Reaching your target weight is an achievement you should be proud of. However, your Mounjaro treatment plan doesn’t stop there. Keeping the weight off is equally as important as losing it.
Finding the right Mounjaro maintenance dose after weight loss is key to sustainable weight management. Reaching – and staying – on this maintenance dose ensures your Mounjaro weight loss medication is as effective as possible in the long-term.
To help you understand more about the maintenance dose of Mounjaro, this article explains what the maintenance dose is, why it’s important and how to find the appropriate dose for you.
The Mounjaro Maintenance Dose Explained
The ‘maintenance dose’ is the dose of Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) you will take once you reach a weight you’re happy with. This dose will help you maintain a healthy weight in the long-term, without causing more significant weight loss.
When you start Mounjaro, you’ll take a low dose of 2.5 mg once a week for four weeks. Your dose of Mounjaro increases in 2.5 mg increments, as your body adjusts to the medication, up to a maximum dose of 15 mg.
When you reach your target weight, your clinician will help you find the best dose for you. The appropriate Mounjaro maintenance dose varies from person to person and will depend on how you respond to the medication. The right dose should minimise side effects while regulating your appetite.
Your clinician will also help you decide when it’s best to move to your maintenance dose. They will base this decision on your experience with the medication, your body mass index (BMI) and whether you’re still experiencing weight loss.
The Importance of the Maintenance Dose
Reaching and staying on the maintenance dose is crucial for effective weight loss and management on Mounjaro. Because it gives you time to establish healthier habits that help you keep the weight off.
On Mounjaro (like with other glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications) you are encouraged to combine treatment with physical activity and a healthy, balanced diet. This is to help you achieve better weight loss results than taking Mounjaro alone.
These habits will also help you maintain your goal weight long-term, especially if you eventually want to stop taking Mounjaro.
Can I Use the Maintenance Dose of Mounjaro for Weight Loss?
No, the maintenance dose is not for weight loss. You take the maintenance dose of Mounjaro during the maintenance phase of your treatment. During this phase, your goal is to maintain your target weight.
If you still want to lose weight, consult your prescriber as continuing your treatment phase might be more suitable. They will guide you through the most appropriate weight loss plan for you.
However, losing too much weight can be dangerous, so it’s important you set a realistic and healthy target weight at the start of treatment.
Can I Use a Lower Dose of Mounjaro for Maintenance?
Yes, you can use a lower dose of Mounjaro as your maintenance dose.
After reaching your weight loss goal, you might believe a lower dose of Mounjaro will help maintain your progress better. You might also experience stronger side effects on higher doses of Mounjaro.
In this case, your clinician may recommend a lower dose for maintenance. This can actually be beneficial, because it helps reduce the risk of side effects while keeping the weight off.
However, for most people, the maintenance dose of Mounjaro is typically the same dose that is effective for sustaining weight loss.
Moving up or down a dose is typically a decision based on your weight loss progress, how well you tolerate the dose you are on and your overall health.
What Doses of Mounjaro Can I Use For Maintenance?
Only certain doses are licensed as maintenance doses. These are 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg.
The safety of these doses, and their ability to provide long-term weight loss, has been researched extensively. You should experience minimal side effects while taking one of these doses after the initial few days of treatment.
Is 7.5 mg of Mounjaro a Maintenance Dose?
The 7.5 mg dose of Mounjaro – along with 2.5 mg and 12.5 mg – is not licensed for maintenance. You would usually stay on these doses for four weeks before moving to the next dose.
However, there are cases where healthcare providers can prescribe 7.5 mg and 12.5 mg off-label (outside the terms of the license) for maintenance, if required. These circumstances can only be decided by a healthcare provider.
How to Find the Right Maintenance Dose on Mounjaro
Determining the right maintenance dose of your Mounjaro weight loss injection depends on a number of factors. These include how your body responds to the medication (also known as tolerability), your weight loss goals and diet and exercise.
When deciding your maintenance dose, keep in mind that you are trying to find the dose that regulates your appetite, while minimising side effects.
Remember you are not alone on this journey. Your clinician will guide you through this process to ensure that you are on the optimal dose of Mounjaro for sustainable results. Working closely with them will help determine the best approach for finding the most effective maintenance dose.
If you’re a patient with Simple, we’re here to help when you need it. If you have any questions or concerns about your Mounjaro dose, call us on 0141 774 5023.
Key Takeaways
- What is the Mounjaro Maintenance Dose? It is taken after reaching your target weight to help maintain it, without causing further weight loss.
- The Maintenance Dose Allows You to Build Lasting Healthy Habits. It gives you time to introduce regular exercise and a balanced diet into your lifestyle, which is key to maintaining weight loss, especially if you’re planning to stop Mounjaro.
- The Maintenance Dose Varies from Person to Person. The appropriate maintenance dose is determined by factors like BMI, response to Mounjaro and weight stability.
- Approved Maintenance Doses are 5 mg, 10 mg, and 15 mg. These doses have been tested for safety and effectiveness, while higher doses are not approved due to increased side effects.
- Your Prescriber Will Help You Find the Right Maintenance Dose. They will guide you through this process to ensure that you are on the optimal dose of Mounjaro for sustainable results.
Clinically reviewed by: Richard Wood, GPhC reg: 2078802
References
Eli Lilly (n.d.). Getting Started, Dosing & Prescribing | Mounjaro® (tirzepatide). [online] Available at: https://mounjaro.lilly.com/hcp/getting-patients-started.
Package leaflet: Information for the patient (n.d.). Available at: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.15484.pdf.
