Semaglutide and other GLP-1 drugs are indicated for long term treatment for diabetes. In the Vitality Program, there is no specific timeframe on when to stop semaglutide.
Below are some guidelines that we will follow. You will with your healthcare provider to determine the best treatment course for you.
What we don’t want is for semaglutide to become a ‘crutch’. Hence, our focus on behavioral rather than weight loss.
For most of our patients in the Vitality Program, we recommend treatment for six months; although, some of people will be taking the medication for a longer period of time.
In PowerME we focus on behavioral change. So, while semaglutide will help you lose weight and improve your metabolic function, we emphasize that it’s most powerful attribute is as a behavioral change tool. If you don’t change your behavior, the chances are high that you will regain any weight that you lose once you discontinue the medication.
How do you know when to stop the medication? You’ll work with your healthcare provider closely. With the right approach, as you near the end of the program, you will have the confidence that the changes you’ve made have become habits–that you’ve ‘got this’.
We don’t recommend stopping semaglutide abruptly. We have found that a gradual lowering of the dose, similar to how you increased the dose at the start, will help you continue to dial in your healthy eating habits, while maintaining that confidence that the changes you’ve made will stick.
Once you are off of the medication, you will have your new eating habits to keep you healthy for a lifetime. If something happens such that old habits begin to creep back in, which can certainly occur, we can always reintroduce treatment for a short period to help you get back on track.
If you have any questions, make sure to reach out to your healthcare provider.
Your PowerME™ Team
