Mounjaro® Maintenance Dose
The Mounjaro® maintenance dose is designed to help maintain your weight loss once you’ve hit your target weight.
At a glance…
Common maintenance dosage in the UK:
5 mg
10 mg
15 mg
The dose you’ll need is based on appetite control, side effects and weight stability.
Why people choose the Mounjaro® maintenance dose
Keeping weight off can feel just as hard as losing it. Once you’ve reached your target weight, you might notice your appetite changes and old habits start to creep back, which can make staying at the same weight feel harder.
That’s where the Mounjaro® maintenance dose can play an important role.
We’re here to help explain everything you need to know about the Mounjaro® maintenance dose in the UK, from what it is and how it works to how long you can stay on it, what to expect, possible side effects, and how to support your long-term results with healthy lifestyle habits.
Injected once a week on the same day to:
Maintain your weight loss
Suppress appetite and food noise
Reduce any side effects (as your body adjusts)
What is Mounjaro® and how does it work?
Mounjaro® is a prescription medicine that you inject once a week. It helps control your appetite, so you feel fuller for longer and less likely to overeat.
It works by helping your body to send clearer signals about hunger and fullness, which means you may feel full more quickly than usual, have fewer cravings, and think less about food during the day (food noise).
What’s the science behind Mounjaro®?
You don’t need to understand the science to use Mounjaro®, but here’s a simple explanation of how it works.
Mounjaro® contains tirzepatide. This works with two key hormones, known as GLP-1 and GIP, that play a big role in your appetite and fullness while eating. It works by mimicking these two naturally occurring hormones to help regulate:
Appetite
Feelings of fullness (satiety)
Blood sugar levels
Energy balance
This usually leads to reduced calorie intake and sustainable weight loss when combined with healthy lifestyle changes - helping to make weight loss more manageable.
While many people focus on the “weight-loss phase,” Mounjaro® can also be used as part of a longer-term plan to help maintain the weight you have already lost.
What is the Mounjaro® maintenance dose?
The maintenance dose is to keep your weight stable, not to continue weight loss.
There is no single ‘one-size-fits-all’ maintenance dose. Instead, it’s different for each person, based on how your body responds to the medication, your appetite, your weight stability, and any side effects you may experience.
In the UK, the most common Mounjaro® maintenance doses are:
5 mg
10 mg
15 mg
Based on your journey so far and how your body has responded to Mounjaro®, your maintenance dose will be selected by your prescriber. Some people maintain their weight well on a lower dose, while others may need a higher dose to keep appetite and cravings under control long-term.
“Your prescriber will always aim to supply the right dose to maintain your weight which is the minimum dose needed to achieve this. Firstly its safer and it should be cheaper too.”
Peter Thnoia, Superintendent PhamS IP
When do you transition to the Mounjaro® maintenance dose?
You usually transition to a Mounjaro® maintenance dose when:
You’ve reached your target weight
Your weight has stabilised for several weeks
You feel that your appetite and eating habits are manageable
Your prescriber is happy that you’re in a good position to maintain your results
This doesn’t mean you have to stop taking Mounjaro®. Instead, your prescriber may pause further dose increases or may reduce your dose slightly to find the lowest dose that still supports your appetite control and weight stability.
This phase is important, because it allows your body to adjust to your new weight while still benefiting from the appetite-regulating effects of Mounjaro®.
There isn’t a set time limit on how long you can take Mounjaro®. Some people use it for a short time, while others stay on it for longer to help keep their weight steady.
At PillTime, Mounjaro® is only continued if it’s still working well for you. That means you’re losing weight or maintaining your weight, you’re feeling okay on the medication, and you’re finding it helps keep food noise under control. Your prescriber will check in with you regularly and help decide what’s right for you.
You don’t have to stay on Mounjaro® forever. If you reach a healthy weight and feel confident managing without it, you can stop taking it with your prescriber’s support.While you’re on Mounjaro®, we always recommend building healthier habits and routines around eating, exercise and activities. These habits can help you keep the weight off even if you stop treatment later on.
How long can you stay on the Mounjaro® maintenance dose?
When you move onto a Mounjaro® maintenance dose, you may notice:
Slower or minimal further weight loss
A more stable appetite
More predictable hunger patterns
Greater focus on lifestyle habits to maintain your results
Your weekly injections will usually continue in the same way and you should still feel support with portion control and reduced cravings.
Some people worry that they will ‘lose control’ of their appetite once they stop taking their maximum dose, but many find that maintenance dosing continues to provide helpful appetite regulation which helps to avoid regaining weight.
What to expect when moving onto the maintenance dose.
Potential side effects of the Mounjaro® maintenance dose
Side effects on a maintenance dose are usually similar to what you experienced when your dose was going up, but once your body has adjusted, they’re usually milder (or fade away completely).
