Ozempic has other common side effects, including nausea, constipation, vomiting, heartburn, gas, headache, and dizziness. Not everyone experiences side effects, and they may be mild for others.
There is no specific time frame when someone should stop taking Ozempic as it is a medication that is intended for chronic (long-term) use.
Other serious side effects of Ozempic include thyroid tumors, pancreatitis, changes in vision, hypoglycemia, gallbladder issues, kidney failure and cancer. The most severe complications Shah sees in her patients are pancreatitis and gallbladder issues — either can lead to hospitalization.
If you take too much Ozempic, you may experience nausea and/or vomiting. You may also have other stomach-related side effects, such as bloating or abdominal pain. Too much Ozempic can also lead to low blood glucose (hypoglycemia). If this happens, you may feel shaky, weak, or sweaty.
You start feeling those usual hunger pangs again, and consequently, you may start eating more to satisfy that hunger. An increase in your consumption can lead to the regaining of weight that was lost. A 2022 study found that most individuals gain weight back a year after stopping the medication.
Stopping Ozempic
Meanwhile, these are “not medications that our body becomes addicted to, there are no significant withdrawals and no significant major rebound effects,” emphasized Dr. Warriner. In her patients with diabetes, Warriner has also observed a return of increased appetite over time.
It's normal to eventually hit a point where your weight loss slows down, especially if you're not working on keeping or building up your muscle mass. Losing muscle along with fat slows your metabolism and can slow down your weight loss. Once your body adjusts, your weight loss journey should pick up again.
If you stop taking Ozempic, the weight you lost will likely return, fast. People who ceased use of semaglutide gained back, on average, a full two-thirds of the weight they had lost on the drug within one year, according to an August 2022 study, the Wall Street Journal reports.
When you first start taking Ozempic, you'll take 0.25 mg once weekly for 4 weeks. After this, you'll take 0.5 mg once weekly for 4 weeks.
Ozempic and its sister medication, Wegovy — approved for weight loss for people who are obese or overweight with weight-related medical conditions — are considered long-term or lifelong treatments.
Studies have shown that semaglutide injections like Ozempic are good for weight loss but experts warn once people stop taking the drugs, they regain most of the lost weight.
Ozempic is also used off-label for weight loss. In particular, it can help reduce the amount of belly fat. This is because Ozempic works by making you feel fuller for longer, which can help you resist overeating by controlling cravings and hunger.
Ozempic can cause nausea and vomiting if taken after eating foods high in fat or sugar. It is recommended that you take Ozempic before meals, rather than after, to minimise any potential side effects from eating high-fat or high-sugar foods.
Ozempic isn't approved for weight loss. But because of how it works, some people taking Ozempic lose weight as a side effect. If you don't have diabetes, taking Ozempic for weight loss is considered an off-label use. Wegovy, a higher-dose version of Ozempic, is approved to help people manage their weight.
It can boost your metabolism, lower your cholesterol, and improve hormone levels related to obesity. This substance may also help lower your blood sugar by reducing how much carbs your body absorbs.
On average, a user can lose about 3 to 5% of their body weight after using Ozempic for a month regularly. This equates to about 4 to 6 pounds on average. Using a higher potency of the drug may result in more weight loss, but it isn't recommended that you start taking it right away.
The Relationship Between Diet and Weight Loss on Ozempic
While Ozempic can help control your appetite and blood sugar levels, it's not a magic pill that will automatically make the weight fall off. Eating a balanced diet low in calories, fat, and sugar is essential when using Ozempic for weight loss.
For people with type 2 diabetes who take Ozempic to manage their blood sugar, halting treatment may cause blood sugar to rebound to around pre-medication levels, says Beverly Tchang, MD, an endocrinologist and an assistant professor at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City.
In rare cases, the use of Ozempic may cause anxiety and mood swings, irritability, shakiness, and confusion. However, when you take other medications along with Ozempic, it may escalate anxiety or mood change. Hence, discuss these potential issues with your physician beforehand to avoid any side effects.
Patients speak out over side effect claim that Ozempic poses risk of "stomach paralysis", and investigations into the prescription drug are showing possible signs of suicidal thoughts in users.