Mounjaro Dosing Guide
Mounjaro Maintenance Dose: 5 mg, 10 mg or 15 mg?
Quick Answer: The recommended adult Mounjaro maintenance doses are 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg once weekly. The 2.5 mg dose is used to start treatment, while 7.5 mg and 12.5 mg are dose-escalation steps rather than recommended maintenance doses. The right dose depends on treatment response and side effects; 15 mg is the maximum dose, not automatically the best dose for everyone. Do not change your prescribed Mounjaro weight loss injection dose without speaking to your prescriber.5 mglowest recommended adult Mounjaro maintenance dose
15 mgmaximum recommended adult dose, taken once weekly
4 weeksminimum time on a dose before any prescribed increase
Content last updated: 9 October 2026
Dose Basics
What Is a Mounjaro Maintenance Dose?
A maintenance dose is a dose used after the initial titration period to continue managing weight and appetite. UK prescribing information lists 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg as the recommended adult maintenance doses. A person may remain on 5 mg if it is effective and well tolerated, or a prescriber may increase the dose gradually when further benefit is needed. The 2.5 mg dose is the starting dose for the first four weeks. Doses may then increase in 2.5 mg steps, with at least four weeks on the current dose before an increase. Our Mounjaro dose schedule explains the full titration sequence.| Dose | Usual role in adult treatment |
|---|---|
| 2.5 mg weekly | Starting dose for four weeks; not a recommended maintenance dose. |
| 5 mg weekly | First recommended maintenance dose. |
| 7.5 mg weekly | Escalation step between 5 mg and 10 mg. |
| 10 mg weekly | Recommended maintenance dose. |
| 12.5 mg weekly | Escalation step between 10 mg and 15 mg. |
| 15 mg weekly | Recommended maintenance dose and maximum adult dose. |
Do not adjust the dose yourself. Dose changes should follow a clinical review of benefit, tolerability, medical history and any other medicines you use.
Individual Review
If side effects are difficult to manage, your prescriber may delay an increase, keep you on the current dose or consider a lower dose. Read our Mounjaro side effects guide for common symptoms and urgent warning signs.
How Is the Right Maintenance Dose Chosen?
The aim is not simply to reach 15 mg. A prescriber chooses a dose that provides sufficient benefit with side effects that remain acceptable. Some people maintain progress on 5 mg, while others need 10 mg or 15 mg. A higher dose should only be considered after at least four weeks on the current dose and when the clinical benefit is expected to outweigh the risks.Treatment responseWeight trend, appetite and relevant health measures.
TolerabilityNausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation and other effects.
Health historyConditions, risk factors and medicines requiring review.
Personal goalsFurther weight loss, weight stability and quality of life.
Clinical Review
When Should Mounjaro Treatment Be Reviewed?
UK prescribing information says that if a person has not lost at least 5% of their initial body weight six months after reaching the highest dose they can tolerate, the clinician should decide whether treatment should continue after considering the individual benefits and risks. NICE advises discussing why weight loss may have been less than expected before making that decision. This is not a target that tells everyone to reach 15 mg. “Highest tolerated dose” means the highest dose that is clinically appropriate and tolerable for that person. Reviews should also consider side effects, nutrition, relevant health conditions, treatment adherence and whether weight is being maintained after earlier loss.5% review point: the six-month period is counted after titration to the highest tolerated dose, rather than from the first 2.5 mg injection.
Long-Term Evidence
The trial shows that continued treatment helped maintain and extend weight reduction, while withdrawal was associated with substantial regain. It does not mean everyone must remain on treatment indefinitely. Duration should be reviewed with a prescriber according to ongoing benefit, safety, preferences and access.
What Happens When Treatment Continues or Stops?
Mounjaro is licensed for weight management, including weight loss and weight maintenance. In SURMOUNT-4, participants first received tirzepatide for 36 weeks. They were then assigned either to continue tirzepatide or switch to placebo for another 52 weeks.| SURMOUNT-4 outcome from week 36 to week 88 | Result |
|---|---|
| Continued tirzepatide | Average further weight change of −5.5%. |
| Switched to placebo | Average weight regain of 14.0%. |
Supporting Maintenance
For practical support, see what to eat on Mounjaro and how to protect muscle during Mounjaro weight loss.
Habits That Support Long-Term Weight Management
Medication works alongside food choices and physical activity. These habits matter during treatment and become especially important if a dose is reduced or treatment stops.Protein and varied foodsSupport muscle, nutrition and meal satisfaction.
Resistance activityHelps preserve strength and lean mass where suitable.
Regular monitoringIdentify a sustained change in weight or appetite early.
Clinical follow-upReview progress, side effects and the treatment plan.
Changing Treatment
Can You Reduce or Stop a Mounjaro Maintenance Dose?
Do not reduce, extend the interval between injections or stop Mounjaro without discussing the plan with your prescriber. The UK product information does not specify a standard tapering schedule. Your clinician may recommend continuing the current dose, moving to another licensed dose or stopping, depending on your circumstances. A planned review can cover appetite changes, the risk of weight regain, side effects, other medicines and what support will be available afterwards. If you are considering ending treatment, our guide to stopping Mounjaro explains what may happen to appetite, weight and blood sugar after the final dose. If you are changing pharmacy rather than ending treatment, our guide to transferring your ongoing weight loss treatment explains the process.Contact your prescriber promptly if side effects prevent you eating or drinking, you have severe or persistent abdominal pain, or you are considering stopping because of pregnancy, another medicine or a new health problem.
Common Questions
Mounjaro Maintenance Dose FAQs
The recommended adult maintenance doses are 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg once weekly. Your prescriber chooses the dose according to response and tolerability.
No. The UK prescribing information uses 2.5 mg as the starting dose for four weeks before increasing to 5 mg.
They are licensed strengths used as escalation steps. The recommended adult maintenance doses listed in UK prescribing information are 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg.
No. Fifteen milligrams is the maximum adult dose, not a target everyone must reach. Some people remain on 5 mg or 10 mg when the benefit and tolerability are appropriate.
There is no single fixed duration in the UK product information. Treatment should continue only while the prescriber considers the benefits to outweigh the risks, with ongoing reviews.
A prescriber may review the dose when goals, side effects or circumstances change. Do not lower the dose or change the weekly schedule yourself.
If less than 5% of initial weight has been lost six months after reaching the highest tolerated dose, UK guidance says the clinician should decide whether to continue after reviewing the individual benefits and risks.
Weight regain is possible and was substantial in the SURMOUNT-4 withdrawal group. Individual outcomes vary, so stopping should be planned with clinical and lifestyle support.
Review Your Ongoing Mounjaro Treatment
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References
- Mounjaro UK Summary of Product Characteristics. Adult dosing, maintenance doses and treatment review information. Read the UK prescribing information.
- Mounjaro UK Patient Information Leaflet. Patient guidance on dosing and safe use. Read the patient leaflet.
- NICE guidance. Prescribing, reviewing and stopping tirzepatide. Read the NICE guidance.
- Aronne LJ et al. Continued Treatment With Tirzepatide for Maintenance of Weight Reduction, SURMOUNT-4. JAMA. 2024;331(1):38–48.
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