How To Stop Taking Ozempic Safely

Key takeaways:

• Stopping some medications abruptly — like beta blockers, benzodiazepines, and antidepressants — can atomic number 82 to withdrawal symptoms.

• Withdrawal from certain medications tin can cause serious side furnishings. The risk is typically greater if you lot've been on the medication for a long time or your dose is high.

• Always talk to your healthcare provider (HCP) before stopping whatever medication.

Iryna Imago/iStock via Getty Images

"Can I just finish my medication?" This is 1 question healthcare providers (HCPs) hear often. And information technology has a complicated answer.

Some medications can be dangerous to stop abruptly. Not only could your medical status get worse, simply you could also have unsafe side effects. And with some medications like antidepressants, stopping cold turkey is riskier the longer yous've been taking them.

Some medications demand to be gradually lowered (tapered). Your HCP can assist you lot brand a taper plan. In other words, they'll help you slowly lower your dose over a catamenia of time.

Beneath, we'll talk about 10 medications that may lead to serious problems if stopped abruptly.

1. Clonidine (Catapres, Catapres-TTS)

If you take a claret pressure medication, y'all might wonder if y'all'll ever exist able to stop information technology. If your HCP gives you the light-green light to stop taking it, how do you practise information technology?

It depends. Clonidine (Catapres, Catapres-TTS) is a medication that treats high blood pressure — though it's not a first-selection option. It'south also used off-characterization for other conditions, like nicotine dependence, opioid withdrawal, or tic disorder.

Stopping clonidine abruptly can cause a surge of stress hormones, peculiarly norepinephrine (noradrenaline). This tin can cause a situation of very high blood pressure known as the "rebound hypertension" effect. Before stopping clonidine, talk to your HCP about how to safely lower your dose.

ii. Propranolol (Inderal) and other claret pressure medications

Propranolol (Inderal) treats many heart conditions. These include high blood pressure, chest pain, and atrial fibrillation. Information technology tin also protect the heart after a heart attack. Other FDA-approved uses for propranolol that aren't related to the heart, include tremors, a specific tumor of the adrenal gland (pheochromocytoma), and migraine prevention. It's as well sometimes used off-label for functioning feet.

Propranolol is part of a grouping of medications called beta-blockers. Stopping beta-blockers may cause withdrawal symptoms, including:

• Higher claret pressure

• Chest pain

• Anxiety

• Fast heartbeat

• Heart set on

Proceed in mind that stopping any blood pressure medication cold turkey may exist unsafe because it tin cause your claret pressure to rise quickly. These include:

• Calcium channel blockers, like amlodipine (Norvasc)

• Angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs), like losartan (Cozaar)

• Diuretics, like spironolactone (Aldactone)

Talk to your HCP before stopping any blood pressure medications. They tin can assist yous determine if it's safe to stop the medication. And they tin give you a programme for how to lower your dose slowly.

3. Venlafaxine (Effexor, Effexor XR)

Venlafaxine (Effexor XR, Effexor) is part of a group of medications called serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). It can treat depression, anxiety, and panic disorder.

Venlafaxine has a shorter half life than many antidepressants, meaning information technology leaves your body quickly. Because of this, stopping venlafaxine abruptly can shock your body and lead to withdrawal symptoms, such equally:

• Irritability

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Dizziness

• Nightmares

• Headache

• Tingling awareness on skin (paresthesia)

Talk to your HCP earlier stopping venlafaxine. They'll likely recommend that the dose exist lowered slowly. In studies of venlafaxine, doses were lowered past 75 mg every calendar week until the medication was stopped. Sometimes, the dose may demand to exist lowered over several months to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

4. Paroxetine (Paxil)

Paroxetine (Paxil) is function of a group of medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It's used to treat the following conditions:

• Low

• Anxiety

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

• Panic disorder

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

• Social feet disorder (SAD)

Like venlafaxine, information technology has a short half life. It's one of the SSRIs that'due south most likely to cause withdrawal symptoms. And so it needs to be tapered gradually prior to stopping. If you stop taking it suddenly, symptoms may include:

• Nausea

• Headaches

• Dizziness and vertigo

• Flu-like symptoms

• Feet

• Defoliation

• Irritability

• Sleep disturbances (like dreaming excessively or indisposition)

If y'all're taking paroxetine and thinking most stopping it, talk to your HCP near how to safely taper your medication.

v. Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines — like alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan), and diazepam (Valium) — are used for anxiety symptoms and panic attacks. They're likewise used off-label for a variety of medical conditions including insomnia and alcohol employ disorder.

