective and you tolerate it better.
3. Administration Matters for Semaglutide and Weight Loss
Many weight-loss medications require that you inject yourself with the drug. You may face challenges such as needle phobia or have difficulty with proper injection techniques. Injection site reactions, such as:
Redness
Swelling
Itching
It can also be a deterrent. While these reactions are usually mild and transient, they can still be uncomfortable.
Contact your provider to ensure you have thorough training on proper injection techniques to ensure a confident, accurate, and comfortable self-injection. A different type of needle also may help reduce discomfort during injections. Make sure to alter your injection sites regularly and use mild, non-irritating cleansers to help keep the sites clean and reduce the likelihood of a reaction.
4. Cost of Semaglutide and Weight Loss Treatment
Weight-loss medications can be costly, and they’re not always covered by insurance or paid for in the long term. You may want to explore financial assistance programs, as some pharmaceutical companies offer patient assistance programs or co-pay assistance programs to help offset the cost of medications. Your prescribing provider may also be able to prescribe alternative drugs or therapies that are more affordable or have better insurance coverage.
5. Health Status and Semaglutide Treatment for Weight Loss
It may be necessary to stop the medication if you have a change in health conditions. That’s why it’s essential to have ongoing conversations with your health care team to assess your medication. Keep in mind that a lifestyle intervention program can continue to support you on your weight-loss journey regardless of whether you’re taking a weight-loss medication. Stick with the program, even if you don’t take the drugs.
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Is it Possible to Keep Weight off After Stopping Semaglutide?
Research and real-world experience suggest that regaining weight after discontinuing semaglutide is a common occurrence. This isn’t a reflection of a lack of willpower or poor choices. It’s the body’s natural response to an increased appetite and decreased feelings of fullness after discontinuing the medication.
Dr. Lauren Lemieux, “an obesity medicine specialist in Boston”, notes that the research suggests that maintaining weight loss after discontinuing semaglutide is a challenging task, even for individuals who adhere to healthy lifestyle interventions.
What happens after stopping semaglutide? Long-term weight management strategies must be employed to achieve sustained results.
How to Keep Weight Off After Stopping Semaglutide
While it’s common to regain weight after stopping semaglutide, there are several strategies that may help you keep the weight off. Here’s what to know.
Keep Up With Your Exercise Routine
Staying active may help mitigate weight regain after stopping semaglutide. A 2024 post-treatment analysis found that maintaining a regular exercise routine after halting GLP-1 receptor agonist treatment was associated with less weight regain.
Start by aiming for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations of at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise weekly, along with 2 days of strength training. This may help you maintain your weight loss after discontinuing semaglutide. However, you will likely need to engage in more exercise to help maintain your weight loss.
“I always encourage my patients at FORM to build physical activity into their routines from the very beginning,” Dr. Lemieux says. “Our long-term goal is to work up to at least 250 minutes weekly of moderate intensity physical activity, which has been shown to be helpful for weight loss maintenance.”
Mimic Fullness Through Food Choices
Semaglutide works by slowing down gastric emptying, which creates the sensation of being full for longer. Once you stop semaglutide, you can mimic this sensation by adding protein to meals.
Protein has been shown to help slow digestion. Dr. Lemieux also recommends eating “lots of produce, which takes up more space in the stomach but with fewer calories than other foods due to the extra water and fiber content.”
Continue With Professional Guidance
Weight management is a complex issue that can benefit from a team approach. Working with professionals, such as an obesity specialist, a personal trainer, and a registered dietitian, may help you maintain forward momentum for long-term weight management.
What to Do If You Gain Weight Back Quickly
If you gain weight back quickly after stopping semaglutide, Dr. Lemieux recommends taking a close look at everything that’s changed since discontinuing the medication. “Have they moved away from the behaviors that were helping them lose weight in the first place, like tracking foods?” she proposes. You may not realize just how much your lifestyle has changed after stopping semaglutide.
To help you identify patterns that may contribute to rapid weight gain, consider keeping a daily food diary and an activity journal, as well as consulting with a doctor to rule out underlying causes of weight gain. While a doctor may place you back on semaglutide, Lemieux added that not everyone responds to Wegovy. Other weight loss medications may be a better fit for you.
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