Finding the right weight loss medication maintenance dose for you

What is a maintenance dose? 

When you start a weight loss treatment, you’ll typically start on a low dose. This will be decided in consultation with your clinician based on your individual circumstances. You’ll take this for around four weeks while your body gets used to the medication. Your clinician may then decide to gradually increase the dosage depending on your progress and how well you’ve tolerated the medication or if you’ve experienced any side effects.  

This will be a treatment maintenance dose, and the dose you will remain on to lose weight. The duration of treatment is based on you as an individual, and your clinician will provide guidance around this at your consultations.  

Once both you and your clinician are satisfied with your results, that your BMI range has been met, and your appetite and blood glucose levels are stable and under control, you may decide to move to what’s known as a weight maintenance dose. This is normally a reduced dosage that, when coupled with a balanced diet and regular exercise, should enable you to sustainably manage and maintain your current weight. 

Your recommended maintenance dose will depend on you as an individual and your treatment history. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach with this and it’s important to know that it’s not always the highest dose possible, because you will start on the lowest dose and may have gradually increased it over time, before reducing it to a level that keeps your weight at a satisfactory level. 

When should I move on to a maintenance dose? 

Throughout the course of your treatment, you will be able to submit a consultation form online to check in on your progress or review any issues with a clinician, and to determine your next steps in your weight loss journey. 

They will review your individual treatment plan and consider your full medical history. They will also review your progress against your target healthy BMI range. Once you’ve reached your target range, you will enter what’s known as a ‘maintenance phase’. 

This is the point in your weight loss journey where you will go on to a dosage that aims to ensure you do not regain any weight you have already lost (which is a common occurrence in people who come off weight loss medication altogether), while also keeping your appetite under control and your blood glucose levels stable.  

How do I know my healthy BMI range? 

At the start of your weight loss journey, your clinician will request your current BMI to ensure you are suitable for the medication you’ve requested. You can calculate your BMI here. 

They will also calculate your ‘healthy BMI range’ – this will be the target range for you to get to while on your weight loss medication based on your medical history, gender, and ethnicity. However, there is a healthy range defined by the NHS as a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9. It is important to note that the BMI ranges are slightly different for people from South Asian, Chinese, African-Caribbean and black African backgrounds. People from these backgrounds may be at higher risk of health problems at a lower BMI than people from other ethnicities. 

What should my maintenance dose be? 

This will be completely individual to you. The clinician will consider your treatment plan, your medical history, your individual details including current and target BMI, and your own feedback on your experience so far, before making their recommendations. The clinician will have the final say, but this is always in consultation and collaboration with the patient. 

If I am on a low maintenance dosage, can I increase it later? 

Yes, if you have moved onto a maintenance dose that is a lower dose than what you had been prescribed previously, but you find that it’s not having the desired effect, you are experiencing side effects, are putting weight back on, or any combination of the above. You should either mention it during your next consultation to continue treatment or you can submit a consultation form to speak to a clinician. They may recommend increasing your dosage after reviewing all your information, but it’s not guaranteed. 

How long should I take a maintenance dose for?

You can take the maintenance dose agreed with your clinician for as long as it’s helping and for as long as you’re not experiencing any side effects (or if any common side effects are being managed). While using the medicine, it’s important that you keep in touch with your clinician or provider to stay on top of your progress or any issues you are having.  

If you experience an increase in weight, you should include this on your next consultation with a clinician for your repeat treatment so that they can review your dosage. If you feel like you want to come off the maintenance dose after a period of time, you can plan in consultation with your clinician to stop when you feel ready to try and maintain your new weight with lifestyle management (diet and exercise). But it’s also worth remembering that this does not mean that you can’t come back onto the treatment with Pharmacy2U further down the line if you find you’re gaining unwanted weight. 

If you wish to restart treatment, you can submit a consultation form at any time. Your clinician will review your full treatment history, including your initial BMI and current health status, to determine whether restarting medication is safe and appropriate. All prescriptions must align with current UK prescribing guidelines, which require a clinical need based on your present eligibility (e.g., BMI and health risks). Your clinician will ensure any decision prioritises your safety and long-term weight management goals. 

How can I manage side effects during maintenance? 

There are a range of common side effects that can occur as part of your weight loss treatment journey. Many of these are common and expected, but it is still important to mention these to your clinician or provider if you experience them. 

If you notice a change in how side effects are impacting you while you are on your maintenance dose, you should mention this to your clinician during your next consultation to continue treatment so they can review your dosage. Although rare, if you experience any of the more serious side effects, stop taking the medication immediately and seek medical advice as soon as you can by contacting your prescribing clinician or calling NHS 111.  

We encourage all patients who experience side effects of any medicine they take to report these via the Yellow Card Scheme, either through the website or by downloading the app. 

How can I monitor my progress on my maintenance dose? 

For your weight loss journey to be successful, it’s key to keep track of your progress. That doesn’t just mean tracking your weight, but can also include keeping a note of your dietary habits, physical activity routine, and your overall health. 

It can help to keep a journal or use digital tools to note down your eating history, your exercise routine, any health concerns or side effects you’ve experienced, and any other details you can feed back to your clinician. This is helpful so they have as much information as possible to make any necessary changes or adjustments as needed. It can also help develop your awareness of positive routines around food intake and exercise to support your weight management journey after treatment.  

How can I contact my clinician if I have a question or a problem?

If you have any questions or problems regarding your weight loss treatment that you haven’t brought up in a previous consultation, this is how you can contact your clinician: 

• Visit the Orders section of your account dashboard 

• Find your most recent consultation under ‘Previous Orders’ 

• Click the ‘Help Centre’ button 

• The pop-up will show you a 32-digit clinician contact code and an email address you can contact your clinician directly on