Mounjaro Dosing Guide

Mounjaro Dose Schedule: 2.5 mg to 15 mg Explained

Quick Answer: Mounjaro (tirzepatide) starts at 2.5 mg once a week for four weeks. The dose then increases to 5 mg once weekly. If a higher dose is needed and tolerated, further increases are made in 2.5 mg steps after at least four weeks on the current dose. The recommended adult maintenance doses are 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg once weekly, with 15 mg the maximum licensed dose. You do not automatically need to progress to 15 mg: dose decisions should reflect your response, side effects and prescriber's advice.

2.5 mg licensed starting dose once weekly

4+ weeks minimum before each further dose increase

15 mg maximum licensed weekly dose

How Titration Works Why Mounjaro Doses Increase Gradually Mounjaro is not started at its maximum dose. Treatment begins at 2.5 mg once weekly and progresses gradually so that tolerability and treatment response can be assessed before the dose is increased. Gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting and constipation are among the most commonly reported effects of tirzepatide. They can be particularly relevant when treatment begins or the dose changes. Gradual dose escalation helps reduce the likelihood of introducing a higher dose before the current dose has been adequately tolerated.

The important point: four weeks is the minimum period before a further increase where an increase is needed. Dose escalation is not something patients should accelerate themselves. Your prescriber may recommend remaining on a dose for longer or reviewing treatment before progressing.

Higher Is Not Automatically Better for Every Patient Higher tirzepatide doses produced greater average weight loss in the SURMOUNT-1 trial, but the correct dose for an individual patient is not determined by trial averages alone. The licensed adult maintenance doses are 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg. Your prescribing team will consider treatment response, tolerability and clinical circumstances when deciding whether a further increase is appropriate. If you want to see how weight loss can develop across treatment rather than focusing only on dose changes, read our Mounjaro before and after results and weight-loss timeline.

Full Schedule Mounjaro Dose Escalation Chart The standard licensed sequence begins at 2.5 mg and moves upwards in 2.5 mg steps. After the mandatory first increase to 5 mg, further increases are made only if needed and after at least four weeks at the current dose.

Dose	Earliest Standard Timeline	Role	What Happens Next?
2.5 mg	Weeks 1–4	Starting dose	Increase to 5 mg after four weeks.
5 mg	Week 5 onwards	Licensed maintenance dose	Remain at 5 mg or, if needed and appropriate, increase after at least four weeks.
7.5 mg	Earliest from week 9	Escalation step	Used when progressing from 5 mg towards 10 mg.
10 mg	Earliest from week 13	Licensed maintenance dose	Remain at 10 mg or increase further if clinically appropriate.
12.5 mg	Earliest from week 17	Escalation step	Used when progressing from 10 mg towards 15 mg.
15 mg	Earliest from week 21	Licensed maintenance dose	Maximum licensed dose: do not exceed 15 mg once weekly.

Do not increase your dose early. A minimum of four weeks is required on the current dose before a further increase. If side effects are significant, your prescriber may advise remaining at the current dose longer, delaying escalation or reviewing whether a different dose is more appropriate.

Dose by Dose What Each Mounjaro Dose Means

2.5 mg — Starting Dose Weeks 1–4 Every new adult patient normally starts at 2.5 mg once weekly. The purpose of this stage is to begin treatment at a lower dose before moving to 5 mg. Some people notice appetite changes during these first weeks, while others notice less effect initially. Do not increase the dose before completing four weeks.

5 mg — First Maintenance Dose From week 5 After four weeks at 2.5 mg, the licensed schedule increases to 5 mg once weekly. Importantly, 5 mg is itself one of the recommended maintenance doses for adults. A patient does not have to progress beyond 5 mg simply because four more weeks have passed. Further escalation depends on whether a higher dose is needed and clinically appropriate.

7.5 mg — Escalation Step Earliest from week 9 7.5 mg is an intermediate escalation step between the licensed 5 mg and 10 mg maintenance doses. If your prescriber recommends increasing beyond 5 mg, you spend at least four weeks at 7.5 mg before moving to 10 mg. If side effects are difficult to manage, contact your prescribing team rather than increasing automatically.

10 mg — Maintenance Dose Earliest from week 13 10 mg is another recommended adult maintenance dose. In SURMOUNT-1, participants assigned to 10 mg achieved greater average weight loss at 72 weeks than those assigned to 5 mg, although individual results varied. Whether you remain at 10 mg or continue upwards should be decided with your prescriber.

12.5 mg — Escalation Step Earliest from week 17 12.5 mg is the intermediate step used when increasing from 10 mg to 15 mg. It is not one of the adult maintenance doses listed in the current UK Summary of Product Characteristics. Patients experiencing significant side effects should discuss them with their prescriber before progressing.

