How Long Does Retatrutide Stay in Your System?

Retatrutide is a new weight management drug manufactured by Eli Lilly and Company for the treatment of obesity. It is showing promise among the popular weight loss medications Wegovy/Ozempic (semaglutide) and Zepbound/Mounjaro (tirzepatide). In addition to obesity, retatrutide is being tested for its effectiveness in type 2 diabetes management.

Retatrutide is not yet FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved, but it’s still generating a lot of interest and questions with patients and healthcare professionals. One such question asked is, how long does retatrutide stay in your system?

📝 How long does retatrutide stay in your system after stopping treatment?

The half-life of a drug is the time it takes for your body to reduce the drug to half of its starting dose. Different medications have different half-lives. Clinical trials have shown retatrutide has a half life of approximately 6 days, which allows for weekly administration. As retatrutide has not yet received approval from the Food and Drug Administration, the time the drug stays in the body still remains to be determined. However, based on similar weight loss drugs such as Mounjaro, it is predicted it may take 30 days for it to be cleared from the body.

📝 What happens when you stop taking retatrutide?

Return of appetite

Retatrutide regulates appetite, feelings of fullness, and gastric emptying. When you stop using retatrutide that effect no longer occurs. When you start taking less retatrutide, your hunger is likely to increase, you won’t feel full as soon, and you’ll be hungry for longer.

Weight gain

Retatrutide has been shown to cause significant weight loss in many people. Stopping the medication comes with changes in food cravings and increased hunger, leading to changes in weight, with some people experiencing weight gain.

Weight loss medications should be part of a treatment plan that includes lifestyle changes such as controlling calorie and food intake and increasing physical activity. These changes will help prevent some of the rebound weight gain that can occur when you stop taking retatrutide.

Blood sugars may rise

One of retatrutide effects is on your metabolic health, lowering blood sugar levels. If you have type 2 diabetes and stop taking retatrutide your blood sugar levels may fluctuate. Without the medication’s assistance in regulating blood sugar, you may experience hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) or hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

Side effects will go away

Side effects of retatrutide may not affect everyone and may be minimal. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and decreased appetite.

📝 How does retatrutide work in the body?

Retatrutide works as a powerful triple-agonist, meaning it works on on three key hormone receptors:

• The human glucagon receptor (GCGR)
• The glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor (GIP)
• The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1)

This unique receptor profile allows retatrutide to effectively:

• Regulate appetite, feelings of fullness, and gastric emptying
• Regulate metabolism
• Regulate blood sugar levels

Retatrutide activates the GIP, GLP-1, and GCG receptors simultaneously, leading to better weight loss and cardiometabolic benefits compared to targeting a single receptor. GIP is involved in glucose and lipid metabolism, GLP-1 regulates insulin secretion and appetite, and GCG plays a role in fat breakdown for energy use. In comparison, the weight loss drugs Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro only work on the GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist.

📝 What are the benefits of taking retatrutide?

Significant weight loss results

Clinical trials show that retatrutide could be the most powerful drug to be developed for the treatment of obesity. A trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that retatrutide helped patients achieve significant body weight loss. The weight-loss results at 48-weeks with the 12 mg dose of retatrutide was an average weight reduction of 24.2%, while the placebo group only saw a 2.1% reduction.

Improved blood glucose control

Retatrutide has been effective in lowering blood sugar levels, making it a promising treatment for individuals with type 2 diabetes. In studies, participants achieved reductions in HbA1c levels, indicating better blood glucose management.

Better cardiovascular health

The medication has been associated with improvements in cardiovascular risk factors, including reductions in blood pressure and lipid levels. These changes contribute to a decreased risk of heart disease.

Reduction in liver fat

Retatrutide has shown potential in reducing liver fat content, which is beneficial for individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This effect may help slow the progression of liver-related conditions.

📝 Conclusion

Retatrutide has shown in clinical trial trials to be an effective weight loss drug with a half life of 6 days, however it is still in the experimental phase and is without FDA approval. Your healthcare provider will have full prescribing information once the drug is launched.

Sources

• How long will Mounjaro® (tirzepatide) be in the body after the last dose?
• Triple hormone receptor agonist retatrutide for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: a randomized phase 2a trial – PMC
• Unleashing the power of retatrutide: A possible triumph over obesity and overweight: A correspondence – PMC
• Triple–Hormone-Receptor Agonist Retatrutide for Obesity — A Phase 2 Trial | New England Journal of Medicine