Common side effects may include:
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Constipation
Reduced appetite
Indigestion
Abdominal discomfort
Less common but more serious weight loss injection side effects can occur and should be talked through with your prescriber. If you experience persistent or severe symptoms, you should seek medical advice straight away.
Supporting weight maintenance alongside Mounjaro®
Medication alone is rarely enough for lifelong success.
Combining Mounjaro® with healthy habits will give you the best chance of maintaining your weight long term. Some of the areas that support weight maintenance include:
Staying active
It’s recommended that all adults between 19-64 years old should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week, like brisk walking, cycling or swimming. That may sound like a lot, but if you spread that out throughout the week, it’s much more manageable. You don’t have to do all of this at once, you can work your way up to the 150 minute target - small changes still count.
Strength training can also help preserve lean muscle mass and support your metabolism.
If it’s been some time since you last exercised, or you have a chronic or pre-existing condition, always talk it through with your doctor first.
Eating a balanced diet
While you’re using Mounjaro®, make sure you’re maintaining or building eating habits that include:
Lean protein (chicken, fish, eggs, tofu, legumes)
High-fibre foods (vegetables, wholegrains, pulses)
Healthy fats (olive oil, nuts, seeds, avocado)
Limiting highly processed foods and sugary snacks
Find out more about planning meals while taking weight loss injections..
Maintaining good hydration
Drinking plenty of water can support your digestion, energy levels and even help control your appetite.
NHS guidelines recommend aiming for at least 6-8 glasses of fluid a day for adults. That doesn’t all have to be purely water - tea, coffee, lower-fat milk and sugar-free drinks all count as part of this daily intake.
Prioritise sleep
Did you know that poor sleep can increase hunger hormones and cravings?
Aim for 7–9 hours of sleep per night where possible.
Find out more about the links between sleep and weight management.
Monitor your weight and habits
Regular check-ins with your weight, food choices and activity can help you catch small changes early and prevent them from becoming bigger setbacks.
How the Mounjaro® maintenance dose is prescribed in the UK.
Prescription-only medication in the UK
Maintenance doses set by a qualified UK prescriber
Regular reviews of progress, side effects, and overall health
Prescriber dosing decisions follow UK clinical guidelines
In the UK, Mounjaro® is a prescription-only medication, which means that dosage changes or any ongoing maintenance dose must always be managed by a qualified UK prescriber.
The prescriber will review your progress, weight changes, any side effects that you may be experiencing and your overall health. If they consider it safe, appropriate and beneficial for you to continue taking the medication, they can then agree on a maintenance dose and provide you with the prescription - ensuring that your treatment aligns with your individual medical needs as well as UK clinical guidelines.
While on the maintenance dose, regular clinical reviews are needed to enable your prescriber to monitor your response to the treatment and ensure that it continues to be a suitable option for you, along with checking that the prescribed maintenance dose is the right one for you individually. Any increases, decreases or decisions to stay on the same dose are always clinician-led to make sure that things are done safely and in line with best clinical practice.
Mounjaro® maintenance dose FAQs
Is it safe to stop taking the Mounjaro® maintenance dose?
Stopping Mounjaro® suddenly is not usually dangerous, but many people experience a return of appetite and food noise which can lead to gradual weight regain. For this reason, any changes to your dose or treatment plan should always be talked through with your prescriber.
Do you still lose weight when on the Mounjaro® maintenance dose?
Some people may continue to lose small amounts of weight, especially in the early stages of maintenance. But the main goal of the maintenance dose is weight stability rather than further significant weight loss.
Can my Mounjaro® maintenance dose change over time?
Yes. Your maintenance dose may be adjusted depending on your appetite, weight trends, side effects and lifestyle changes. Regular reviews with your prescriber help ensure your dose remains appropriate and effective.
Will I need to take Mounjaro® forever?
It’s different for each person: some continue to use Mounjaro® long term while others gradually reduce or stop altogether once they have strong lifestyle routines in place to support them (with their prescribers support).
Obesity is a chronic condition, so ongoing support is often helpful to help maintain past weight loss.
Is the Mounjaro® maintenance dose lower than the weight loss dose?
For many people, the maintenance dose will be lower than the highest dose taken when trying to lose weight, but not always. Some people require the same dose they used for weight loss to maintain stable results over time. Your prescriber will help decide which maintenance dosage is right for you.
Can I switch from Mounjaro® to Wegovy® when on a maintenance dose?
Switching from Mounjaro® to Wegovy® during the maintenance dose phase is sometimes appropriate, but it’s important to do this under the supervision of your prescriber so they can assess if it’s safe and suitable at the time.
While these two weight loss medications have some similarities, they do work in slightly different ways so you should always seek advice before switching. Find out more about switching from Mounjaro® to Wegovy®.