There is no single fixed "maintenance dose" for Mounjaro (tirzepatide) after you reach your goal weight. Once you are happy with your weight, a GPhC-registered prescriber helps you settle on the lowest weekly dose that keeps your weight stable and appetite controlled — this may be the dose you reached or a lower one, and it is reviewed regularly rather than decided once.
What is a Mounjaro maintenance dose?
A Mounjaro maintenance dose is the weekly dose you stay on after you have reached a weight you are happy with, chosen to hold that weight steady rather than drive further loss. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is titrated upward through 2.5mg, 5mg, 7.5mg, 10mg, 12.5mg and a maximum licensed dose of 15mg, and maintenance simply means stopping the upward steps once the result is where you and your prescriber want it.
There is no official "maintenance strength" written into the licence. In practice, maintenance is whatever weekly dose keeps your weight stable with tolerable side effects, confirmed at review with your prescriber.
Do you have to keep taking Mounjaro after reaching goal weight?
Mounjaro does not cure obesity — it works by activating two gut-hormone receptors (GLP-1 and GIP) to reduce appetite, so when the medicine is stopped, appetite and weight often return over time. For many people, weight management is a long-term process, and a prescriber will usually discuss continuing on a maintenance dose rather than stopping abruptly once you reach your target.
This is why maintenance matters: the aim is to hold on to the result, not to treat and stop. Whether you continue, reduce or eventually come off treatment is a clinical decision made with your prescriber, taking into account your weight, your health and how you feel.
How does a prescriber decide your maintenance dose?
A prescriber decides your Mounjaro maintenance dose by looking at the dose you reached, how stable your weight is, and how well you tolerate side effects, then choosing the lowest dose that keeps things steady. There is no requirement to stay at 15mg; some people maintain on a lower weekly dose once rapid weight loss is no longer the goal.
Factors a prescriber typically weighs up include:
- Whether your weight has genuinely stabilised, rather than still slowly falling or creeping back up.
- How well you tolerate your current dose — ongoing nausea, diarrhoea or fatigue may favour a lower maintenance dose.
- Your lifestyle, eating patterns and activity, since the medicine works alongside these, not instead of them.
- Any weight-related health conditions and how they are responding.
These conversations happen at your regular reviews, and your maintenance dose can be adjusted over time rather than fixed for good. You can ask about ongoing support through our free online consultation or the Mounjaro treatment page.
Can you reduce your Mounjaro dose for maintenance?
Yes — reducing to a lower weekly Mounjaro dose for maintenance is a recognised option, and it is a decision made with your prescriber rather than something to try alone. If your weight is stable and you would prefer fewer side effects, a prescriber may step you down (for example from 15mg to 12.5mg or 10mg) and then monitor whether your weight holds at the lower dose.
The key is to change dose gradually and under supervision, because dropping too far too fast can allow appetite to return. If weight starts to climb again, the dose can be increased once more within the licensed range up to the 15mg maximum.
What were the Mounjaro trial results?
In the SURMOUNT-1 trial, participants on the 15mg dose lost on average 22.5% of body weight over 72 weeks, alongside lifestyle support (Jastreboff AM, et al. N Engl J Med. 2022;387(3):205–216). Individual results vary; not everyone reaches this.
This figure reflects active weight loss over the trial period, not a maintenance phase. It is useful context for understanding how the medicine performs, but your own result and your eventual maintenance dose are individual and decided clinically.
What are the side effects of staying on Mounjaro?
The common side effects of Mounjaro (affecting more than 1 in 10 people) are nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, vomiting, decreased appetite and fatigue — these often ease as your body adjusts and may be milder on a stable maintenance dose than during rapid titration. Serious but rare risks include severe allergic reaction, acute pancreatitis, severe hypoglycaemia, severe gastrointestinal disease and worsening diabetic retinopathy.
If you experience side effects, you can report them through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/. Tell your prescriber about any persistent or severe symptoms so your maintenance plan can be adjusted.
How much does Mounjaro cost per month?
The monthly price of Mounjaro depends on the dose you are prescribed. The per-month figures are:
| Dose | Price per month |
|---|---|
| 2.5mg | £160 |
| 5mg | £185 |
| 7.5mg | £240 |
| 10mg | £260 |
| 12.5mg | £275 |
| 15mg | £295 |
Because maintenance may involve a lower dose than the one you reached, your ongoing monthly cost can change if your prescriber adjusts your dose. The online consultation is free, and you only pay if a treatment is prescribed and you choose to proceed.
What are the alternatives if Mounjaro maintenance is not right for you?
If Mounjaro no longer suits you for maintenance, other MHRA-licensed GLP-1 options exist and a prescriber can advise on switching. These include the Wegovy injection (once-weekly semaglutide), the Wegovy Tablet (once-daily oral semaglutide), and Foundayo (orforglipron, a once-daily small-molecule GLP-1 tablet taken any time of day, with or without food or water).
Switching between medicines is always a clinical decision — doses are not interchangeable between products, so any change starts with a fresh prescriber review. You can compare the options on our treatments overview or the weight-loss injections page.
Who can be prescribed Mounjaro?
Mounjaro can be prescribed to adults aged 18 and over with a BMI of 30 or more, or a BMI of 27 to 30 with a weight-related condition such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnoea. It is a Prescription-Only Medicine, available only after a clinical consultation with a GPhC-registered prescriber who confirms it is clinically appropriate.
Mounjaro is not suitable if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy or breastfeeding, have type 1 diabetes, a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2, a history of pancreatitis, severe gastrointestinal disease, an active eating disorder, severe liver or kidney impairment, or a known allergy to the active ingredient. A prescription is never guaranteed.
This article is for information only and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice. Weight-loss medicines are prescription-only, are not suitable for everyone, and are prescribed only after a clinical consultation with a GPhC-registered prescriber. Individual results vary. Always speak to a UK-registered pharmacist or doctor before starting or changing any prescription medication.
