Do you gain weight back after stopping Mounjaro?

Key Points

• Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a once-weekly injectable medication used in addition to diet and exercise to treat type 2 diabetes.
• Weight loss is a common side effect of Mounjaro, with people taking it alone for type 2 diabetes losing up to 7.8 kg (17.1 lb) at 40 weeks during clinical studies.
• After stopping Mounjaro, it is likely to regain some of the lost weight.
• Mounjaro is not FDA approved for weight loss. The active ingredient tirzepatide is approved for chronic weight management under the brand name Zepbound.

Although weight loss is a common side effect of Mounjaro (tirzepatide), it is likely to gain some of the weight back again after stopping it. Tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro, is FDA approved for weight management in certain adults under the brand name Zepbound.

What is Mounjaro?

Mounjaro is an injectable medication that’s used to treat type 2 diabetes in adults. It is FDA approved for use alongside diet and exercise. However, a common side effect of Mounjaro is weight loss. In clinical trials, patients taking Mounjaro lost up to 7.8 kg (17.1 lb) at 40 weeks.

How much weight do you gain back after stopping Mounjaro?

There is not enough research on how much weight people gain after they stop taking Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes. One study looked at patients with obesity or overweight without diabetes who stopped taking tirzepatide 10 mg or 15 mg after taking it for 36 weeks. Patients who stopped taking tirzepatide experienced a 14% weight regain after 1 year. This was about 11.1 kg (24.5 lb).

Related questions

• Mounjaro vs Ozempic: How do they compare?
• How do Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Zepbound compare for weight loss?
• Tirzepatide vs semaglutide: How do they compare?

Why does weight regain occur after stopping Mounjaro?

Mounjaro works by increasing the levels of GLP-1 and GIP, hormones that help regulate appetite and food intake. When you stop taking Mounjaro, these hormone levels decrease, leading to increased hunger and potential weight gain.

Lifestyle factors may also play a role in gaining weight after stopping Mounjaro. For example, if your risk for weight gain is higher if you resume certain eating habits or become less physically active.

Some strategies to maintain weight loss after stopping Mounjaro include:

• Maintain a balanced diet
• Exercise regularly
• Seek support through your doctor or groups in your community

If you start to gain weight after stopping Mounjaro, talk to your doctor. They can help you come up with a plan to maintain a healthy weight and prevent weight gain.