Tirzepatide dosage guide and chart for weight loss

Tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro) comes in six dosage strengths ranging from 2.5 to 15 mg.

Your healthcare provider will help guide you through the dosages, but it can be a little confusing at first. In this tirzepatide dosage guide, you’ll find everything you want to know about tirzepatide dosing, including:

• The typical dosing schedule for weight loss, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and diabetes

• How to take tirzepatide

• What to do if you miss a dose

Tirzepatide (also known as Zepbound when prescribed for weight loss) comes in six dosage strengths. You typically start at 2.5 mg weekly and move up to 5 mg, 10 mg, or 15 mg weekly, depending on your response to the medication and tolerance of side effects.

Tirzepatide dosage chart

The typical maintenance doses of tirzepatide are 5 mg, 10 mg, or 15 mg weekly. (When taking Zepbound to treat sleep apnea, the maintenance doses are 10 mg or 15 mg.) In between those doses are transition doses of 7.5 mg and 12.5 mg weekly. 

Typically, your provider will start you at 2.5 mg weekly and increase your tirzepatide dosage every four weeks until you reach a maintenance dose that is effective for you. Gradually increasing the dosage in this way helps keep side effects manageable as your body gets used to the medication. 

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To take tirzepatide, you’ll need to give yourself a shot.  

How to inject tirzepatide depends on whether you’re using the single-dose pens or vials. Always review the injection instructions included with your package of tirzepatide. 

Here are step-by-step instructions for injecting Mounjaro and Zepbound, with call-outs for any differences between the vials and pens where applicable. 

1. Clean your hands. Wash your hands with soap and water and dry them with a clean towel.

2. Gather your supplies. This includes:

• Your Mounjaro or Zepbound pen or vial

• Gauze pad, cotton ball, or alcohol swabs to clean the injection site

• A new sterile needle and syringe (vials only)

• Your sharps disposal container

3. Confirm you have the correct medication and that it looks safe to use. Double-check the label on the pen or vial to confirm you have the correct dosage and that the medication has not expired. 

• The liquid solution should be clear, colorless (or slightly yellow), and free of particles. If it is cloudy or contains particles, do not use it and contact your pharmacist. 

• If you’re injecting a tirzepatide pen, skip ahead to step 6 after you’ve performed this step.

4. Prepare the needle (vials only). Always use a new needle for each injection. Uncap the vial and wipe the rubber stopper with an alcohol swab. Remove the outer wrapping and attach the needle to the syringe. Uncap from the needle.

5. Draw your dose of tirzepatide (vials only). With the needle pointing up, pull down on the plunger until the tip reaches the 0.5 mL line. Push the needle through the rubber stopper of the vial, then push the plunger all the way in. With the needle still inside, turn the vial and syringe upside down. Slowly pull the plunger until the tip goes just past the 0.5-mL line. Tap the syringe gently to clear any air bubbles. Slowly push the plunger to the 0.5-mL line, and pull the syringe out.

6. Choose an injection site. It can be your abdomen, thigh, or the back of your upper arm. Rotate injection sites each week to give your skin time to heal. The skin should be healthy and clear of lumps, bumps, or scars. Clean the area with soap and water or an alcohol swab. Let it dry.

7. Inject your dose of tirzepatide firmly into the skin at a 90-degree angle. 

• If you’re using a tirzepatide pen, pull off the gray base cap and place the clear base flat against the skin. Unlock the pen by turning the lock ring, and press and hold the purple injection button for up to 10 seconds. You’ll hear two clicks: the first tells you the injection started, and the second tells you the injection is complete. 

• If you’re injecting tirzepatide from a vial, pinch an inch of skin and fatty tissue between your fingers. Insert the needle into your skin, release the pinch, and push down on the plunger to inject your dose. Hold it there for at least 5 seconds to ensure you deliver a full dose.

8. Remove the needle or pen from your skin. If you see any blood, lightly press with a gauze pad or cotton ball. Don’t rub it.

9. Safely dispose of the tirzepatide pen or any used needles or syringes. Do not put pens or needles in your regular household trash. They should be disposed of safely in an FDA-cleared sharps disposal container. 

10. Store unused tirzepatide properly. Tirzepatide pens or vials should be stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of 36°F–46°F (2°C–8°C). Do not freeze tirzepatide. 

If you need to, you can store a pen or the vial at room temperature (up to 86°F or 30°C) for up to 21 days. Once you store tirzepatide at room temperature, don’t return it to the refrigerator.

If you miss a dose of tirzepatide, what you do next will depend on how many days have passed since your missed dose.

• If it’s been less than four days (96 hours) since your missed dose, take your missed dose as soon as you remember. 

• If it’s been longer than that, skip the missed dose and take your next dose as usual on your regularly scheduled day.  

These guidelines apply if you miss one or two doses of tirzepatide in a row. If you miss three or more doses of tirzepatide consecutively, your healthcare provider may recommend lowering your dosage or restarting the dose escalation process at 5 mg weekly. 

Never double up your dose of tirzepatide to make up for a missed dose, or take two doses within three days (72 hours) of each other. Taking two doses too close to each other can lead to an overdose and increase your risk of experiencing side effects on tirzepatide. 

To avoid missing a dose of tirzepatide, schedule it on your calendar or add it to a reminders app on your phone. You can also pair it with another activity that you never miss, such as laundry day.

Missed tirzepatide dosage chart

Here’s an example of what to do if you miss a dose of tirzepatide using a hypothetical dosing schedule. The guidance is the same whether you are taking Mounjaro or Zepbound.

Yes, you can change your tirzepatide injection day, as long as at least 72 hours have passed between the two doses. 

So, for example, if your current tirzepatide injection day is Sunday afternoon and:

• You want to change it to Monday, you’ll skip that Sunday and take it on Monday moving forward. 

• You want to change it to Friday, you can take your injection as usual on Sunday, and then again that Friday to start the new schedule. 

Keep in mind that tirzepatide works best when you take it consistently, on the same day each week. When changing your tirzepatide injection day, try to choose a day you can commit to consistently moving forward.

Your tirzepatide dose may be too high if your side effects feel intolerable. 

For example, if you’re experiencing nausea, constipation, or other symptoms that are significantly interfering with your quality of life, that’s your cue to talk to your healthcare provider. They may take you back down to a lower dose, at least temporarily, to see if that works better for you.

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Whether you take tirzepatide for weight loss, sleep apnea, or diabetes, it’s good to know the typical tirzepatide dosage, what to do if you miss a dose, and how to inject your dose of tirzepatide. Here’s a recap:

• Tirzepatide is available in six dosage strengths ranging from 2.5 mg to 15 mg. Providers typically prescribe a low starting dose and gradually increase it based on your response and tolerance for side effects.

• Tirzepatide follows a weekly dosing schedule, and dose increases typically happen every four weeks during titration. It can take up to 21 weeks (around five months) to reach your maintenance dose.

• Available in a pen or vial, tirzepatide is injected subcutaneously (under the skin) into the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. Rotate injection sites each week to allow the skin to heal.

• If you miss a dose of tirzepatide, take it within four days (96 hours) if possible. If more than four days (96 hours) have passed, skip the missed dose and take your next dose as scheduled. 

• You can change your injection day of tirzepatide if necessary. There just needs to be at least a 72-hour gap between doses. 

All this said, remember to consult your healthcare provider if you have any questions about adjusting your tirzepatide dosing schedule.