Top concern about Ozempic-like drugs has docs worried

For some GLP-1 users, the road from slim to grim is a quick turnaround.

Surveys show that nearly 12% of Americans have turned to Ozempic, Wegovy or similar drugs to lose weight, with prescriptions more than tripling since 2020.

But new research suggests many users are unknowingly sabotaging their progress with one simple mistake.

In the study, scientists in Denmark analyzed data from 77,310 first-time users of semaglutide-based GLP-1s who didn’t have diabetes.

They found that more than half had stopped taking the drug within a year of starting treatment. Nearly one in five quit by month three, and 42% had abandoned the regimen by month nine.

“This level of drop off is concerning because these medications aren’t meant to be a temporary quick fix,” said Dr. Reimar W. Thomsen, a professor in the Department of Clinical Epidemiology at Aarhus University and lead author of the study.

The blockbuster drugs, originally developed for diabetes, work by suppressing appetite and boosting feelings of fullness. But to be effective, they must be taken long-term.

“All of the beneficial effects on appetite control are lost if the medication is stopped,” Thomsen explained.

Past research shows that many patients who quit GLP-1s regain most — if not all — of the pounds they lost, with one study finding that the majority return to their original weight within two years.

And it’s not just vanity on the line. Being overweight or obese increases your risk for a laundry list of serious health problems, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and even some cancers.

Digging into the data, Thomsen and his team identified who’s most likely to bail on GLP-1 treatments early.

Younger users lead the pack. People ages 18 to 29 were 48% more likely to quit within the first year than those between 45 and 59 years old.

Living in a low-income area also increased the odds, with those patients 14% more likely to drop off than people in wealthier neighborhoods.

The researchers said both point to one major hurdle for sticking with treatment: cost.

Just look at Ozempic. Without insurance, the average retail price for the drug runs between $1,000 and $1,200 a month in the US, according to GoodRX.

Medical history matters, too. People who’d used gastrointestinal medications in the past were 9% more likely to stop semaglutide early compared to the general population.

The researchers theorized this may be because they’re more vulnerable to common side effects like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Similarly, people with a history of psychiatric medication use were 12% more likely to quit within the first year, while those living with cardiovascular disease or other chronic conditions were about 10% more likely to stop treatment.

“This is particularly concerning given that people with obesity-related comorbidities may reap the greatest benefit from treatment,” Thomsen said.

Men were also 12% more likely to stop treatment within a year compared to women. Researchers suggested this might be because women tend to achieve greater overall weight loss on the drugs.

“These results are new and shed light on the reasons for high rates of early discontinuation of semaglutide for weight loss in a real-world setting,” Thompson said. 

In the US, nearly 40% of adults are obese. That’s over 100 million people, including 20 million who are considered severely obese, according to the CDC.

Understanding why so many GLP-1 users stop taking the drugs could pave the way for solutions that help people stick with the treatment, like tackling barriers such as high costs.

This, Thomsen said, is essential to improving treatment use, health outcomes and quality of life.