Protect your progress

There is no fixed time limit. We decide together based on:

• Your weight trend
• Appetite control
• Side effects
• Life plans, for example pregnancy
  For your weight trend aim for stable within plus or minus 2kg over 8 to 12 weeks. If you are steady and comfortable, stay on the lowest effective dose with reviews every 8 to 12 weeks.

If your BMI is below 25, avoid increasing the dose unless your clinician records a clear reason. NHS use of Wegovy is usually up to 2 years in specialist services. Private care can differ but still follows a safety-first approach.

Look for clear signals over 4 to 8 weeks:

• Good: Your hunger is mostly calm, meals feel manageable, weight is stable.
• Good: Side effects are less visible than at a dose of 2.4mg.
• Watch-outs: Food noise returns, evening grazing, or a gain of more than 2 to 3 kg.

If watch-outs show up, we may try 2.4mg and review in 4 to 8 weeks. If there is no clear benefit or side effects rise, we step back to 1.7mg.

The fear is common among patients. We reduce by one step only and set a safety net before you start:

• Your ‘regain trigger,’ for example a gain of 2 to 3kg in 4 to 8 weeks, waist up by 3cm, or hunger most days
• A pre-booked review at 8 weeks

If the trigger is hit, you can step back up one dose and message us. Early action beats months of drift.

Sometimes, yes, but only with a plan:

• Slow dose reductions (one step every 4 weeks when stable)
• Protein target 1.2 to 1.6g per kg per day
• Two short strength sessions each week to protect muscle

Evidence for tapering is limited, so we monitor closely. If your hunger or weight starts to drift, we pause or step back up. Planning pregnancy?
Stop at least 2 months before trying if on Semaglutide, or at least 1 month if on Tirzepatide.

For Wegovy, NHS services currently allow up to 2 years in eligible patients. Outside the NHS, duration depends on clinical benefit, tolerability and your goals, with reviews every 8 to 12 weeks. In all settings we use the lowest effective dose and put safety first.

Possibly, and sometimes it is the right move, for example due to side effects, supply, or limited progress. Any switch needs:

• A clinician-led plan
• No overlapping injections
• A short period on the new medicine to find the right dose
• Checks on contraception and pregnancy timing
• A review in 4 to 8 weeks to confirm stability