Stopping Wegovy without weight regain

What happens when you stop

Semaglutide clears your system over 5 to 7 weeks. Appetite returns gradually, and most people notice food thoughts growing louder across the first two months. STEP 4 gives the plain data: without a maintenance structure, most people regained much of their loss within a year of stopping. With structure, the story is different.

The taper options

Step-down taper (most common)

Drop one dose level every 4 to 8 weeks, 2.4 mg to 1.7 mg to 1 mg to 0.5 mg, then stop. Each step is rehearsal for eating with slightly more appetite.

Switch to tablets first

Some people move to Wegovy tablets at a moderate dose, then taper the tablet. A daily ritual can ease the psychological transition from "treatment" to "no treatment".

Stopping directly

Medically safe. There is no dependence. It simply skips the rehearsal period, so we reserve it for situations that require a quick stop.

A realistic stopping timeline

If weight starts returning

Act at a 2 to 3 kg uptrend, not a 10 kg slide. Options: tighten structure, return to a low dose for a defined period, or restart formally. Restarting after a break may mean a lower starting dose, tolerance fades over weeks off treatment.