Tracking and Maintenance
Weight regain after stopping injections: planning long-term maintenance
Once you get close to your goal weight, you can start discussing how to maintain it next.
When you are close to your goal, it is necessary to discuss follow-up diet, exercise, medication, and follow-up consultation arrangements. Do not wait until you stop taking medication to start planning.
You feel hungry again after stopping taking the medicine. It’s not because your willpower has deteriorated.
After the drug is stopped, appetite that was previously under control may return and weight may increase. If you understand this first, you won't need to wait until you've recovered a lot before you feel like you've "failed."
Research reminds us that we must first have a maintenance plan
The SURMOUNT-4 study allowed adults who first received Mounjaro to continue taking the drug or switch to a placebo. The results showed that the average weight of the discontinuation group increased significantly. This shows that the maintenance period requires planning, but you cannot use research averages to predict how much weight you will gain.
Continue to maintain a regular diet and exercise
Continue to incorporate regular meals, strength training and daily activities into your life. Discussing with your doctor how often you should track your weight and what situations require early return is more helpful than worrying about your weight.
Costs, side effects and pregnancy preparation plans can all be discussed
Efficacy, side effects, cost and pregnancy preparation plan will all affect the choice. There is currently no discontinuation formula that is suitable for everyone, and you should not lengthen the injection interval, convert the number of grids, or directly resume the original high dose after stopping for a long time.
Before reaching the target, discuss the next step first
Write down the lifestyle you want to maintain, how much you can afford, how to track it, and what you worry about the most. Arrange with the doctor when to return for a follow-up visit and what changes should be communicated in advance so that the maintenance period can be specifically arranged instead of starting to think about what to do after stopping the medication.
When you are close to your goal, you can ask: "How will you maintain it next? How often will you return for follow-up visits? What should you do if your weight comes back?"
This update: Supplement the key points of daily situations and follow-up communication.
Sources and important notes
- SURMOUNT-4 randomized trial: weight maintenance with tirzepatide (2024) ↗
- NIDDK: Weight Management Drugs ↗
This guide is for adult patient education and does not replace a medical consultation. Overseas information may differ from Taiwan-approved labeling. Follow the Taiwan prescribing information and your clinician’s instructions for medication, dosing and device use.
Discuss any questions with your clinician
You can inquire about the return consultation time through the official LINE. When seeing a doctor, please tell the doctor about recent changes and medication problems; if you are seriously unwell, please seek medical treatment directly.
Contact BH Clinic LINE ↗