15 mg — Maximum Maintenance Dose Earliest from week 21 15 mg is both a recommended maintenance dose and the maximum licensed adult dose. Some patients may eventually reach 15 mg, while others may achieve an appropriate clinical response at a lower maintenance dose. Do not use more than 15 mg once weekly.

Before Increasing When a Mounjaro Dose Increase May Need to Be Delayed Reaching the next four-week point does not mean you should increase your dose regardless of how you feel. Your current response and tolerability matter.

Reasons to Speak to Your Prescriber Before Increasing

Persistent or troublesome nausea or vomiting
Diarrhoea or constipation that remains difficult to manage
Difficulty eating enough or maintaining adequate fluid intake
Symptoms of dehydration, such as dizziness or reduced urination
Abdominal symptoms that are severe, unusual or worsening
Any side effect that is affecting day-to-day functioning

Reasons Your Prescriber May Review the Plan

You are already responding well at a licensed maintenance dose
A higher dose has previously caused significant side effects
Other medicines or medical conditions affect treatment decisions
Your weight-loss response is lower than expected over time
Treatment has been interrupted for a prolonged period

If gastrointestinal symptoms are making dose increases difficult, our Mounjaro tolerance guide explains practical ways to improve tolerability. For a broader breakdown of common and serious reactions, see our Mounjaro side effects guide.

Maintenance What Is the Maintenance Dose of Mounjaro? There is no single maintenance dose that every adult must reach. Under the current UK product information, the recommended adult maintenance doses are 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg once weekly.

Dose	Licensed Role	SURMOUNT-1 Average Weight Change at 72 Weeks
5 mg	Recommended maintenance dose	Approximately −15.0%
10 mg	Recommended maintenance dose	Approximately −19.5%
15 mg	Recommended maintenance dose and maximum licensed dose	Approximately −20.9%

These figures are averages from the 72-week SURMOUNT-1 trial in adults with obesity or overweight and at least one weight-related complication, without diabetes. They are not a prediction of how much any individual patient will lose.

How Long Do You Stay on a Maintenance Dose? Mounjaro is licensed for weight management, including weight loss and weight maintenance. There is no universal fixed treatment duration in the product licence. Treatment should be reviewed according to clinical benefit, tolerability and individual circumstances. The current UK SmPC says that if a patient has lost less than 5% of their initial body weight six months after titrating to their highest tolerated dose, a decision should be made about whether continuing treatment remains appropriate.

Monitoring Progress What If You Are Not Losing Enough Weight? A slower-than-expected response does not mean you should increase the dose yourself. Weight-loss response varies between individuals, and treatment should be assessed alongside adherence, nutrition, physical activity, side effects and how long you have been taking an effective dose. NICE and the Mounjaro SmPC use a formal review point after six months on the highest tolerated dose. If less than 5% of initial body weight has been lost by that stage, the benefits and risks of continuing treatment should be reviewed.

For a broader picture of expected progress, plateaus and how results change over time, see our Mounjaro weight-loss results timeline.

Missed Doses What Happens If You Miss a Mounjaro Dose? Mounjaro is taken once weekly. The current UK prescribing information gives a clear rule for a single missed dose.

Situation	What the UK SmPC Says
4 days or fewer since the missed dose	Take the missed dose as soon as possible, then resume your normal once-weekly schedule.
More than 4 days since the missed dose	Skip the missed dose and take the next dose on your regularly scheduled day.
Multiple doses missed or a prolonged treatment break	Contact your prescribing team before restarting so your current dose and tolerability can be reviewed.

Never double-dose to make up for a missed injection. If you are uncertain about restarting after several missed doses, contact your prescriber rather than guessing which dose to use.

Injection Timing Can You Change Your Mounjaro Injection Day? Yes. According to the current UK SmPC, the day of weekly administration can be changed when necessary as long as there are at least three days between two doses. Once the day has been changed, continue with once-weekly dosing on the new schedule.

A recurring calendar or phone reminder can help maintain a consistent weekly injection routine.

Different Uses Is the Mounjaro Dose Schedule Different for Weight Loss and Diabetes? The adult starting and escalation schedule is based on the same tirzepatide dosing principles, but treatment goals and accompanying medication can differ between weight management and type 2 diabetes. People using Mounjaro alongside insulin or a sulphonylurea may require additional blood-glucose monitoring or changes to those medicines because of the risk of hypoglycaemia. Those changes must be managed by the relevant prescribing clinician.

Do not alter diabetes medicines, insulin doses or your Mounjaro dose without professional clinical advice.

