- What happens when you stop taking Mounjaro?
- Reasons people stop taking Mounjaro (Tirzepatide)
- What to do if you decide you want to discontinue Mounjaro
- How to safely stop taking Mounjaro
- Are there any withdrawal symptoms from stopping Mounjaro?
- Do you gain weight back after stopping Mounjaro?
- Keeping weight off after coming off Mounjaro
- FAQs
- Conclusion
- Source
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a relatively new drug used to treat type 2 diabetes in adults.
Similar to Ozempic, this prescription drug is given as a weekly injection that helps lower blood sugar in people with diabetes.
What happens when you stop taking Mounjaro? In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know.
What happens when you stop taking Mounjaro?
There are several reasons why you may decide to stop taking Mounjaro. Always speak with your healthcare provider before or immediately after you do.
Here are some side effects you should expect and prepare yourself for when stopping Mounjaro:
1) Increase in blood sugar
Mounjaro works by increasing insulin secretion. If you stop taking Mounjaro, the effect of the drug will eventually wear off, and your blood sugar will rise again.
Also, you may have an increased appetite when you stop Mounjaro. This may cause you to eat more and lead to spikes in your blood sugar level.
2) Increased appetite and weight gain
Mounjaro causes a decrease in appetite by reducing the rate at which food travels through your digestive tract.
As a result, you stay full for longer periods. This is part of the reason Mounjaro works for weight loss.
If you stop taking it, your appetite will most likely return, which can cause you to start gaining weight.
To prevent this, try eating healthy, regular, small meals (four or more smaller meals a day instead of three) so that you can stay full without regaining weight.
In addition to a healthy diet, ensure that you engage in regular exercise.
3) Disappearance of side effects
If you were experiencing side effects while using the drug, they will disappear when you stop. Depending on the dose you are taking, side effects may take a few weeks to completely subside.
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Reasons people stop taking Mounjaro (Tirzepatide)
Some reasons why people stop taking Mounjaro include:
Cost
With a list price of $1,023.04 per fill, Mounjaro can be quite expensive to obtain if you do not have insurance coverage.
But there are ways around this. Some money-saving options include:
- enrolling in patient assistance programs (PAPs)
- looking out for coupons
- comparing prices at various pharmacies to find the cheapest
Weight loss goals
Some people may want to stop taking Mounjaro after they reach their desired weight. It is important to note that people who stop tirzepatide after achieving the desired weight may have rebound weight gain and increased appetite.
Serious side effects
It is not recommended to stop taking Mounjaro without first speaking to your healthcare provider. In cases of severe side effects, however, you may need to stop taking it immediately.
Stop Mounjaro immediately if you have:
- Hypoglycemia (when combined with other diabetes medications such as insulin)
- Serious abdominal pain that radiates to your back.
- Signs of kidney problems such as swelling around the eyes and legs, reduced urination, and itchy skin.
- Allergic reactions such as severe rash, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, tongue, and throat, etc.
Call for medical attention if you notice any of the above. Do not take Mounjaro if you have a personal or family history of thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2.
What to do if you decide you want to discontinue Mounjaro
If you decide that you want to stop taking Mounjaro, speak to your healthcare provider first so you can find effective, alternative ways to manage your diabetes.
They can also give you recommendations on how to manage the rebound weight gain and blood sugar spikes you may experience when you stop taking it.
How to safely stop taking Mounjaro
Mounjaro does not need to be tapered off, so you will not need to gradually reduce the dose before stopping it.
When you stop taking Mounjaro (tirzepatide), what happens is your body will clear it out of your system with time. How quickly your body clears it out depends on the dose you are taking and how soon your body can get rid of the drug.
Are there any withdrawal symptoms from stopping Mounjaro?
Withdrawal symptoms are undesirable and unpleasant effects that someone experiences when they quit drugs that can cause dependence and/or addiction. Mounjaro is not an addictive substance and should not cause withdrawal symptoms.
However, you may experience some effects that we have already discussed above.
Do you gain weight back after stopping Mounjaro?
You will likely gain weight if you stop taking tirzepatide. Unfortunately, for a lot of people, it is much easier to gain weight than to shed it off. But there are some things you can do to avoid this, as we discuss below.
Keeping weight off after coming off Mounjaro
Mounjaro should be used alongside a low-calorie diet and a good exercise regimen. Even if you come off Mounjaro, you can avoid weight gain by sticking to your diet plan and exercise regimen.
If you find it difficult to lose weight or keep off extra weight, consult a certified dietician who can create an effective diet plan that suits your goals. You can also consult a trainer or fitness coach to help you with a strict exercise regimen.
You are more likely to feel hungry when you stop taking Mounjaro. Try eating smaller but more frequent meals and drinking water when you feel hungry.
You may have stopped Mounjaro because of the side effects. In that case, you could consider trying other weight loss medications.
Some alternatives to Mounjaro are:
There are also weight loss medications that are approved to treat obesity, such as:
- Wegovy
- Saxenda
FAQs
Do you have to take Mounjaro forever?
Diabetics who use Mounjaro to manage their blood sugar and weight loss often need to stay on it for the rest of their lives to keep their weight and blood sugar levels in control.
If you stop taking it without switching to an alternative, your blood sugar will start to rise, and you will likely gain back the weight you lost.
Can you stop Mounjaro cold turkey?
There are some instances when you may need to suddenly stop taking the drug. These include:
- Severe side effects like serious stomach pain, low blood sugar, vomiting, or kidney problems.
- Allergic reaction to the medicine.
Seek medical attention right away if you need to stop Mounjaro cold turkey. It is usually recommended to speak to your healthcare professional before stopping any medications. But in such cases, you may need to stop taking the drug and then inform your doctor.
Conclusion
Mounjaro is the brand name for the anti-diabetic drug tirzepatide. It is a relatively new drug approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Mounjaro is administered via subcutaneous injections once a week. While it is not yet approved as a weight loss drug, studies have shown that it can cause significant weight loss. It is best to use it with a strict low-calorie diet and exercise for maximum results.
Taking Mounjaro may cause serious side effects in some people, which is one reason why people stop it. Other people may want to stop because of the cost.
You should speak with your healthcare provider before or immediately after you stop this medication to discuss an alternative plan.
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