How long can you stay on Ozempic for weight loss?

Ozempic (semaglutide) treats heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and kidney decline. It can also be prescribed off-label for weight loss. So, how long can you stay on Ozempic? Do you have to take Ozempic forever, or is it a drug you take for just a few months? 

Here’s the honest answer: It depends from person to person. For some people, Ozempic may be a long-term medication, while for others, it may be something they take for a much shorter period of time. 

Ahead, we take a deeper dive into how long you can stay on Ozempic, the factors that can influence this, and more. 

There’s no set timeline for how long you can or should take the medication since Ozempic is not specifically approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss.  

How long you take Ozempic can depend on several factors, including:

• Your current  weight

• Your goal weight

• Your tolerance of side effects

• Whether you make (and adhere to!) lifestyle changes, such as improving your diet and exercising more

• Whether you have other health conditions or take other medications that can cause weight gain

Your current weight and goal weight can give your healthcare provider some idea of how long it will take you to lose weight on Ozempic. But other factors — such as your tolerance of side effects and response to the drug — are unknowable until you actually start taking Ozempic. And those can also affect how long you take Ozempic for weight loss.

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Side effects and how long you take Ozempic for weight loss

Your tolerance of Ozempic’s side effects can play a major role in how long you end up taking the drug for weight loss. 

GLP-1s in general — a category that includes Ozempic, its higher-strength counterpart Wegovy, and others — are known for causing gastrointestinal side effects that can be bothersome. 

With Ozempic, the most common side effects include:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Stomach pain

• Constipation 

Typically, these side effects are at their worst when you start taking Ozempic and when you increase your dose. (Ozempic follows a dosage titration schedule, during which your weekly dose is gradually increased over time based on your response to the medication.) 

For most people, the majority of side effects occur during the first 2–3 months of taking Ozempic. Then, they gradually go away on their own as your body gets used to the medication. They may return for a few days if you increase your dose, but will then fade away again. 

For others, however, the side effects can be too much. Up to 12% of  people may stop taking Ozempic due to these side effects.

It’s worth noting that Ozempic’s side effects appear to be dose-dependent. That means that they tend to be more common and more intense with higher dosages of the drug. 

If you start having intense side effects on Ozempic, your healthcare provider may recommend lowering your dose. This may make things more tolerable, so you can keep taking Ozempic. If you experience serious side effects and need immediate medical attention, do not hesitate to go to your nearest Emergency Department. 

There is no set time frame for how long you can stay on Ozempic. That said, whether Ozempic is a long-term drug can depend on the reason you’re taking the medication. 

For some people with diabetes, Ozempic may be a long-term treatment that continues throughout their lives. These individuals may be taking the drug for blood sugar control or to reduce the risk of worsening heart disease or kidney disease. (In other words, the drug’s uses as approved by the FDA.)

Taking Ozempic for weight loss, however, is considered off-label, so there is no set timeline for how long it’s recommended to take it. As long as it’s continuing to help you lose weight and keep it off — and you’re tolerating it well — your healthcare provider may say it’s safe for you to keep taking it. 

Research on Ozempic for weight loss 

Even though it’s not approved specifically for obesity or overweight, research shows that Ozempic can lead to significant weight loss, which is why some healthcare providers may prescribe it off-label.

Different factors can affect how quickly you lose weight on Ozempic. For example, underlying health conditions can hinder your weight loss progress on Ozempic

People with obesity lost an average of 11 pounds after three months of taking Ozempic. When people also had type 2 diabetes, however, it took them a little over seven months to lose a similar amount. The higher your dose of Ozempic, the more weight you’ll likely lose. 

Longer-term studies of semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic) show that the majority of weight loss typically occurs during the first year or so of treatment. After that point, the drug switches from helping you lose weight to helping you keep off the weight you’ve lost. But you may continue to lose some weight depending on your diet and activity levels. 

Studies thus far have shown that taking semaglutide for weight loss can be safe and effective for four years.

Ozempic starts working soon after you start taking it. But it can take about a month to notice weight loss. 

By that point, people usually lose an average of 2 pounds, according to one study. Then, the weight loss typically starts to accelerate, especially as the dosage strength increases. By the third month of taking Ozempic, people in the same study had lost an average of 11 pounds — that’s over a fivefold increase! 

Also, within the first three months, people report better control over their appetite and cravings — as they eat about 24% fewer calories per day.

You don’t have to take Ozempic forever for weight loss. But stopping it may cause you to regain some of the weight you lost. 

Long-term studies of semaglutide, the drug’s active ingredient, show that it is safe to use for weight loss for at least four years. Some people may choose to stop taking Ozempic once they reach their goal weight. Others may continue taking it if it helps them maintain the weight they lost.

Studies do show that when people stop taking semaglutide, some of the weight they lost tends to come back. 

In one study, people stopped taking Wegovy (the higher-strength version of Ozempic that’s FDA-approved for weight loss) after a year and a half. At that point, they had lost 17.3% of their starting weight, on average. Over the next two years of being off the medication, they regained roughly two-thirds of the weight. 

