Stopping Tirzepatide: Weight, Appetite
Agree a plan with your prescriber before you stop tirzepatide. What you are trying to keep: in SURMOUNT-1, people on tirzepatide 15 mg weekly lost 20.9% on average over 72 weeks.
- Average loss, top dose
- 20.9%
- On placebo
- 3.1%
- Trial length
- 72 weeks
- Trial
- SURMOUNT-1
Zepbound: key facts
Its half-life ranges from 5 to 6 days. At 5.5 d, half is gone, and about 3% remains after five half-lives (27.5 d).
In SURMOUNT-1 over 72 weeks, the figure was 20.9% of body weight, compared with 3.1% on placebo.
Monthly prices in US dollars cover the list price and self-pay offers. Each figure comes from the maker's price page.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), Eli Lilly 1 2, cnbc.com.
Tirzepatide stopping: the numbers first
| Trial | Dose group | Average weight lost | Placebo or comparison | Weeks | Who was in it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SURMOUNT-1 | Tirzepatide 5 mg weekly | 15% | 3.1% | 72 | Adults with obesity or overweight, without diabetes |
| SURMOUNT-1 | Tirzepatide 10 mg weekly | 19.5% | 3.1% | 72 | Adults with obesity or overweight, without diabetes |
| SURMOUNT-1 | Tirzepatide 15 mg weekly | 20.9% | 3.1% | 72 | Adults with obesity or overweight, without diabetes |
| SURMOUNT-2 | Tirzepatide 10 mg weekly | 12.8% | 3.2% | 72 | Adults with obesity or overweight who also have type 2 diabetes |
| SURMOUNT-2 | Tirzepatide 15 mg weekly | 14.7% | 3.2% | 72 | Adults with obesity or overweight who also have type 2 diabetes |
| SURMOUNT-5 | Tirzepatide 10 or 15 mg weekly (Zepbound) | 20.2% | semaglutide (Wegovy) | 72 | Adults with obesity, without type 2 diabetes |
Sources for the trials: SURMOUNT-1 (FDA label (DailyMed)), SURMOUNT-2 (PubMed), SURMOUNT-5 (PubMed).
Keeping weight off
- That way the plan covers follow-up visits and any other medicines.
- Keep the habits you developed during treatment. Have protein with each meal, choose smaller portions, and drink fewer sugary drinks.
- Keep moving. Strength exercise helps you keep the muscle you already have.
- Weigh yourself on the same regular schedule. Decide in advance which changes should lead you to call your prescriber.
- If you take it because of diabetes, ask what your blood sugar plan will be once you stop.
How many people stopped in the trials
| Trial | Dose group | What happened | Drug | Placebo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SURMOUNT-1 | Tirzepatide 5 mg weekly | Stopped for side effects | 4.3% | 2.6% |
| SURMOUNT-1 | Tirzepatide 10 mg weekly | Stopped for side effects | 7.1% | 2.6% |
| SURMOUNT-1 | Tirzepatide 15 mg weekly | Stopped for side effects | 6.2% | 2.6% |
Source: SURMOUNT-1 (PubMed).