Coming off
Stopping Mounjaro, week 2: when hunger starts to stir
The short version
- As tirzepatide clears, many people notice hunger starting to stir in the second week.
- It's expected, and it isn't a sign anything has gone wrong.
- Find your hungriest time of day and plan a protein snack for it.
What's happening this week
By the second week after your last injection, there's less tirzepatide in your body. Some people start to feel hungrier, or find portions that felt big now feel ordinary. Others notice little until week 3. Both are normal.
More on why in appetite after stopping.
Steadie never advises on doses, tapering or stopping. Any change to your medicine is a decision for you and your prescriber, who knows your health and your dose.
Find your hungry hour
For a few days, notice when hunger is loudest. For many people it's mid-afternoon or the evening. Once you know, you can plan for it instead of meeting it unprepared.
- Mid-afternoon: have a protein snack ready, such as yoghurt, a boiled egg, edamame or a small handful of nuts. See high-protein snacks.
- Evenings: eat dinner a little earlier, and make it protein first.
- Weekends: a later breakfast can make lunch easier; plan both.
Fullness takes time
Fullness signals take a while to arrive. Eating sitting down, without a screen, and pausing for ten minutes before seconds gives them a chance. See eating slowly and fullness.
Before week 3
Keep the two strength sessions going: they help protect muscle as appetite returns. Then read week 3, or go back to week 1.
Common questions
When does hunger come back after stopping Mounjaro?
Many people notice it starting in the second or third week after their last injection, building over the first month. It varies from person to person.
Is it normal to feel hungrier two weeks after stopping Mounjaro?
Yes. As the medicine leaves your body, appetite returns towards how it was before. Planning protein-rich meals and a snack for your hungriest time helps.
Sources
- NHS: tirzepatide (Mounjaro)
- Aronne et al. Continued treatment with tirzepatide for maintenance of weight reduction (SURMOUNT-4). JAMA, 2024
- British Dietetic Association: Medications for obesity, a guide to eating and living well (NICE-hosted resource)
- The Obesity Society and partners: nutritional priorities to support GLP-1 therapy (joint advisory, 2025)
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Steadie never gives advice about medication, doses or stopping treatment: talk to your prescriber, GP or pharmacist about those. In an emergency, call 999. Read how we write guides in our editorial policy.