A Cleveland Clinic analysis released on Mar. 12 found that patients who discontinue injectable GLP-1 drugs such as semaglutide and tirzepatide experience only modest weight regain in real-world settings, with many later restarting the medication or trying alternative obesity treatments.
The findings are significant as the use of these medications continues to grow, raising questions about long-term outcomes for patients who stop taking them. The study provides new insight into how patients manage their weight after discontinuing GLP-1 therapy outside of clinical trials.
Researchers examined nearly 8,000 adult patients in Ohio and Florida who began using injectable semaglutide or tirzepatide for obesity or type 2 diabetes and stopped within three to twelve months. Many participants stabilized their weight over a year by switching to other treatments or adopting therapeutic lifestyle changes. The results were published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
Hamlet Gasoyan, DS, Ph.D., MPH, from Cleveland Clinic's Center for Value-Based Care Research, led the study. "Our real-world data show that many patients who stop semaglutide or tirzepatide restart the medication or transition to another obesity treatment, which may explain why they regain less weight than patients in randomized trials," Dr. Gasoyan said.
The research also found that cost or insurance coverage limitations were the main reasons for stopping medication, with side effects being a secondary factor. Patients using these drugs for diabetes were more likely to restart them compared to those using them solely for obesity due to more consistent insurance coverage.
Dr. Gasoyan said ongoing support is important for people seeking obesity treatment: "Many patients do not give up on their obesity treatment journey, even if they need to stop their initial medication." He added that future research will look at how effective alternative treatments are for those who discontinue semaglutide or tirzepatide.
