Only One-Quarter of Patients Still Taking Semaglutide for Weight Loss Two Years Later
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.
By Physician’s Briefing Staff HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, July 12, 2024 -- Three of four patients stop taking semaglutide (Ozempic or Wegovy) two years after being prescribed the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) for weight loss, according to new analysis conducted by Prime Therapeutics and Magellan Rx Management (MRx).
For the review, pharmacy and medical claims data for 3,364 people with insurance plans that cover GLP-1 RAs were examined. Patients had received new prescriptions between January and December 2021, and all were diagnosed with obesity. Importantly, the analysis excluded patients using the drugs for type 2 diabetes, for which GLP-1 RAs were originally developed.
While the report did not delve into why patients quit, it does offer a sobering view of the real-world experiences of people taking the drugs.
With Wegovy, just 24.1 percent of patients stayed on the medication over two years without a gap of 60 days or more, down from 36 percent who stayed on the drug for one year. With Ozempic, which has the same active ingredient as Wegovy, 22.2 percent of patients kept filling their prescriptions at two years, down from 47.1 percent who had used it for one year.
While the new analysis did not ask patients why they stopped using the drugs, it is likely due to a mix of side effects such as nausea and vomiting, out-of-pocket costs not covered by insurance, and supply shortages, analysis coauthor Patrick Gleason, M.D., assistant vice president for health outcomes at Prime/MRx, told Reuters. Some patients may decide to stop the medication once they lose the desired weight, even though research has shown many patients who quit gain the weight back.
"GLP-1s are unlikely to deliver therapeutic value when so many individuals stop treatment after two years, but the findings also illustrate the need for obesity care management programs to improve adherence," David Lassen, chief clinical officer at Prime/MRx, said in a news release.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
Source: HealthDay
Posted : 2024-07-13 07:15
Read more
- Sunscreen: Does SPF Matter and Which One Should I Choose?
- Your Body's 'Biomolecular' Makeup Shifts in Your 40s and 60s
- CDC: Overall ED Visit Rate 47 Visits Per 100 People in 2022
- The Ultimate Skin Care Gift Guide for Beauty Lovers
- What Is the Average Walking Speed of an Adult?
- 8 Health Editors Share Their Cold and Flu Solutions
Disclaimer
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.
The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Popular Keywords
- metformin obat apa
- alahan panjang
- glimepiride obat apa
- takikardia adalah
- erau ernie
- pradiabetes
- besar88
- atrofi adalah
- kutu anjing
- trakeostomi
- mayzent pi
- enbrel auto injector not working
- enbrel interactions
- lenvima life expectancy
- leqvio pi
- what is lenvima
- lenvima pi
- empagliflozin-linagliptin
- encourage foundation for enbrel
- qulipta drug interactions