Tirzepatide
Six steps, four weeks each.
Tirzepatide is sold as Zepbound for weight management and Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes. Both use the same escalation: 2.5 mg to start, then four-week holds up to a maximum of 15 mg.
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The science
Why the schedule steps rather than starting high
01
The 2.5 mg starting dose is a tolerability dose. It exists so the gut can adapt to slower stomach emptying, and it is not expected to deliver the full effect on its own.
02
Each four-week hold gives the body time to settle before the next increase. This is why side effects commonly return for a few days after every step and then ease again.
03
Maintenance is commonly 5, 10 or 15 mg. Many people stop escalating well below the maximum because a lower dose is already working, and staying there is a normal clinical outcome rather than a failure.
04
Tirzepatide acts on two receptors rather than one, which distinguishes it from the semaglutide products. That dual action is the reason its dose ladder runs differently and reaches a different ceiling.
05
The same compound is sold under two names. Zepbound is licensed for weight management and Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes, with identical strengths and an identical escalation. Which one you are prescribed follows your indication, and frequently determines whether insurance covers it.
FAQ
Common questions
What are the tirzepatide doses?
Tirzepatide is supplied in 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5 and 15 mg strengths, injected once weekly. Treatment starts at 2.5 mg for four weeks, then increases in 2.5 mg steps with at least four weeks at each level.
How long do you stay on each tirzepatide dose?
The published schedule holds each dose for four weeks before the next increase. Prescribers frequently hold longer when side effects are heavy, which is a normal decision rather than a delay.
What is the maximum tirzepatide dose?
15 mg once weekly. Maintenance is commonly 5, 10 or 15 mg, and reaching the maximum is not a goal in itself.
Is Zepbound the same as Mounjaro?
Both contain tirzepatide and use the same dose strengths and escalation schedule. They are licensed for different indications: Zepbound for weight management, Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes.
Is tirzepatide stronger than semaglutide?
They are different molecules with different mechanisms, so the milligram figures are not comparable. Tirzepatide acts on a second receptor as well, and trials reported greater average weight loss, but individual response varies considerably.
What happens if I miss a tirzepatide dose?
Guidance generally allows a missed dose to be taken within a few days, after which you skip it and resume the normal schedule. Never double up. Check the prescribing information for the exact window.
VialClock
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