They also lost some of the gains they had made in their cholesterol levels and blood pressure. The findings led researchers to conclude that obesity may be a condition that requires ongoing treatment.

Another study — this time of women with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) who were also taking metformin, a common diabetes medication — produced similar findings. Two years after they stopped taking Ozempic, they regained about one-third of the weight they had lost on Ozempic. 

So, while you don’t have to take Ozempic forever for weight loss, you — along with your healthcare provider — may decide to continue taking it long-term if it helps keep the weight off. 

Yes, you can stop taking Ozempic at any time — but that doesn’t mean you should stop cold turkey. You should also never stop taking medications without first consulting your healthcare provider. They can advise you on how to stop Ozempic and strategies to help you maintain the weight loss and health benefits you’ve experienced from the drug moving forward. 

When you stop taking Ozempic, the effects will go away as the drug leaves your body. That means any side effects you were experiencing should start to subside. It also means that the treatment benefits of the drug may also stop. 

If you take Ozempic for diabetes, you’ll likely experience changes in your blood sugar levels over the next three months after stopping the medication. Depending on your blood sugar levels, your healthcare provider may increase the doses of your other medications to make sure your diabetes is under control. 

If you take Ozempic for weight loss, you may notice your appetite returns and you regain some weight. In one study, people regained about two-thirds of the weight they lost in the first year after stopping Ozempic. With that weight gain, you might also notice increases in your cholesterol or blood pressure.

Because Ozempic has a half-life of one week, it can take up to seven weeks (almost two months) for it to fully flush out of your system. However, you will likely notice the effects fading away over time. 

Ozempic was first FDA-approved in 2017. As a newer drug that’s less than a decade old, we still don’t know all the possible long-term effects and risks of taking Ozempic. 

Studies, thus far, have shown that semaglutide (Ozempic’s active ingredient) can be safe to use for four years. While Ozempic can be helpful for some aspects of health and safe for many people, it also comes with its own risks and potentially serious side effects.

Serious side effects of Ozempic, as listed on the drug label, may include:

• Acute pancreatitis

• Diabetic retinopathy complications (vision changes related to diabetes), meaning those with a history of diabetic retinopathy should receive closer monitoring

• Severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), especially when used alongside other medications that can potentially lower your blood sugar, such as insulin

• Kidney or gallbladder problems

• Severe gastrointestinal reactions

• Allergic reactions

• Pulmonary aspiration during anesthesia or procedures that require deep sedation

Studies have found that the likelihood of experiencing some of these side effects — such as gallstones — goes up the longer you take GLP-1s. The likelihood also increases when taking GLP-1s at higher doses and when people experience significant weight loss.

Also, Ozempic carries a black box warning — the FDA’s most serious type of warning — for an increased risk of thyroid tumors. While we don’t know if it has the same effect in humans, studies of rats showed that taking Ozempic increased their risk of developing thyroid tumors. 

For this reason, Ozempic should not be taken by anyone with a personal history of medullary thyroid cancer or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2 (MENII). If you have any personal history or family history of any type of thyroid cancer, it’s worth discussing the risks and benefits of the medication with your healthcare provider. 

Ozempic isn’t your only option when it comes to drugs for weight loss. In fact, Ozempic isn’t even technically FDA-approved for weight loss! Let’s take a look at some of the medications that are approved for weight loss, including GLP-1s like Ozempic as well as weight loss pills.

Three GLP-1 injections have been FDA-approved for weight loss, including:

• Saxenda (liraglutide)

• Wegovy (semaglutide)

• Zepbound (tirzepatide)

FDA-approved oral weight loss medications include:

• Qsymia (phentermine/topiramate)

• Contrave (naltrexone/bupropion)

• Xenical (orlistat) 

All of these require a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider. One exception is Alli (orlistat), which contains the same active ingredient as Xenical, but is available over the counter. 

These medications come with their own benefits and side effects. For example, Qysmia may not be a good option for those with heart issues, and Xenical may not be the best fit for those who tend to get an upset stomach.

There are also several natural alternatives to Ozempic, such as:

• Improving your diet to include more fiber, protein, and whole foods

• Exercising more, including a healthy mix of cardio and strength training

• Reducing your stress

• Getting better sleep

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There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how long you should stay on Ozempic. Some people take it for life to manage chronic health conditions. Others may use it for a shorter time to help with weight loss. Your provider’s guidance — and your personal response to the medication — should drive the decision.

• For chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or kidney decline, Ozempic may be a lifelong medication. 

• For weight loss, studies suggest semaglutide is safe and effective for at least four years, but most weight loss happens in the first year.

• Many people regain weight when stopping Ozempic, which is why some continue taking the medication long-term.

• Your tolerance of side effects — particularly gastrointestinal ones — may determine how long you take Ozempic.

• Never stop Ozempic without consulting your healthcare provider, who can help you transition safely off the medication and explore alternative options if needed.