Stopping Mounjaro? Here’s what to expect

Stopping Mounjaro means a lot of changes, often your appetite will return, and you might gain a little weight. Don’t panic. By getting prepared for stopping Mounjaro and understanding how it might affect you, you can make sure you’re in control of your progress and able to manage your new weight in a healthy, sustainable way.

In this guide, we’ll explain what to expect and give you expert tips from our prescribing pharmacists on maintaining your weight loss long-term. It’s not the end of treatment; it’s the start of the rest of your journey.

What happens when you stop taking Mounjaro?

When you stop taking Mounjaro you may notice:

• Side effects start to go away - if you are experiencing any side effects when taking Mounjaro, you may notice that they slowly start to fade after coming off treatment. This will not be an immediate change as the treatment will still be in your system for some time after your last injection.
• Appetite starts to come back - You may notice that as Mounjaro slowly leaves your system, that its appetite suppressing effects stop working. This is why it is so important to focus on diet and exercise now.
• Blood sugar less controlled - You may notice cravings and spikes return, but you can be ready for this and keep them in check by knowing that they're coming.

If you are experiencing any symptoms or side effects after you have stopped Mounjaro then contact your prescribing pharmacist or GP for further advice on how to proceed.

Important: The best way to maintain your results for the long-term is to continue sticking to a healthy diet and exercise plan.  

Do you gain weight back after stopping Mounjaro?

You may gain some weight back after stopping Mounjaro, but this will depend on whether you’re maintaining a healthy diet and exercise plan. While some studies do show people putting weight back on, it’s not necessarily just because they stopped taking Mounjaro, but because they went back to their old habits and lifestyle.

It is vital to maintain a balanced, nutritional diet, as well as any exercise that you have been doing.

Remember, weight loss treatments like Mounjaro are designed to be used in addition to diet and exercise, not to replace them. So, when you stop treatment, you’ve got to keep it up!

Can you just stop taking Mounjaro?

You should speak to  your prescribing pharmacist or GP before stopping Mounjaro as they may suggest a step-down approach instead, which could provide you with a smoother transition off the treatment.

This could look something like slowly reducing your dose over a month or two before coming off the treatment to avoid an abrupt stop in taking your medication.

Stopping too suddenly can lead to an increase in appetite, which can lead to more weight gain.

If you’re thinking about stopping Mounjaro because you’re struggling to stay motivated, you’re in a weight loss plateau or if you have any potential issues with funding, then we’ve got guides to help you.

How to keep weight off after stopping Mounjaro?

Keeping the weight off comes down to maintaining the healthy habits you’ve built during your treatment.

Here’s what our pharmacist, Ayesha Bashir says on maintaining your weight loss long term:

“Coming off Mounjaro can feel daunting, but with the right approach, you can absolutely maintain your weight loss. The key is building on the healthy habits you've already developed during your treatment and sticking to them.

Focus on your diet

First and foremost, I always recommend focusing on a high-protein, balanced diet, making sure not to fall back into the pattern of eating ultra-processed foods.

Protein is your best friend here as it naturally helps manage hunger by keeping you fuller for longer. Good examples are:

• Lean meats
• Fish
• Eggs
• Beans
• Greek Yoghurt

Keep on exercising

Staying active is equally important. Whatever lifestyle changes you've made during your journey - keep them going! I particularly encourage resistance training, whether that's using weights, resistance bands, or even bodyweight exercises like press-ups.

Why? Because building muscle increases your metabolism, meaning your body burns more calories even when you're resting.

Get a support network

Finally, don't underestimate the power of support. Consider joining weight maintenance programmes or support groups, either locally or online. Sharing experiences with others who understand your journey can make all the difference.

Remember, maintaining weight loss is a marathon, not a sprint, and having that community around you provides both accountability and encouragement when you need it most.”

Ayesha Bashir, Prescribing Pharmacist
GPhC Number: 2209645

Can I stop Mounjaro for two weeks?

You can stop taking Mounjaro for two weeks, but you’ll need to speak to your prescribing pharmacist or GP before starting on the treatment again. This is because you’ll likely need to restart treatment on a lower dose, so your body can get used to treatment again.

However, we understand that sometimes, things happen, and you might need to pause treatment for a while. This might be because of:

• Surgery
• Travel
• Side effects

It is totally fine to stop for any of the reasons above. We’re always here to support you on your journey, regardless of your circumstances.

If you are experiencing prolonged side effects of Mounjaro, your prescriber may advise you to hold off on your weekly injections, or they may wish to look into more suitable alternative treatments.

Stopping and restarting Mounjaro

It’s fine to stop Mounjaro and restart at a later date, but how this will look depends on what dose you were on, and how long you’ve been having treatment.

You can’t regularly stop and start Mounjaro. Continuous treatment not only gets you the best results but also keeps you safe by reducing potential side effects and helping your body stay used to the treatment.

Due to this, stopping and starting Mounjaro is treated on an individual, case-by-case basis, as many deciding factors affect how one returns to treatment.

Here are two examples:

1. Someone on Mounjaro 5mg may have to restart at a different dose than someone on 15mg. This is due to how well they can tolerate the treatment.
2. Someone who previously decided to switch to Wegovy must wait at least 35 days before switching back to Mounjaro, as they need to wait until enough of the old treatment has left their system.

If someone has had a gap of four weeks, they will have to start again at 2.5mg, regardless of what dose they were on.

Important: If you have treatment left in your pen and have taken a break, do not continue where you left off without speaking with a pharmacist first, even if it has been refrigerated.

Mounjaro does have an expiration date after it has first been used.

Sources

Is there sustained weight loss after discontinuation of GLP-1 agonist for obesity treatment? (2023). Evidence-Based Practice. [Accessed on 9 September 2025].