Benzodiazepines shouldn't exist stopped abruptly. Withdrawal symptoms — including seizures — may occur if you suddenly finish taking these medications. Seizures can happen soon afterwards stopping the benzodiazepine, simply they can besides occur days subsequently.

Other benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms include:

• Headache

• Heart palpitations

• Sweating

• Nausea

• Diarrhea

• Problem sleeping and nightmares

• Irritability or agitation

• Retentivity and concentration problems

• Anxiety or panic attacks

• Tremors

• Muscle aches, pain, and stiffness

• Confusion

• Delirium

• Delusions

• Hallucinations

Withdrawal is more likely to happen if you've been taking a loftier dose. They can also happen if you have been taking the medication for a long time. Lowering your dose slowly with the approval of your HCP can help you avert serious withdrawal symptoms.

6. Topiramate (Topamax)

Topiramate (Topamax, Qudexy XR, Trokendi XR) is FDA-approved to treat epilepsy and help prevent migraines. It's 1 of the two medications in Qsymia (phentermine and topiramate) used to help with weight loss. And it's as well used off-label to care for alcohol use disorder.

Topamax withdrawal can occur when it'south stopped abruptly instead of tapered. The greatest risk is that your seizures worsen. Instead of stopping Topamax at in one case, your HCP can assistance you taper your dosage gradually.

7. Gabapentin (Neurontin)

Gabapentin (Neurontin) is FDA-approved to treat seizures and nerve pain. It's also used off-label to care for withdrawal symptoms in alcohol employ disorder.

Just, y'all shouldn't stop taking gabapentin of a sudden. Withdrawal symptoms tin starting time as soon as 12 hours after stopping it.

Gabapentin withdrawal symptoms occur more commonly in people taking this medication at a high dose or in those who have it for a long fourth dimension. They include:

• Trouble sleeping

• Agitation

• Anxiety and restlessness

• Tiredness

• Sensitivity to light

• Headache

• Sweating

• Dizziness

• Nausea

• Irritability

• Irregular heartbeat

• Pain

In people using gabapentin for seizures, stopping it tin crusade seizures to return or worsen. Talk to your HCP before stopping gabapentin. They can assistance you lot come upwardly with a plan to lower your dose slowly.

8. Prednisone (Sterapred, Deltasone) and other corticosteroids

Prednisone is a corticosteroid medication that tin treat many medical conditions, including:

• Allergies

• Skin atmospheric condition

• Rheumatoid arthritis

• Some cancers

• Kidney weather condition

If yous've been taking prednisone for more than a week, you may experience withdrawal side effects if y'all stop it abruptly. This is because stopping corticosteroids abruptly can cause your adrenal glands to finish working. Your adrenal glands produce many of the hormones that aid your body part normally. Stopping prednisone can lead to symptoms like:

• Weakness

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Abdominal pain

Work with your HCP to wean off the medication, rather than stopping the medication abruptly.

ix. Opioid pain medications

Opioids are prescription medications, similar codeine, morphine ER (MS Contin), and oxycodone (Roxicodone). If you've been taking opioids for a long time, stopping them suddenly can crusade symptoms like:

• Sweating

• Diarrhea

• Generalized pain

• Restlessness

• Anxiety

If you need opioids for pain command, taking the lowest dose for the shortest corporeality of time possible can assist you avoid opioid withdrawal symptoms. Taking less medication ways it is easier to cease afterwards.

If you're taking an opioid medication, It's best to wean them down instead of stopping abruptly. Your provider can help you come with a plan to lower your dose slowly.

10. Baclofen (Lioresal)

Baclofen (Oxobax, Gablofen) is in a group of medications chosen "muscle relaxants." Information technology treats muscle spasms in people with spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis (MS).

Withdrawal from baclofen can occur from injectable or oral dosage forms. Withdrawal symptoms include:

• Fever

• Weakness

• Nausea

• Worsening musculus spasms

Withdrawal from injectable forms tends to exist more astringent. It can cause hallucinations, delirium, and seizures. If left untreated, it can even cause death.

If you're taking oral baclofen or receive injectable baclofen, don't stop your medication abruptly. Talk to your HCP almost how to wean slowly if it's no longer needed.

The bottom line

Some medications shouldn't be stopped suddenly because they tin cause dangerous withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms are often more severe if you've been taking the medication at a higher dose for a long time. Blood pressure medications, antidepressants, and opioid medications are just some examples of medications that need to be carefully tapered rather than stopped abruptly.

Always talk to your HCP earlier stopping any medications. They tin help you come up up with a plan to lower your medication dose slowly. This will aid you lot avoid any negative effects of withdrawal from a medication.

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