- Both US labels start tirzepatide at 2.5 mg once weekly and allow increases in 2.5 mg steps after at least 4 weeks on each dose, up to a maximum of 15 mg weekly.1,2
- Zepbound lists 5, 10 or 15 mg as maintenance doses for weight. In its 72-week trial, average weight change was −15.0% on 5 mg and −20.9% on 15 mg, vs −3.1% on placebo.1
- Both medicines come as single-dose pens, single-dose vials, multi-dose vials and a 4-dose KwikPen, all dosed in mg. The labels say not to count clicks to set a KwikPen dose.1,2
Tirzepatide dosage chart: Mounjaro vs Zepbound
Tirzepatide acts on two gut-hormone receptors, GIP and GLP-1. It is sold under two brand names with the same strengths but different approved uses. The chart below is taken from section 1 and section 2, "Dosage and Administration", of each current US label, as of November 2026. It describes the labels' instructions to prescribers, not a plan for you.
| Zepbound | Mounjaro | |
|---|---|---|
| Approved for | Adults with obesity, or overweight plus a weight-related condition (weight reduction and long-term maintenance); moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity | Type 2 diabetes in adults and children 10 and older; heart risk reduction in adults with type 2 diabetes at high risk |
| Starting dose | 2.5 mg weekly for 4 weeks, "not approved as a maintenance dosage" | 2.5 mg weekly |
| Step-ups | To 5 mg after 4 weeks, then 2.5 mg steps after at least 4 weeks on the current dose | 2.5 mg steps after at least 4 weeks on the current dose, if more blood sugar control is needed |
| Maintenance doses | 5, 10 or 15 mg (weight); 10 or 15 mg (sleep apnea) | Not listed by name; set by blood sugar control |
| Maximum | 15 mg weekly | 15 mg weekly in adults; 10 mg in children |
Zepbound dosage chart, week by week
Because each step needs at least 4 weeks, the earliest possible timing looks like this. Many people stay on a dose longer, and the label does not say everyone should climb to 15 mg.1
| Earliest weeks | Once-weekly dose | What the Zepbound label says |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 4 | 2.5 mg | Starting dose only |
| 5 onward | 5 mg | Maintenance option for weight |
| 9 onward | 7.5 mg | Step on the way up |
| 13 onward | 10 mg | Maintenance option for weight and sleep apnea |
| 17 onward | 12.5 mg | Step on the way up |
| 21 onward | 15 mg | Maintenance option; maximum |
The label says to "consider treatment response and tolerability when selecting the maintenance dosage," and that if a maintenance dose is not tolerated, a lower maintenance dose can be considered.1 Our Wegovy and Zepbound dose schedule compares this with the semaglutide schedules, and what is a maintenance dose covers trials of staying on, lowering or stopping a dose.
What is the max dose of Mounjaro?
The Mounjaro label says the maximum is "15 mg injected subcutaneously once weekly in adults" and 10 mg once weekly in children 10 and older.2 Unlike the Zepbound label, it does not name specific maintenance doses. It says to increase only "if additional glycemic control is needed," meaning more blood sugar lowering. Zepbound's maximum for weight and sleep apnea is also 15 mg.1 For how tirzepatide compares with semaglutide, see semaglutide vs tirzepatide.
Tirzepatide 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg: what the trials behind the label found
The Zepbound label's Study 1 (SURMOUNT-1) enrolled 2,539 adults with obesity, or overweight plus a weight-related condition, without type 2 diabetes. Each person was assigned one fixed dose or placebo for 72 weeks, alongside diet and activity counseling, after up to 20 weeks of stepping up.1
| At week 72, Study 1 | Placebo | 5 mg | 10 mg | 15 mg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lost at least 5% | 34.5% | 85.1% | 88.9% | 90.9% |
| Lost at least 15% | 8.8% | 48.0% | 66.6% | 70.6% |
| Lost at least 20% | 3.1% | 30.0% | 50.1% | 56.7% |
In Study 2, in 938 adults with type 2 diabetes and a BMI of 27 or more, average weight change was −12.8% on 10 mg and −14.7% on 15 mg, vs −3.2% on placebo.1 These are averages for groups. They do not predict what one person will lose on a given dose. More context is in GLP-1 weight loss results.
Why the labels step up 2.5 mg at a time
Both labels say to follow the escalation schedule "to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal adverse reactions." Their data show stomach side effects are common and mostly come early:
- Zepbound. The label says most nausea, vomiting and diarrhea happened during dose escalation and decreased over time. Stopping because of stomach side effects rose with dose: 1.9% on 5 mg, 3.3% on 10 mg and 4.3% on 15 mg, vs 0.5% on placebo.1
- Mounjaro. Nausea affected 12%, 15% and 18% on 5, 10 and 15 mg, vs 4% on placebo. Stopping because of stomach side effects was 3.0%, 5.4% and 6.6%, vs 0.4% on placebo.2
Both labels add one more step-related instruction: people using birth control pills are advised to switch to a non-oral method, or add a barrier method, for 4 weeks after starting and for 4 weeks after each dose increase.1,2 See GLP-1s, birth control and pregnancy and GLP-1 nausea and stomach side effects.
