What Official Guidance Says

Here’s a quick look at how major health authorities approach stopping GLP-1s:

United Kingdom (NHS / NICE)

• No formal taper is required.

• NICE guidance focuses on using GLP-1s within a structured weight management plan.

• Clinicians should support people to maintain changes if stopping, but there’s no specific “coming off” protocol.

Gov.uk - GLP-1 medicines: what you need to know

United States (FDA Labelling, Clinical Practice)

• No requirement to taper.

• Providers typically advise planning for stopping to help manage appetite rebound and weight regain.

Mounjaro prescribing information leaflet

Ozempic prescribing information leaflet

Australia (TGA, RACGP)

• No formal taper guidelines.

• Emphasis is on using them with lifestyle support.

• Known risk of regaining weight if stopping without a plan.

ANZCA - GLP-1 receptor agonists - clinical practice recommendations

Europe (EMA, National Guidelines)

• Generally aligns with the UK approach.

• No mandated taper, but stopping is ideally managed within a broader lifestyle strategy.

Across these regions, the message is clear:

✅ You can stop immediately.

✅ But planning is essential to manage what happens next.

What About a “Maintenance Dose”?

If you’ve been scrolling TikTok or Instagram Reels, you might have seen people talking about staying on a “maintenance dose” once they’ve lost weight. This idea is especially common in the US, where prescribers sometimes keep patients on a lower GLP-1 dose long-term to help manage appetite and reduce the risk of weight regain.

A maintenance dose isn’t about staying on the highest level forever. Instead, it usually means reducing to the smallest effective dose that keeps food noise and cravings manageable, aiming to maintain results while minimising side effects.

In places like the UK, Australia, and much of Europe, this approach is less routine. Guidelines and funding models tend to focus on time-limited treatment, often up to two years, with the expectation that people will maintain results through lifestyle changes afterwards. Private prescribers may be more flexible, but there’s no universal standard or guarantee that this will be offered.

If you’re considering asking about a maintenance dose, it’s worth having an open conversation with your prescriber. Your health history, weight-loss journey, and personal goals will all play a role in deciding whether it’s the right approach for you. It’s a personal decision best made with professional guidance, so you can weigh the benefits, risks, and practicalities together.