Before Treatment Who Can Start Mounjaro for Weight Management? Dosing is only one part of treatment. Mounjaro is a prescription-only medicine and eligibility must be assessed before treatment begins. The licensed indication for adult weight management includes people with obesity or people who are overweight and have at least one weight-related health condition, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. You can find out more about the treatment, available strengths and our prescribing service on our Mounjaro weight loss injection page. Private prescribing criteria and NHS access criteria are not necessarily identical. If you want to check your starting BMI and understand the eligibility pathways used by Happy Pharmacy, use our BMI eligibility calculator for weight-loss injections.

Using Your Pen Mounjaro KwikPen Storage and Handling Before use, Mounjaro KwikPen should be stored in a refrigerator between 2°C and 8°C and must not be frozen. After first use, the current UK SmPC states that the KwikPen may be stored unrefrigerated for up to 30 days at a temperature no higher than 30°C, after which it must be discarded. Inspect the medicine before use. Do not use Mounjaro that has been frozen or if you notice particulate matter or discolouration. Follow the instructions supplied with your KwikPen carefully.

Key Questions Mounjaro Dosing: Key Points What is the standard Mounjaro dose schedule? Start with 2.5 mg once weekly for four weeks, then increase to 5 mg. Further increases, if needed, are made in 2.5 mg increments after at least four weeks on the current dose: 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg and a maximum of 15 mg. Does everybody have to reach 15 mg? No. The licensed adult maintenance doses are 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg. Dose progression should be individualised according to response and tolerability. When should your dose be increased? A further increase can only be made after at least four weeks on the current dose and should only happen when clinically appropriate. Significant or persistent side effects should be reviewed before escalation.

FAQs Frequently Asked Questions: Mounjaro Dose Schedule

Mounjaro starts at 2.5 mg once weekly for four weeks and then increases to 5 mg once weekly. If further increases are needed, the dose can rise in 2.5 mg steps after at least four weeks on the current dose: 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg and finally 15 mg.

The licensed adult starting dose is 2.5 mg once weekly. After four weeks, this is increased to 5 mg once weekly.

The current UK Summary of Product Characteristics lists 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg once weekly as the recommended adult maintenance doses.

7.5 mg is not listed as one of the recommended adult maintenance doses in the current UK SmPC. It is normally used as an intermediate escalation step when moving from 5 mg to 10 mg.

12.5 mg is not listed as a recommended adult maintenance dose in the current UK SmPC. It is an intermediate escalation step between the 10 mg and 15 mg maintenance doses.

The maximum licensed adult dose is 15 mg once weekly.

No. Further dose increases should only be made after a minimum of four weeks on the current dose and should follow your prescriber's instructions. Increasing more quickly than the licensed schedule is not recommended.

5 mg is a licensed adult maintenance dose. Whether you remain at 5 mg or progress further depends on your treatment response, tolerability and prescriber's assessment.

Yes, 10 mg is also a licensed adult maintenance dose. You do not automatically have to progress to 15 mg if your prescriber considers 10 mg appropriate.

Do not change your dose based on weight loss alone. Your prescriber should consider your overall response, side effects, current maintenance dose and clinical circumstances before deciding whether an increase is appropriate.

Contact your prescribing team if side effects are persistent, severe or affecting your ability to eat or drink normally. A dose increase may need to be delayed while your tolerability is reviewed. See our Mounjaro tolerance guide for more information.

If the missed dose is no more than four days late, take it as soon as possible. If more than four days have passed, skip that dose and take your next injection on the normal scheduled day. Do not take a double dose.

Contact your prescribing clinician before restarting after a prolonged interruption. Your current dose, previous tolerability and reason for the break may need to be reviewed before treatment is resumed.

Yes. The weekly injection day can be changed as long as there are at least three days between consecutive doses.

Under the fastest standard licensed escalation sequence, 15 mg can be reached from around week 21. Some patients will remain at a lower maintenance dose or spend longer at individual dose levels, so treatment does not have to follow that maximum-speed timeline.

There is no single treatment duration that applies to everyone. Mounjaro is licensed for weight management including weight maintenance, and continued treatment should be reviewed according to benefit, tolerability and individual clinical circumstances.

Before use, Mounjaro KwikPen should be stored at 2°C to 8°C and must not be frozen. After first use, the current UK SmPC allows it to be stored unrefrigerated for up to 30 days at no more than 30°C, after which the pen must be discarded.

Eligibility depends on factors including your BMI, medical history and weight-related health conditions. You can use Happy Pharmacy's BMI eligibility calculator as a starting point, although final suitability must be assessed by a prescriber.

Considering Mounjaro Treatment? Complete a clinical assessment with Happy Pharmacy's UK prescribing team to find out whether Mounjaro is suitable for you and receive an individual treatment and dosing plan. Start Your Mounjaro Consultation →

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