At Alevizos Medical in Irvine, California, board-certified integrative medicine specialist Dr. John Alevizos emphasizes long-term health and whole-person wellness. Dr. Alevizos and our team are passionate about supporting patients with chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes and weight challenges.
Because both groups often choose GLP-1s like Ozempic® today, Dr. Alevizos frequently hears questions about how long the drugs are needed and whether you need to commit for a lifetime. We’re breaking it down below.
Although many people associate Ozempic with weight loss, the medication is officially FDA-approved for adults with type 2 diabetes. The FDA originally approved the drug for improving blood sugar control. More recently, the FDA also approved it for reducing the risk of major cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke.
Because type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition, in general, medications such as Ozempic are designed for long-term use. Stopping Ozempic may lead to higher blood sugar levels. However, working with an experienced physician like Dr. Alevizos can help people with type 2 diabetes address the underlying issues involved in their disease.
Patients dedicated to managing type 2 diabetes through diet and lifestyle changes might be able to transition off Ozempic with Dr. Alevizos’s close medical supervision.
It’s different for every person: Some stay on it for years, and others transition off after several months or years.
Ozempic isn’t FDA-approved for weight loss. However, the same medication (semaglutide) is approved for weight management under the brand name Wegovy®.
This can be confusing, but the main distinction is that Wegovy has specific dosing designed for chronic weight management.
Adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater can qualify for Wegovy, as can adults with a BMI of 27 or greater and at least one weight-related health condition.
Some research suggests that many people regain weight after stopping Wegovy. For example, a 2022 study published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism found that participants regained more than 60% of the weight they lost within a year of stopping semaglutide.
However, that’s not always the case. In another large observational study, most semaglutide users maintained their weight or continued losing, even a year after discontinuing the medication. Only around 17.7% regained all the weight they had lost.
The bottom line is that, as with Ozempic for diabetes, taking Wegovy for weight management can have different results for every person. When patients discontinue the medication, the biological factors that contribute to weight gain, such as appetite signals, metabolism, and insulin resistance, can return.
But here’s the part patients need to hear: Wegovy is still a relatively new medication. It’s only been used for weight management since 2021, so evidence is still evolving. More data will arrive over the coming years.
The truth is that you can succeed either way, whether you take Ozempic or Wegovy for a shorter or longer period. You don’t necessarily need to assume you’ll be on a GLP-1 medication forever.
Many people use it for a period of time while they work on stabilizing hormones, correcting metabolic issues, learning sustainable habits, improving muscle mass, and building healthier routines.
This is why Dr. Alevizos takes a whole-body approach. At Alevizos Medical, you receive a comprehensive medical review, including hormone testing, lab work, metabolic evaluation, and a full assessment of factors that make weight loss difficult.
Conditions like type 2 diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, and hormone imbalance often play a role, and correcting these issues may make it possible to lower or discontinue medication later if your body responds well.
The right path is the one that protects your health, and Dr. Alevizos is here to help you discover that route to success.
If you’d like guidance tailored to your body and long-term health, call Alevizos Medical at 949-916-3600 to book your consultation.
