If you’ve stopped taking Mounjaro or Wegovy injections and are considering restarting, it’s very common. Many people stop treatment, sometimes intentionally, sometimes due to supply issues, side effects, rising costs of injections, or changes in personal circumstances.
The good news is that restarting weight loss injections is often possible. But the approach depends on how long you’ve been off the medication and whether your prescriber or doctor thinks it’s the right decision for you. In many cases, you need to restart at a lower dose to help your body adjust safely.
This guide explains when restarting may be possible, what to expect if you begin treatment again, and how to take the next step.
What happens to my body if I stop taking Wegovy or Mounjaro?
Before stopping any weight loss treatments, you should always consult your GP or prescriber first, they will help you build the right plan to manage any effects on your body and lifestyle.
After you’ve decided to stop taking a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist like Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) or a GLP-1 like Semaglutide (Wegovy), you won’t see any effects immediately (within hours or days) because the GLP-1 will still exist in your bloodstream, instead, you will start seeing effects within one or two weeks. The effects vary from person to person but because of how weight loss medications work in the body, here is a rough schedule of what might happen:
Within 1-2 weeks: Many report that their appetite, previously suppressed by treatment, starts to return anywhere between day 7 and 14, this is likely related to the medicine beginning to clear from your system–– tirzepatide within 4 weeks and semaglutide within approximately 5 weeks (5,6). For people with type 2 diabetes, blood sugar levels might start to rise as the direct glycaemic effect wears off.
Within 12 months: After stopping Mounjaro (tirzepatide) or Wegovy (semaglutide), weight regain typically averages around 0.8 kg per month, though this varies from person to person. One systematic review and meta-analysis estimated that, at this rate, people could return to their starting weight within approximately 1.5 years (1). A separate meta-analysis found an average regain of approximately 9.7 kg following discontinuation of semaglutide or tirzepatide (7). However, real-world evidence suggests outcomes may be more favourable when patients have access to ongoing support. A Cleveland Clinic study of nearly 8,000 patients found that 55% gained weight one year after stopping but 45% maintained or continued losing weight, with many transitioning to alternative treatments or lifestyle-focused care (8).
Within approximately 1.4 years: Cardiometabolic markers (HbA1c, fasting glucose, blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides) which improved during treatment, are estimated to return to previous levels within approximately 1.4 years after the medicines are stopped (1).
Can you restart Wegovy or Mounjaro after stopping?
In many cases, yes. Restarting GLP-1 treatment may be possible.
However, each situation needs to be assessed individually by a prescribing doctor. Several factors influence whether prescribers feel restarting is clinically appropriate for you, including:
Your current body mass index (BMI)
How long it’s been since your last dose
Your previous treatment history
If your treatment break has been brief and your BMI remains within the licensed range for these medicines (generally 30 or above, or 27 or above with a weight-related health condition) restarting might be possible with a clinical review with your GP or prescriber. The length of the break, your current weight, and your treatment history will all be considered by your prescriber before a decision is made.
If your BMI has dropped below the licensed threshold since stopping treatment, restarting is not guaranteed. In some cases, where the break has been short and there is a clear clinical reason, a doctor might still consider restarting your treatment.
It’s important to note that: depending on your situation, you may also need to restart to a lower or starting dose, even if you were on a higher dose before you stopped treatment. Restarting any GLP-1 treatment is always assessed on an individual basis and it shouldn’t be assumed as automatic.
Does it matter how long you’ve stopped treatment?
Yes, how long you've been off treatment plays an important role in how you restart:
If you’ve missed a single dose, you might still be able to take it. For Wegovy, if it is 5 days or less since you should have used Wegovy, use it as soon as you remember. Then inject your next dose as usual on your scheduled day. If it is more than 5 days since you should have used Wegovy, skip the missed dose. Then inject your next dose as usual on your next scheduled day. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. (2). For Mounjaro, a missed dose can be taken up to 4 days (96 hours) after your usual injection day. If more than 4 days have passed, skip the missed dose and take your next dose on the regularly scheduled day (3).
If you’ve stopped treatment for 2 weeks or more, restarting often involves going back to the lowest dose to help your body slowly get used to the medicine again. It’s important to tell your prescriber before you restart treatment and not resume treatment with leftover pens at a higher dose, as this may increase the risk of side effects.
If your break has been several weeks or months, your treatment will usually be reviewed as if you are starting again. Your doctor will need to confirm that you meet the eligibility criteria to start weight loss injections, which generally include a BMI of 30 or higher.
Can I restart weight loss injections if my BMI is below 30?
GLP-1 medicines are licensed for weight management in people with:
a BMI of 30 or above, or
a BMI of 27 or above with weight-related health conditions
These eligibility criteria usually apply when someone is starting a GLP-1 for the first time. If you’ve been on a break from Mounjaro or Wegovy for several weeks or months, you need to meet these again to restart treatment.
If the pause in treatment has been short (less than approximately 4 to 6 weeks), the BMI criteria for restarting may be more flexible. However, it’s not guaranteed and varies by prescriber and clinical judgement. For example, at Oxford Online Pharmacy we might consider restarting at the lowest dose for people with a BMI of 25+ who successfully lost weight on a GLP-1 and have taken a short break (4-6 weeks). If you previously received treatment through Oxford Online Pharmacy, our doctors will review updated information before making a decision.
What if I previously used another provider?
If you previously received treatment through another provider and are considering restarting with Oxford Online Pharmacy after a short break (less than approximately 4 to 6 weeks), this may still be possible. However, our doctors will need enough information to safely assess whether treatment is appropriate and will only prescribe in this situation if BMI thresholds are met.
