US EditionPublished • loading... • Updated
Heart benefits fade after stopping GLP-1 medications
A study of over 333,000 adults found that stopping GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic raises cardiovascular risk, reversing benefits gained from continuous use over three years.
- Published on Wednesday in BMJ Medicine, a Washington University School of Medicine study found short gaps in GLP-1 treatment raise risks of heart attack, stroke and death, tracking more than 333,000 adults with Type 2 diabetes, mostly on Novo Nordisk's Ozempic.
- Roughly one in eight U.S. adults take GLP-1 drugs, but discontinuation rates run as high as 36% to 81% due to access problems and side effects like nausea and vomiting.
- Analysis showed quitting for six months raised risk by 4% and a two-year gap pushed it to 22%, while patients who stayed on GLP-1s saw an 18% reduction in cardiovascular risk, Washington University said.
- Al-Aly warned that stopping GLP-1s causes cardiovascular protection to vanish, calling it a 'metabolic whiplash' and urging providers and patients to stay on treatment 'for the long haul'.
- Policy moves such as Medicare covering weight-loss drugs could ease access, as Eli Lilly pursues employer-coverage efforts and drugmakers develop next-generation treatments with fewer side effects.
Insights by Ground AI
31 Articles
31 Articles
Stopping GLP-1 Drugs Can Quickly Erase Cardiovascular Benefits
WashU Medicine researchers found that stopping GLP-1 drugs such as semaglutide and tirzepatide — even temporarily — elevates the risk of heart attack, stroke and death compared to staying on the medication continuously.
·Charlottesville, United States
Read Full ArticleCoverage Details
Total News Sources31
Leaning Left1Leaning Right0Center28Last UpdatedBias Distribution97% Center
Bias Distribution
- 97% of the sources are Center
97% Center
C 97%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
