According to a new Blue Cross Blue Shield Association survey, the majority of patients on GLP-1 medications, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, do not stick to their prescribed course of action for at least 12 weeks; in fact, over 30% of patients stop taking the medication after just four weeks.
An review of 169,250 health insurance claims made between 2014 and 2023 revealed that those between the ages of 18 and 34 and those residing in underserved health districts had a higher likelihood of discontinuing treatment earlier.
The authors of the report state that taking these medications “long enough to achieve clinical success” is “critical.”
According to study, 1.7% of Americans received a prescription for a semaglutide last year.
In order to make users feel fuller for extended periods of time, these medications mimic GLP-1, the hormone the body normally generates after eating.
According to the Department of Surgery at Columbia University, people who use these injectable medications typically lose 15% to 20% of their body weight, however only about 10% of users really lose that much.
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Studies have shown that most users of weight-loss medications quit within a year.
Dr. Steven Batash, a prominent physician at Batash Endoscopic Weight Loss, a Queens-based gastroenterologist, told Prevention last week that “users of these weight-loss medications typically stop taking them because they see results.”
Because of early side effects, people may discontinue treatment before the six-week mark, according to the report’s authors. Constipation, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and stomach discomfort are typical adverse effects.
Compared to those who pay more, those whose monthly expenses are less than $60 are much more likely to continue taking their medications. A survey from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association states that the average monthly list price for semaglutide is more than $1,000.