This usually means providing details about:
Which weight loss injection you were prescribed
Your most recent dose
When you last took the medication
Your weight before and during treatment
In some cases, you may be asked to provide additional information. You may need to return to your old providers for follow-up, as we may not have access to your earlier clinical records.
If there has been any break in treatment, we treat this as starting weight loss injections again, meaning the process will follow the same safety checks and eligibility criteria as a new prescription.
Will I need to restart at the lowest dose of Mounjaro or Wegovy?
If you’ve missed more than a single dose, yes. Even if you previously tolerated a higher dose, restarting treatment typically means starting at the initial dose. This is:
2.5mg for Mounjaro injections
0.25mg for Wegovy injections
Starting at a low dose helps reduce the risk of side effects and gives your body time to adjust to the medication again. If treatment continues and you tolerate the injections well, doses are increased at intervals of four weeks (2-3). Any dose increases are reviewed and approved by our doctors.
Will I need to submit new photos or information?
Yes. Even if you’ve used our service before, you will be asked to provide updated information when restarting treatment. This will include:
Your current weight and height
Updated health information
Recent photos to confirm BMI
This helps our doctors make a safe and informed decision about whether restarting Mounjaro or Wegovy is the right thing for you. If your treatment history is already in our records, the review process may be more straightforward. If your treatment was prescribed elsewhere, we may need extra information from your original provider.
What if I regained weight after stopping treatment?
If you regained weight after stopping a GLP-1, it’s important to know that this is expected and doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong. In fact, many people wish to restart for this exact reason.
Weight regain happens because of how weight loss injections work. Treatments like Mounjaro and Wegovy mimic a hormone called GLP-1 to help:
Regulate hunger signals in the brain
Slow digestion by keeping food in the stomach for longer
Support feelings of fullness after eating
When treatment stops, those appetite-regulating effects gradually wear off, which may lead to increased food intake and rapid weight regain for many people (1).
For this reason, these medicines are increasingly viewed as long-term weight management treatments. If you’re considering restarting a GLP-1 because you’ve gained weight back, it can help to think of it as part of a long-term plan, rather than a short-term fix.
It’s also important to note that even if you’ve put weight back on after stopping weight loss injections, it doesn’t guarantee you can restart. It may be more likely if your BMI is once again within the licensed range, but eligibility is always reviewed individually.
Can I restart with a different weight loss treatment?
Sometimes people consider restarting weight loss treatment with a different medication rather than the one they used before. There are lots of reasons this might happen. Perhaps you:
Stopped because of side effects and wonder if another treatment might suit you better
Have not seen the results you hoped for and are hopeful another injection might deliver
Have heard about a different medication and want to explore your options
Medicines such as Mounjaro and Wegovy work in slightly different ways, and people can respond to them differently. What works well for one person may not always be the best fit for someone else (4).
If you’re thinking about switching from Wegovy or Mounjaro, a prescribing doctor will review your information to decide whether it’s appropriate. If a change in treatment is recommended and there has been no break in treatment then you may be able to switch as different equivalent strengths. Again, this is not guaranteed and will always be decided by your prescriber.
To learn more about how this works, read our guide to switching between weight loss injections.
What should I do next?
If you’re thinking about restarting Wegovy or Mounjaro, the best first step is to complete a new online consultation. You’ll be asked a few questions about your current weight, general health, and previous treatment history. You will also be asked to upload recent photos.
A doctor will review your information and decide whether restarting is appropriate. If it is, they will guide you through the safest way to begin again, depending on how long you’ve taken a break.
If you’re unsure whether restarting treatment is right for you, our team is always happy to help.
You can view available weight loss treatments or contact our team for more guidance.
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References
West S, Scragg J, Aveyard P, Oke JL, Willis L, Haffner SJP, et al. Weight regain after cessation of medication for weight management: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ [Internet]. 2026 Jan 7;392.
Novo Nordisk. Wegovy 2.4mg FlexTouch solution for injection — Summary of Product Characteristics. Electronic Medicines Compendium.
Eli Lilly. Mounjaro KwikPen 2.5mg solution for injection — Summary of Product Characteristics. Electronic Medicines Compendium.
Rodriguez PJ, Goodwin Cartwright BM, Gratzl S, Brar R, Baker C, Gluckman TJ, et al. Semaglutide vs Tirzepatide for Weight Loss in Adults With Overweight or Obesity. JAMA Internal Medicine [Internet]. 2024 Jul 8;184(9).
Schneck KB, Li H, Tenorio S, Sills GR, Heathman MA, Benson CT, et al. Population pharmacokinetics of the GIP/GLP receptor agonist tirzepatide. CPT Pharmacometrics Syst Pharmacol. 2024;13(4):576–588. doi: 10.1002/psp4.13099. PMID: 38356317.
Hausner H, Derving Karsbøl J, Holst AG, Jacobsen JB, Wagner FD, Golor G, et al. Pharmacokinetic and clinical implications of semaglutide: a new glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 receptor agonist. Drugs. 2018;78(9):1009–1022. doi: 10.1007/s40265-018-0934-z. PMID: 29915923.
Berg S, Stickle H, Rose SJ, Nemec EC. Discontinuing glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and body habitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Rev. 2025;26(8):e13929. doi:10.1111/obr.13929
Gasoyan H, Schulte R, Boyer CB, Casacchia NJ, Butsch WS, Le P, Aminian A, Griebeler ML, Burguera B, Rothberg MB. Obesity treatments and weight changes in clinical practice after discontinuation of semaglutide or tirzepatide. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2026:1–11. doi:10.1111/dom.70660