Stopping Ozempic May Raise Risk of Heart Attacks and Strokes, Study Finds

Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine followed U.S. veterans with type-2 diabetes for three years to assess the impact of discontinuing GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic. They found that any interruption, including a six-month gap, significantly raised the risk of major cardiovascular events—including heart attacks, strokes and mortality—relative to patients who kept taking the drugs. The longer the treatment pause, the greater the risk increase.

Participants who remained on GLP-1 therapy for the entire study experienced the most pronounced heart-protective effects. Those who stopped and later resumed the medication still saw a reduction in risk, but the benefit was smaller than with uninterrupted use. The findings suggest that halting GLP-1 therapy may reverse metabolic advantages and diminish cardiovascular protection.