People with type‑2 diabetes often use GLP‑1 medicines such as liraglutide, semaglutide, or tirzepatide. A recent study from the Endocrine Society’s meeting in Chicago found that many patients stop taking these drugs, but a large share start again later.
How many patients stop?
Researchers looked at insurance claims from over 60,000 adults aged 18‑64 who had a body‑mass index of at least 25 kg/m². They counted a “stop” when a prescription gap was longer than 60 days.
The results showed that about four out of ten patients stopped their GLP‑1 medication within the first year. By the end of two years, nearly six out of ten had stopped.
How many patients start again?
Good news: more than half of those who stopped began the medication again within a year, and almost two‑thirds did so within two years. This means many people pause the treatment rather than quit forever.
Who is most likely to stop?
The study found a few groups were more likely to discontinue:
- Patients on Medicaid or Medicare plans
- Black patients
- Those who experienced nausea or other stomach problems (about 37% of stops)
Patients whose first prescription came from an endocrinologist were 10% less likely to stop.
Do newer drugs help?
People using newer GLP‑1 medicines, like tirzepatide, were 41% less likely to stop than those on older drugs such as liraglutide. Users of semaglutide also had a lower chance of stopping, about 28% less.
Why staying on the medicine matters
Continuous use of GLP‑1 drugs helps protect the heart, kidneys, and overall health. Stopping early can miss these benefits and increase the risk of complications.
Understanding these patterns can help doctors, insurers, and policymakers give extra help to patients who might need it, keeping them on therapy for longer.