Stopping Ozempic May Raise Heart Attack and Stroke Risk: What Happens When You Quit GLP-1 Drugs?
Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs have become widely used for managing type 2 diabetes and obesity, with benefits that extend beyond blood sugar control and weight loss. But new research suggests that some of their cardiovascular protection may fade surprisingly quickly after treatment stops.
A study of more than 333,000 US veterans with type 2 diabetes found that interrupting GLP-1 treatment was associated with an increased risk of major cardiovascular events, including heart attack, stroke, and death.
The findings raise questions about what happens to the body when people stop medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide.
Heart Benefits May Fade After Treatment Stops
Researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis analysed data from 333,687 veterans with type 2 diabetes over three years. About 132,551 had been prescribed GLP-1 drugs, including semaglutide and tirzepatide, while 201,136 received sulfonylureas, another class of diabetes medication.
Among GLP-1 users, 26% stopped treatment during the study, while about 23% experienced an interruption lasting at least six months before restarting.
People who remained on GLP-1 therapy continuously for three years had an 18% lower risk of major cardiovascular events compared with those taking sulfonylureas.
However, the protective association weakened when treatment was interrupted. A gap of six months before restarting was associated with a 4% to 8% increase in cardiovascular risk compared with continuous use.
The longer people remained off treatment, the greater the difference became. Those who stopped for one or two years without restarting had a 14% and 22% higher risk of major cardiovascular events, respectively, compared with people who continued treatment.
What Happens When You Quit GLP-1 Drugs?
GLP-1 medications work in several ways, including helping regulate blood sugar, reducing appetite, and slowing digestion. Some drugs in this class have also demonstrated cardiovascular benefits in people with diabetes or obesity.
When treatment stops, however, the effects of the medication do not necessarily continue indefinitely.
Weight regain is common after discontinuing GLP-1 treatment, and other cardiometabolic changes can occur. Blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol may worsen as the underlying condition becomes less controlled.
A 2026 review in Nature Reviews Endocrinology similarly noted that weight regain and deterioration in several cardiometabolic risk factors are common after GLP-1 receptor agonists or tirzepatide are discontinued.
Importantly, the new study does not prove that stopping Ozempic directly causes a heart attack or stroke. It was an observational analysis of medical records, meaning researchers identified an association between treatment interruption and cardiovascular outcomes rather than establishing direct cause and effect.
Should You Stop Taking Ozempic?
The findings do not mean people should continue or stop GLP-1 treatment without medical advice.
People may discontinue these medications for several reasons, including side effects, cost, medication shortages or because they no longer want to take them. The researchers found that restarting treatment after an interruption restored some cardiovascular protection, but the benefit was not as strong as with continuous use.
The study also focused on US veterans with type 2 diabetes, so the results may not apply in exactly the same way to people taking GLP-1 drugs solely for weight management.
For anyone considering stopping Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro or Zepbound, the findings highlight why it is worth discussing the decision with a healthcare professional. Depending on the reason for treatment and a person's cardiovascular and metabolic risk, stopping may require a plan for managing blood sugar, weight, and other risk factors.