Tirzepatide dosing
The schedule from the label, every dose in syringe units, and a calculator for your own vial.
Key facts
- Tirzepatide starts at 2.5 mg once a week for 4 weeks, then rises in 2.5 mg steps no sooner than every 4 weeks.
- The maximum is 15 mg a week. On the Zepbound label the maintenance doses are 5, 10 or 15 mg.
- A branded single-dose vial is always 50 units and a multi-dose vial 60 units, whatever the strength.
- A compounded vial depends on its concentration: 5 mg is 50 units at 10 mg/mL.
Tirzepatide dosing chart
| Step | Weekly dose | When | Maintenance (Zepbound) | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start | 2.5 mg | weeks 1–4 | no, starting only | 2.5 mg → |
| Step 2 | 5 mg | after at least 4 weeks | yes (weight) | 5 mg → |
| Step 3 | 7.5 mg | after at least 4 more weeks | no, a step | 7.5 mg → |
| Step 4 | 10 mg | after at least 4 more weeks | yes (weight, sleep apnoea) | 10 mg → |
| Step 5 | 12.5 mg | after at least 4 more weeks | no, a step | 12.5 mg → |
| Maximum | 15 mg | after at least 4 more weeks | yes (weight, sleep apnoea) | 15 mg → |
How the tirzepatide schedule works
The label starts everyone on 2.5 mg, a dose meant only to begin treatment, and moves to 5 mg after 4 weeks. From there the dose can rise by 2.5 mg at a time, with at least 4 weeks on each dose, up to 15 mg. The slow climb exists to limit nausea and other stomach side effects, which are most common in the weeks after each increase.
You do not have to climb to the top. The Zepbound label lists 5, 10 and 15 mg as maintenance doses for weight management, 10 and 15 mg for sleep apnoea, and says a lower maintenance dose can be considered if one is not tolerated. Mounjaro, for type 2 diabetes, is increased only if more blood sugar control is needed. Which dose you stay on is your prescriber’s decision.
Tirzepatide dosing chart in units
Only vials are drawn with a syringe. On a standard U-100 insulin syringe, 100 units is 1 mL.
| Dose | Single-dose vial | Multi-dose vial | 5 mg/mL | 10 mg/mL | 20 mg/mL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 mg | 50 units | 60 units | 50 units | 25 units | 12.5 units |
| 5 mg | 50 units | 60 units | 100 units | 50 units | 25 units |
| 7.5 mg | 50 units | 60 units | over 1 mL | 75 units | 37.5 units |
| 10 mg | 50 units | 60 units | over 1 mL | 100 units | 50 units |
| 12.5 mg | 50 units | 60 units | over 1 mL | over 1 mL | 62.5 units |
| 15 mg | 50 units | 60 units | over 1 mL | over 1 mL | 75 units |
Work out your draw in units
Filled from the calculator. Add your next step and print. Nothing is sent or stored.
Pens and vials
Branded tirzepatide comes four ways, in the same six strengths. The device decides whether you need a syringe at all.
| Zepbound and Mounjaro presentation | Holds | Each dose | How the dose is given |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-dose pen | 1 dose | 0.5 mL | Automatic: press against the skin; no syringe, no dialling |
| Single-dose vial | 1 dose | 0.5 mL | Drawn with a syringe: 50 units on a U-100 syringe |
| Multi-dose vial | 4 doses, 2.4 mL | 0.6 mL | Drawn with a syringe: 60 units on a U-100 syringe |
| KwikPen | 4 doses, 2.4 mL | 0.6 mL | Dialled on the pen with a new pen needle each time; no syringe |
Missed doses, timing and where to inject
Tirzepatide can be injected at any time of day, with or without meals, under the skin of the abdomen or thigh, or the back of the upper arm if someone else gives it. The label says to rotate the injection site every week.
Storing tirzepatide
Keep it in the original carton, away from heat and light, and never freeze it. How long it lasts out of the fridge depends on the device:
| Presentation | In the fridge (2–8 °C / 36–46 °F) | Out of the fridge (up to 30 °C / 86 °F) |
|---|---|---|
| Single-dose pen or vial | Until the expiry date | Up to 21 days in total, then throw it away |
| Multi-dose vial or KwikPen, unopened | Until the expiry date | Throw away after 30 days |
| Multi-dose vial or KwikPen, in use | Fridge or room temperature; throw away 30 days after first use or after 4 doses, even if medicine is left | |
Getting tirzepatide prescribed
Frequently asked questions
What is the starting dose of tirzepatide?
2.5 mg once a week for 4 weeks. The label says this dose is for starting treatment and is not a maintenance dose; after 4 weeks the dose goes up to 5 mg.
How often can the tirzepatide dose be increased?
In 2.5 mg steps, with at least 4 weeks on the current dose before each increase, up to a maximum of 15 mg a week.
How many units is 5 mg of tirzepatide?
It depends on the vial. From a branded single-dose vial, 50 units; from a multi-dose vial, 60 units; from a compounded vial at 10 mg/mL, 50 units. Pens need no syringe.
What if I miss a tirzepatide dose?
Take it within 4 days (96 hours). If more than 4 days have passed, skip it and take the next dose on your usual day.
Do I have to reach 15 mg?
No. The Zepbound label lists 5, 10 and 15 mg as maintenance doses for weight management, and your prescriber can keep you at a lower one if a higher dose is not tolerated.