What happens when you suddenly stop using Mounjaro?

Medications that act on incretin receptors are booming for treating type 2 diabetes and helping with weight loss. One of them is tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro®, which works on two receptors (GLP-1 and GIP), increasing satiety, reducing appetite, and controlling blood sugar levels (AGENCY…, 2025). But while it helps during use, what happens after you stop taking it?

Tirzepatide takes about five days to leave the body, so around three to four weeks after the last dose, it is completely gone (FELLA…, 2025). At that point, the changes it caused in the body begin to reverse. Appetite and satiety return to previous levels, and many people start feeling hungrier within one to two weeks (FELLA…, 2025).

The reality is that stopping tirzepatide often leads to weight regain. In clinical trials, people who stopped the medication and switched to a placebo regained a large portion of the weight they had lost. Within one year, most of the weight returned, while those who continued treatment maintained or even improved their results (Healthline, 2025). Without lifestyle changes, the body tends to revert to its previous state, bringing the weight back with it (FELLA…, 2025).

Beyond weight gain, stopping Mounjaro affects other aspects of health. People with type 2 diabetes may see blood glucose levels rise again, since the medication is no longer helping to control them (ADOCTOR…, 2025). Blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which may have improved during treatment, can also worsen over time (THE GUARDIAN, 2025). That’s why ongoing attention to health and diet is essential.

Mentally, Mounjaro also plays a role. Many people start thinking about food more often again, which makes sticking to a diet harder and increases the risk of weight gain (PODER360, 2025). This happens because GLP-1 and GIP receptors are no longer being stimulated, reducing satiety and increasing hunger.

And it’s important not to stop the medication abruptly without consulting a doctor. Doing so can be risky, especially for people who rely on it to control blood sugar or who have other health conditions. Always talk to a healthcare professional before making any decisions.

In short, stopping Mounjaro usually leads to weight regain, increased hunger, and the return of metabolic problems. That’s why having a long-term plan to maintain weight and monitor health is crucial. Obesity is a chronic condition, and medication alone is not enough without lasting lifestyle changes.

Bibliographic references 

NATIONAL HEALTH SURVEILLANCE AGENCY (ANVISA). Mounjaro® (tirzepatide): new indication. Brasília: Anvisa, 2025. Available at:
https://www.gov.br/anvisa/pt-br/assuntos/medicamentos/novos-medicamentos-e-indicacoes/mounjaro-r-tirzepatida-nova-indicacao.
Accessed on: January 19, 2026.

ADOCTOR. Mounjaro: half-life, stopping the drug, and more. 2025. Available at:
https://adoctor.org/endocrinology/how-long-does-mounjaro-stay-in-your-system/.
Accessed on: January 19, 2026.

FELLA HEALTH. Stopping and restarting Mounjaro weight loss: UK medical guidance. 2025. Available at:
https://www.fellahealth.co.uk/guide/stopping-and-restarting-mounjaro-weight-loss.
Accessed on: January 16, 2026.

FELLA HEALTH. Do you have to stay on tirzepatide for life? Treatment duration explained. 2025. Available at:
https://www.fellahealth.com/guide/do-you-have-to-stay-on-tirzepatide-for-life.
Accessed on: January 16, 2026.

HEALTHLINE. 6 things that can happen when you stop taking Mounjaro or Zepbound. 2025. Available at:
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/mounjaro-zepbound-changes-after-stopping.
Accessed on: January 16, 2026.

THE GUARDIAN. People who stop using Mounjaro suffer reversal of health benefits, study says. 2025. Available at:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/nov/24/mounjaro-health-benefits-reversed-regain-weight-after-stop-using.
Accessed on: January 19, 2026.

PODER360. Mounjaro may silence “food noise” in the brain, study shows. 2025. Available at:
https://www.poder360.com.br/poder-saude/mounjaro-pode-silenciar-ruido-alimentar-no-cerebro-mostra-estudo/.
Accessed on: January 19, 2026.