Titration schedule
Tirzepatide titration schedule
Tirzepatide climbs in 2.5 mg steps from a 2.5 mg start to a 15 mg ceiling, with at least four weeks at each level. Here is the escalation exactly as the FDA labels write it, for the weight and sleep-apnea brand (Zepbound) and the diabetes brand (Mounjaro).
Last updated 2026-08-24
These are the manufacturer's labeled schedules, not a plan for anyone in particular. The 2.5 mg starting dose is a titration step, not an approved maintenance dose. Your prescriber decides which maintenance dose to settle on based on response and tolerability.
Zepbound (weight management and obstructive sleep apnea)
FDA-approved labelOnce weekly subcutaneous injection, adults
| Step | Dose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-4 | 2.5 mg | Starting dose; not a maintenance dose |
| After at least 4 weeks | 5 mg | |
| After at least 4 more weeks | 7.5 mg | |
| After at least 4 more weeks | 10 mg | |
| After at least 4 more weeks | 12.5 mg | |
| After at least 4 more weeks | 15 mg | Maximum |
Maximum: 15 mg once weekly. Approved maintenance doses are 5, 10, or 15 mg for weight; 10 or 15 mg for obstructive sleep apnea.
The label says to increase in 2.5 mg increments after at least 4 weeks on the current dose, considering treatment response and tolerability when selecting the maintenance dose.
Mounjaro (type 2 diabetes)
FDA-approved labelOnce weekly subcutaneous injection
| Step | Dose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-4 | 2.5 mg | Starting dose |
| After 4 weeks | 5 mg | |
| After at least 4 more weeks, in 2.5 mg increments | 7.5 mg to 15 mg | If additional glycemic control is needed |
Maximum: 15 mg once weekly for adults; 10 mg once weekly for pediatric patients 10 years and older.
After the initial step to 5 mg, the label increases the dose in 2.5 mg increments after at least 4 weeks on the current dose, if more glycemic control is needed.
Using this as a tracker template
- Print or copy the schedule for your brand and write the calendar date beside each 2.5 mg step, so the next eligible increase date is clear.
- Log the date and dose each week; each step is designed to be held at least four weeks before moving up.
- Note tolerability at each level - the label ties the choice of maintenance dose to how you respond, so this is the record your prescriber will use.
- The Pepteca tracker, when it arrives, will import a schedule like this and flag when each step becomes due.
Questions people ask
How long does it take to reach 15 mg of tirzepatide?
By the label schedule, reaching the 15 mg maximum takes a minimum of 20 weeks: four weeks at 2.5 mg, then at least four weeks at each of 5, 7.5, 10, and 12.5 mg before 15 mg. Many people settle at a lower maintenance dose (5 or 10 mg) and never go to 15.
Is 2.5 mg a maintenance dose?
No. Both the Zepbound and Mounjaro labels describe 2.5 mg as a starting dose for the first four weeks to reduce gastrointestinal side effects, not a dose meant to be maintained. The approved maintenance doses start at 5 mg.
Do Zepbound and Mounjaro use the same steps?
The step size and ceiling are the same - 2.5 mg increments up to 15 mg - and both start at 2.5 mg for four weeks. They are the same molecule approved for different conditions. The pediatric maximum for Mounjaro (patients 10 and older) is 10 mg.
Sources
- [1]ZEPBOUND (tirzepatide) injection - DailyMed label, Eli Lilly (Revised 4/2026)Start 2.5 mg once weekly for 4 weeks, increase in 2.5 mg increments after at least 4 weeks up to a 15 mg maximum; maintenance 5/10/15 mg (weight) or 10/15 mg (OSA)
- [2]MOUNJARO (tirzepatide) injection - DailyMed label, Eli Lilly (Revised 4/2026)Start 2.5 mg once weekly, increase to 5 mg after 4 weeks, then 2.5 mg increments after >=4 weeks if needed; maximum 15 mg adults, 10 mg pediatric 10+
Related
This page is educational information, not medical advice. GLP-1 medications are prescription drugs; dosing, escalation, and any combination with other compounds are decisions for you and a licensed prescriber, based on the actual product you hold and your own health. Figures here describe published FDA labels and clinical trials - they are not a recommendation to take any dose. Compounded and research-grade products can differ in concentration and purity from the approved versions these schedules were written for.