A new study suggests that stopping GLP-1 receptor agonists—medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound—may cause a quick loss of heart benefits, increasing the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and death. Conducted by researchers at Washington University in St. Louis, the study followed over 333,000 U.S. veterans with type 2 diabetes for three years. It found that even a six-month break from GLP-1 treatment was linked to a significant rise in the risk of major cardiovascular events compared to those who stayed on the medication. After two years without the drugs, the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death was up to 22% higher than for those who continued treatment, largely undoing the heart benefits these medications provide. The study compared people taking GLP-1 drugs with those on sulfonylureas, another class of diabetes medications. Those who consistently used GLP-1 medications had an 18% lower risk of major cardiovascular events compared to those on sulfonylureas. However, individuals who stopped GLP-1 treatment before 18 months showed no significant reduction in cardiovascular risk compared to those on sulfonylureas by the end of the study. Even a brief six-month interruption before restarting therapy was enough to reduce the heart benefits, with treatment gaps linked to a 4% to 8% increase in cardiovascular risk. Restarting the medication helped restore some of the heart protection, but not completely. This suggests that once GLP-1 therapy is stopped, the benefits may not fully return. Researchers emphasized the importance of continuous treatment for maintaining heart protection. They noted that the heart benefits of GLP-1 drugs build up slowly over time but can be lost quickly if treatment is interrupted. For study participants, just one year off the medication was enough to erase benefits that had taken years of continuous use to achieve. The study was funded by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, though the funders had no role in the study design, data analysis, or writing of the report. The findings offer important insights for patients and healthcare providers about the need for consistent use of GLP-1 receptor agonists to maintain cardiovascular protection.