Semaglutide is one of the most exciting weight loss solutions we’ve seen in recent years. As obesity rates climb globally, finding effective and lasting treatments has never been more urgent. It’s no wonder semaglutide and medications like Ozempic® have become household names.
While semaglutide shows a lot of promise, and you don’t have to look far to find success stories, we encourage everyone to approach a new treatment with realistic expectations.
Managing your weight is a marathon, not a sprint. Even when taking a weight loss medication like semaglutide, and combining it with healthy lifestyle changes, there is no quick fix or magic bullet for sustainable weight loss.
Our team is here to ensure you have a clear understanding of whether semaglutide is the right choice for you and what to expect along the way.
First, What Is Semaglutide?
Semaglutide is a once-weekly injectable or oral prescription medicine that belongs to a class of medications called GLP-1 receptor agonists. Its mechanism of action is fascinating; it works by mimicking a hormone called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) that targets areas in your brain that regulate appetite and food intake. This helps you to feel fuller faster, have fewer cravings, and ultimately eat less throughout the day.
But it doesn’t just help you eat less – semaglutide also slows down the emptying of your stomach, which means you feel satisfied for longer after meals. There are additional benefits for blood sugar control and even evidence that it can improve cardiovascular health.
When Do You Start Seeing Results With Semaglutide?
Semaglutide starts working in your body right away. Many of our patients report noticing a difference in their appetite and cravings within the first few weeks of starting treatment. Visible weight loss usually becomes more apparent after several months of using the medication consistently. This is when patients often report noticing changes in how their clothes fit and seeing measurable results on the scale.
No matter how you go about it, the pace of weight loss differs for everyone. Some people may see rapid weight loss in the beginning, while others may experience a more gradual decline. Factors like your starting weight, overall health, and diet and exercise routine can all impact your personal results.
Does Semaglutide Work for Everyone?
Semaglutide, like any other treatment, may work differently for each individual. Several factors can influence how well semaglutide works for you, including:
- Your starting weight and body composition
- Your age and gender
- Your overall health and any underlying medical conditions
- Your diet and exercise habits
- Your adherence to the treatment plan
In general, we expect someone who responds to the treatment to see weight loss within the first two months. If someone has been taking semaglutide for three months and is not seeing weight loss, they are considered a non-responder to the medication.
How Long Can You Stay on Semaglutide?
Semaglutide is approved for long-term use. Studies have shown that people who stay on semaglutide for an extended period (68 weeks or more) can achieve and maintain significant weight loss. In fact, it’s designed to be taken indefinitely.
It’s important to note that while semaglutide is safe for long-term use, it’s not meant to be a solution on its own. In order to maintain your weight loss over time, you’ll need to continue making healthy lifestyle choices, such as addressing any underlying issues contributing to your weight gain, such as a hormonal imbalance, diet, exercise, and other root causes .
Do You Have to Take Semaglutide Forever?
Weight maintenance is an ongoing journey. Even after you’ve achieved your initial goals, you’ll need to continue making healthy choices to keep the weight off. For some people, this may mean continuing semaglutide treatment at a lower dose or on a maintenance schedule.
Does that mean semaglutide has to be a life-long commitment? Not necessarily. Some people are able to stop taking it once they’ve reached their weight loss goals and maintain their results with a healthy lifestyle or a treatment that solves the underlying issue causing weight gain, such as hormonal imbalances that develop with age (i.e., menopause or low testosterone).
At our clinic, we work with each patient to develop a personalized plan for long-term weight management. This may include gradually tapering off semaglutide, transitioning to a maintenance dose or exploring other strategies to support your ongoing success.
What Are the Risks of Taking Semaglutide Long-Term?
The long-term safety profile of semaglutide is encouraging. The most common side effects of semaglutide are nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, abdominal pain and headache. In most cases, these side effects improve as your body adjusts to the medication.
However, some people experience more severe or persistent symptoms that require adjusting their dose or stopping treatment altogether. There are also some potential long-term risks associated with semaglutide use, although more research is needed to fully understand these effects. These may include:
- Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
- Gallbladder problems
- Increased risk of thyroid tumors (seen in animal studies)
- Changes in kidney function
- Interactions with other medications
We carefully screen all patients before prescribing semaglutide to ensure it’s a safe and appropriate choice for your needs. We also closely monitor you throughout your treatment to look for signs of potential complications and make adjustments, as needed, to minimize risk.
Can You Stop Semaglutide at Any Time?
You have the power to make your own health decisions, but they should be made in consultation with a medical professional.
We do not recommend stopping semaglutide abruptly. Doing so can lead to a rebound effect, where your appetite and cravings return in full force, making it harder to maintain your weight loss progress. Instead, we recommend working with your doctor to gradually taper off the medication.
The tapering process typically involves slowly reducing your dose of semaglutide over the course of several weeks or months. This allows your body to adjust to the change and minimizes the risk of experiencing withdrawal symptoms or adverse effects.
Why Do People Stop Taking Semaglutide?
There are various reasons why someone might choose to stop using semaglutide.
While semaglutide is generally well-tolerated, some patients may experience side effects that make it difficult or undesirable to continue treatment. Others don’t get results, even after using the medication for months. In these cases, discontinuing the medication is a logical step, and we will come up with a plan for tapering off safely.
Cost is a factor for some patients, especially if their insurance doesn’t cover the treatment. At Balanced Medical Solutions, we understand that cost can be a barrier to care, and we work hard to help patients find affordable solutions whenever possible.
One of the most exciting reasons patients stop taking semaglutide is because they’ve reached their goals. For patients who are able to maintain their weight loss with healthy lifestyle habits, this may be the natural endpoint of their semaglutide journey.
What Happens If You Stop Taking Semaglutide?
If you are considering discontinuing semaglutide, you must understand the potential consequences and how to navigate them successfully.
The most common concern about stopping semaglutide is weight regain. It’s true that when you discontinue the medication, you may experience a gradual increase in appetite and cravings, which can make it more challenging to maintain your weight loss progress.
However, this doesn’t mean that regaining weight is inevitable. You can mitigate this risk by continuing to follow a healthy lifestyle and working closely with our medical professionals to develop a maintenance plan.
What Are the Benefits of Using Semaglutide Long-Term?
Continuing to use semaglutide may be the healthiest and most effective option for you. Long-term use of semaglutide can help you maintain the weight loss you’ve achieved and continue to see improvements in health markers like blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
We’ve seen patients experience a range of other benefits from long-term weight management with semaglutide, such as:
- Improved energy levels
- Improved physical function
- Increased motivation to exercise
- Better sleep quality
- Reduced inflammation and joint pain
- Enhanced mental health and self-esteem
- Improved cardiovascular and metabolic health
Of course, the decision to stay on semaglutide long-term is a personal one that should be made in consultation with your medical provider. We will work with you to assess your individual needs and provide ongoing support to ensure you get the most out of your treatment.
Your Healthiest Self Is Within Reach – Ask About Semaglutide Today
At Balanced Medical Solutions, we’ve seen firsthand the incredible transformations a medical weight loss program can bring about. A healthy and vibrant life is within reach – and semaglutide could be the key to unlocking it.
With our team’s support, you’ll never feel alone on your weight loss journey. We’ll be there to celebrate your victories, help you navigate any challenges, provide the ongoing care you need to sustain your results.
So don’t spend another day feeling frustrated or hopeless about your weight. Schedule a medical evaluation at our Bay Area clinic today to find out if semaglutide is right for you.
