Titration and discontinuation of semaglutide for weight management in commercially insured US adults
Authors' conclusion
The deviations from the recommended dose-escalation schedule and high discontinuation rate among real-world semaglutide users indicate important challenges in the delivery of evidence-based care. Policy interventions that reduce financial barriers to the persistence of semaglutide are needed.
Study context
- Population
- Commercially insured US adults starting semaglutide for weight management (single-dose prefilled pens), June 2021–December 2023
- Participants
- 15,811 participants
- Outcome
- Dose-titration patterns and discontinuation of semaglutide
- Follow-up
- 5 months
Methodological detailsreal-world, commercially insured US adults, multivariable Cox regression
- Real-world
- Commercially insured US adults
- Multivariable Cox regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Discontinuation · fifth month
Discontinued treatment by the fifth month
46%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Discontinuation by copayment quintile
Discontinuation among those initiating after supply stabilization (after October 2023) · fifth month
- Discontinuation rate
- 48%
- Sensitivity analysis
Discontinuation by copayment quintile
- Discontinuation strongly associated with copayment amount
Discontinuation by income and education
- Higher discontinuation rates associated with lower household income and education level
Original publication
Titration and discontinuation of semaglutide for weight management in commercially insured US adults. Obesity (Silver Spring). Published 4 June 2025. doi:10.
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