If you or a loved one is living with obesity, you’ve most likely heard about a class of weight loss drugs called GLP-1s (like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus). Although many people have been talking about how GLP-1 drugs can cause weight loss, it might be more difficult to find information about what happens in your body when you stop taking them.

It’s important to understand how your body may react if you stop taking GLP-1s. In some situations, your doctor may advise you to discontinue the drug. You might experience side effects or financial barriers that make it hard to continue, or you and your healthcare team might decide you no longer need it as part of your treatment plan. In this article, we will explore what happens when you stop taking Ozempic or another GLP-1 drug.

How GLP-1 Drugs Cause Weight Loss

GLP-1 drugs, technically named glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists, are medicines that copy the actions of a natural hormone in your body called GLP-1. The drug helps control your body’s metabolism by stimulating insulin release, regulating blood sugar, and slowing down your digestion, keeping food in your stomach longer. These drugs decrease appetite and also disrupt constant thoughts of food, sometimes known as “food noise.”

Originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, this class of drugs is also now being prescribed to help with weight loss, especially for those whose weight is related to chronic diseases or who might experience other health benefits from weight loss.

What Can You Expect When You Stop Taking GLP-1s?

One study reported that 84 percent of people without type 2 diabetes who were taking GLP-1s stopped taking them within two years. There are various reasons for this, such as side effects, the high cost of treatment, or reaching a personal weight or health goal. If you’re thinking about stopping a GLP-1 medication, it’s important to speak with your doctor first. They can help you understand the potential risks and benefits based on your overall health and treatment goals, and guide you through the best approach.

Stopping GLP-1s often leads to weight regain and increased appetite. As the medication’s effects on your hunger and metabolism wear off, you might experience increased food cravings and eat more often.

There are no known “withdrawal symptoms” per se, although some people may describe the return of higher body weight and food cravings as unpleasant. Said one MyObesityTeam member, “When I went off it, the weight quickly came back and that was very depressing.” Another said, “The medication can be very helpful, but one still needs to put forth effort in changing their eating habits.”

Appetite Changes

GLP-1 drugs reduce your hunger by making you feel full faster and longer and by reducing hunger signals in your brain. GLP-1 medications work by affecting hunger cues — the signals your body and brain use to tell you when you’re hungry or full. Blood sugar changes that cause increased satiety when you are on the medication are reversed when you stop taking it. Stopping the drug suddenly can increase the intensity of food cravings, or make it more difficult to resist them.

Changes in your appetite after you stop taking GLP-1s might include:

• Increasing the portion size needed to help you feel full
• Decreasing the amount of time you feel satiated after eating
• Spending more time thinking about food

A Rise in Blood Sugar

Since these drugs help regulate insulin and glucose, blood sugar levels may rise when you stop taking them. For long-term blood sugar control, your doctor may recommend staying on the medication. For people with type 2 diabetes, staying on the medication can also reduce the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.

Weight Regain

Studies have shown varied results in how often people gain back the weight they lost while taking GLP-1 medications after they stop. One study found participants regained two-thirds of the weight they had lost one year after stopping the medication. Another study of people who stopped taking semaglutide after four months showed that most regained weight during the following year, but were still 4 percent under their original weight.

Doctors say that even this small amount of persistent weight loss could be medically helpful for many people. According to a 2025 article in Scientific American, “As little as 3 percent weight loss can have a meaningful benefit for diabetes, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia (abnormal lipid levels in the bloodstream, which pose a higher risk for cardiovascular disease).”

An End to Side Effects

Ending use of GLP-1 medications should cause any side effects you might have been experiencing to go away. According to Mayo Clinic, possible side effects of GLP-1 drugs include bloating, feelings of excessive fullness, constipation, diarrhea, gas, indigestion, nausea, and fatigue.

Other Health Changes

In addition to weight loss, GLP-1 drugs can also improve cholesterol levels and blood pressure, and reduce the risk of chronic kidney disease. Studies seem to suggest that these health benefits will stop when the drugs are stopped.

Staying Healthy After GLP-1 Treatment

Making healthy lifestyle changes during your GLP-1 treatment, and maintaining these changes when you stop the medication, are important ways to potentially prevent unwanted weight gain. Studies have suggested that working through issues around emotional eating and establishing positive exercise and nutrition habits are helpful in preventing weight regain.

One study has also shown that tapering GLP-1 medications gradually by lowering doses rather than stopping outright may be helpful in preventing weight regain. In the Danish study, participants who tapered off of semaglutide over about nine weeks were able to maintain a stable body weight for six months. Said the lead researcher, “A patient’s appetite returns when they stop taking the drug, and if they stop taking it suddenly, they may find it hard to resist their cravings. However, if they stop slowly, and have expanded their awareness and understanding of healthy lifestyle behaviors and eating habits, their hunger and satiety will be more manageable, making it easier for them to maintain a healthy weight.”

Everyone’s journey with GLP-1 medications is different. If you’re thinking about stopping, talk to your doctor about a plan that supports your whole health — not just your weight. Taking small, steady steps like building balanced meals, moving your body in ways that feel good, and finding support for emotional well-being can make a lasting difference, wherever you are in your care journey.

Talk to Your Doctor

It is always best to consult with a healthcare provider before starting or stopping any medication. Stopping should always be done under medical supervision. Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes or alternative medications to help you maintain the benefits of the GLP-1 medication you’ve been taking.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyObesityTeam is the social network for people with obesity and their loved ones. On MyObesityTeam, more than 57,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with obesity.

What is your experience with GLP-1 drugs? Are you planning to start or stop taking them? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.