Ozempic users who quit the drug face rising cardiovascular risk, study finds

Key Points:

• A Washington University study found that stopping GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, leads to a rapid loss of cardiovascular benefits, including increased risks of heart attack and stroke.
• Continuous use of GLP-1 drugs for three years reduced cardiovascular risk by 18%, but stopping for six months to two years raised the risk by 4% to 22%, with benefits diminishing faster than expected.
• Restarting GLP-1 treatment after discontinuation partially restores heart protection but does not fully reverse the damage caused by stopping, indicating lasting negative effects on heart health.
• Experts emphasize that GLP-1 medications should be part of a long-term treatment plan combined with lifestyle changes, as discontinuation can cause a silent metabolic reversal that increases cardiovascular risk.
• The observational study mainly involved older male veterans with type 2 diabetes, so results may not generalize to all populations; researchers also noted that medication adherence and reasons for stopping could influence outcomes.