Coming off a GLP-1: what clinical trials found, and what maintenance costs
In clinical trials, people who stopped a GLP-1 regained much of the weight within a year, and people who stayed on kept losing. Staying on has a price: on our chart the lowest compounded semaglutide is $59 a month, drug price, and the Wegovy pill maintenance dose is $299 a month from the maker.
Start here: Stopping a GLP-1. What comes back, and what staying on costs.
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Prices checked Nov 2, 2026.
What clinical trials found after people stopped
From the published trials. Percent of body weight.
| Route | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| STEP 4, semaglutide | Lost 10.6% in 20 weeks | Regained 6.9% over 48 weeks on placebo; those who stayed on lost 7.9% more |
| SURMOUNT-4, tirzepatide | Lost 20.9% in 36 weeks | Regained 14.0% over 52 weeks on placebo; those who stayed on lost 5.5% more |
| Maintenance, compounded semaglutide | $59 a month, drug price | Lowest on our chart |
| Maintenance, Wegovy pill | $299 a month | Maker's price at the dose you stay on |
Why the weight comes back
GLP-1s reduce appetite while you take them. When the drug stops, appetite returns, and most of the weight follows within a year unless something else changes. Strength training and protein help keep muscle during and after.
Maintenance options
Some people stay on the same dose, some step down to a lower dose with their prescriber, and some move to a cheaper form for the long run. Our maintenance guide covers the protocols prescribers use.
Restarting after a break
If you stopped and want to restart, most prescribers start you back at a low dose to limit stomach side effects.
Every guide for this reader
- Maintenance dose protocols
- Restarting after a break
- Cheapest GLP-1 over 12 months
- The honeymoon phase
- Supplements on a GLP-1
Questions
What happens when you stop a GLP-1?
In STEP 4, people who switched to placebo regained 6.9% of body weight over 48 weeks; in SURMOUNT-4, 14.0% over 52 weeks.
What does maintenance cost?
On our chart the lowest compounded semaglutide is $59 a month, drug price. The Wegovy pill at the maintenance dose is $299 a month from the maker.
Sources
Prices on GLP Chart are read from each program's own pricing page. How: how we check prices. Other readers: guides by reader.