You've achieved your goal weight
Once you’ve reached your target weight and have maintained it for a few months, you can discuss with your doctor how to taper off the treatment.
Each person will reach their target weight at a different time; for some, it may take up to a year, while for others, it may take even longer. While public provincial health plans or private insurance providers might have specific criteria for how long they’ll cover weight loss injections, some health experts claim continuing to take them can help sustain weight loss and preserve health benefits.
So there isn’t any specific timeframe on when everyone should stop; only you and your doctor can discuss this after reaching your target weight.
You’re having problematic side effects
It’s very common to get side effects when you start taking a WLI. The most common side effects typically include nausea, vomiting, stomach issues and fatigue. As your body adjusts to the treatment, these side effects should subside. But after each dose increase, you may notice these side effects may worsen again temporarily.
Your clinician will do their best to minimize the risk of side effects. They'll gradually increase your dose, provide tips to manage them, and avoid increasing the dosage until you’re ready.
But if the side effects persist or become severe, you may be advised to discontinue treatment for your overall health. You might be able to try an alternative weight loss medication, likely one that isn’t a GLP-1 – and your clinician will be able to advise you on this.
The long-term cost is too much
Weight loss injections can be expensive. The cost of Wegovy can vary, but on average, a year’s supply of treatment in Canada may reach up to $6,800 CAD without insurance. Zepbound costs over time can sometimes work out a little cheaper, but a year’s supply may still reach approximately $6,400 CAD depending on the maintenance dose.
If you haven’t yet started WLI, try to financially plan for at least 1.5 years of treatment. This duration should provide you with enough time to achieve a significant amount of weight loss – approximately 8.3% mean weight loss achieved with Wegovy and 15.3% with Zepbound by month 12.
Additionally, this timeline will allow you to taper off the medication gradually, which can help prevent side effects and reduce the risk of regaining weight.
The medication has become less effective
WLI can be effective for helping you lose weight. In the first few months, you should notice significant weight loss, but after a year or two, your progress might plateau.
This plateau usually happens for several reasons, including your body adapting to the medication, so it doesn’t have the same effects as it did initially.
Additionally, factors such as your diet and physical activity levels can contribute to this plateau. If you’ve stopped maintaining a calorie deficit or have been less active, you might not see as much of a difference in your weight loss progress.
You feel ‘ready’
If you’re satisfied with your weight loss and feel confident in your ability to maintain the results without further treatment, it might be time to stop your treatment. To help you decide if you’re ready, you might find it helpful to ask yourself:
- Are you happy with your weight loss results?
- Are you confident you can sustain this weight loss?
- Are you physically active a few times a week?
- Are you following a well-balanced, calorie-controlled diet?
If you answered ‘yes’ to all of these questions, it could be a good time to come off treatment.