Pens, vials and the KwikPen
Section 3 of both labels lists four presentations, each in all six strengths (2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5 and 15 mg):1,2
| Presentation | Doses per device | Volume per dose |
|---|---|---|
| Single-dose pen (autoinjector) | 1 | 0.5 mL |
| Single-dose vial | 1 | 0.5 mL |
| Multi-dose vial | 4 | 0.6 mL |
| Single-patient-use KwikPen | 4 | 0.6 mL |
Each multi-dose vial and KwikPen holds one strength only, and the concentration in mg per mL differs by strength. That is why the labels say patients should be told which presentation they will get, trained on it, and retrained if it changes.1,2 The labels say the KwikPen is not recommended for self-injection by people who are visually impaired, and the Mounjaro KwikPen is not recommended for self-injection by children. The KwikPen instructions say: "Do not count clicks as you select the dose." Instead, the dose knob is turned until it stops and the dose icon shows in the dose window.1,2
Tirzepatide dosage in units: why there is no chart here
The Zepbound and Mounjaro labels give doses in milligrams and volumes in milliliters. They do not use syringe "units."1,2 Compounded tirzepatide, mixed by pharmacies, is not FDA-approved, and the FDA does not review it for safety, effectiveness or quality. As of May 31, 2026, the FDA had received more than 730 adverse event reports linked to compounded tirzepatide, and it says some reported problems may be linked to dosing errors by patients or by health professionals.3 The FDA's 2024 alert on compounded semaglutide explains how this happens: concentrations differ between products, instructions are sometimes written in units, and people took 5 to 20 times the intended dose.4 The same risk applies whenever a dose is measured in units from a vial of unknown concentration. See compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide.
This article summarizes the current US labels. It is not a dosing plan, and labels in other countries can differ. Your prescriber decides your starting dose, whether and when to step up, and your maintenance dose. If you have severe stomach pain, vomiting that will not stop, or think you took too much, contact your prescriber, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 in the US, or seek urgent care.
Common questions
What is the Mounjaro dosage chart?
The US Mounjaro label lists a starting dose of 2.5 mg once weekly. If more blood sugar control is needed, the dose may go up in 2.5 mg steps, to 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5 and 15 mg, after at least 4 weeks on the current dose. The maximum is 15 mg weekly in adults and 10 mg in children 10 and older.
What is the Zepbound dosage chart?
The US Zepbound label lists 2.5 mg once weekly for 4 weeks, then 5 mg, with further 2.5 mg increases after at least 4 weeks on the current dose. Maintenance doses for weight reduction are 5 mg, 10 mg or 15 mg, and 15 mg is the maximum.
What is the max dose of Mounjaro?
The US Mounjaro label lists 15 mg injected once weekly as the maximum dose for adults with type 2 diabetes, and 10 mg once weekly for children 10 years and older. Zepbound, the same medicine for weight reduction, also has a 15 mg maximum.
Is tirzepatide 5 mg a maintenance dose?
Yes, for Zepbound: the US label lists 5 mg, 10 mg or 15 mg as maintenance doses for weight reduction. In the label's 72-week trial of 2,539 adults with obesity or overweight without diabetes, average weight change was -15.0% on 5 mg, -19.5% on 10 mg and -20.9% on 15 mg, vs -3.1% on placebo.
Is tirzepatide dosed in units?
No. The US Zepbound and Mounjaro labels list doses in milligrams and volumes in milliliters, not units. Compounded tirzepatide is not FDA-approved and its concentrations vary, so a number of syringe units does not mean the same dose from one vial to another.
Sources
- US prescribing information: ZEPBOUND (tirzepatide) injection. DailyMed, August 2026 version. Sections 1, 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 3, 6.1, 7, 14.1, 16.1 and Instructions for Use.
- US prescribing information: MOUNJARO (tirzepatide) injection. DailyMed, August 2026 version. Sections 1, 2.1, 2.2, 3, 6.1, 7, 16.1 and Instructions for Use.
- US Food and Drug Administration. FDA's concerns with unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss. Content current as of October 1, 2026. fda.gov
- US Food and Drug Administration. FDA alerts health care providers, compounders and patients of dosing errors associated with compounded injectable semaglutide products. Content current as of July 26, 2024. fda.gov
