Strong human trialsFDA approved as Mounjaro +1

Tirzepatide dose

Also known as: LY3298176 · Mounjaro · Zepbound · Tirz · TZ · TRZ · GLP-2TZ · GLP-2 Tirz · GLP-2 tirzepatide

Updated Oct 23, 202642 sources

Every Tirzepatide protocol on file, 12 in all, labelled by where each number came from. 5 have titration steps, each step is worked out in U-100 units for a 10 mg vial + 1 mL water.

Calculate with Tirzepatide Tirzepatide overview

Tirzepatide dose by goal

Grouped by goal. Each protocol shows the amount, how often, cycle and rest as the source states them, with every titration step.

Type 2 diabetes2

Type 2 diabetes, FDA label titration (Mounjaro)

Amount: 2.5 to 15 mg
How often: Once weekly. Step up 2.5 mg after at least 4 weeks only if needed, then hold the maintenance dose.
Route: Subcutaneous injection

Who: Adults with type 2 diabetes. The 2.5 mg dose is for starting only. The ladder shows the fastest path to 15 mg; many stop at a lower maintenance dose (5 to 15 mg) once blood sugar is controlled.

Timing: Inject in the abdomen, thigh or upper arm; exposure is similar, so rotate sites. Missed a dose? Take it within 4 days (96 hours), otherwise skip it.

Titration steps for Type 2 diabetes, FDA label titration (Mounjaro)
When	Dose	U-100 units (10 mg vial + 1 mL water)
Weeks 1 to 4	2.5 mg	25 units · 0.25 mL
Weeks 5 to 8	5 mg	50 units · 0.5 mL
Weeks 9 to 12	7.5 mg	75 units · 0.75 mL
Weeks 13 to 16	10 mg	100 units · 1 mL
Weeks 17 to 20	12.5 mg	125 units · 1.25 mL(2 draws)
Weeks 21 to 24	15 mg	150 units · 1.5 mL(2 draws)

Type 2 diabetes, FDA label (Mounjaro, ages 10 to 17)

Amount: 2.5 to 10 mg
How often: Once weekly. Step up 2.5 mg after at least 4 weeks only if needed, maximum 10 mg, then hold.
Route: Subcutaneous injection

Who: Children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes. Same 2.5 mg start and 2.5 mg steps as adults, capped at 10 mg.

Timing: Inject in the abdomen, thigh or upper arm; exposure is similar, so rotate sites. Missed a dose? Take it within 4 days (96 hours), otherwise skip it.

Titration steps for Type 2 diabetes, FDA label (Mounjaro, ages 10 to 17)
When	Dose	U-100 units (10 mg vial + 1 mL water)
Weeks 1 to 4	2.5 mg	25 units · 0.25 mL
Weeks 5 to 8	5 mg	50 units · 0.5 mL
Weeks 9 to 12	7.5 mg	75 units · 0.75 mL
Weeks 13 to 16	10 mg	100 units · 1 mL

Weight loss4

Weight loss, FDA label titration (Zepbound)

Amount: 2.5 to 15 mg
How often: Once weekly. Step up 2.5 mg after at least 4 weeks, then hold at 5, 10 or 15 mg.
Route: Subcutaneous injection

Who: Adults with obesity or overweight with a weight-related condition. 2.5 mg is the starter dose only. Maintenance is 5, 10 or 15 mg; the ladder shows the full climb to 15 mg.

Timing: Inject in the abdomen, thigh or upper arm; exposure is similar, so rotate sites. Missed a dose? Take it within 4 days (96 hours), otherwise skip it.

Titration steps for Weight loss, FDA label titration (Zepbound)
When	Dose	U-100 units (10 mg vial + 1 mL water)
Weeks 1 to 4	2.5 mg	25 units · 0.25 mL
Weeks 5 to 8	5 mg	50 units · 0.5 mL
Weeks 9 to 12	7.5 mg	75 units · 0.75 mL
Weeks 13 to 16	10 mg	100 units · 1 mL
Weeks 17 to 20	12.5 mg	125 units · 1.25 mL(2 draws)
Weeks 21 to 24	15 mg	150 units · 1.5 mL(2 draws)

Weight loss, SURMOUNT-1 and -2 trial doses

Amount: 5 to 15 mg
How often: Once weekly at an assigned dose of 5, 10 or 15 mg
Route: Subcutaneous injection

Who: Trial participants on fixed weekly maintenance doses of 5, 10 or 15 mg. SURMOUNT-1 reported 20.9% average weight loss on 15 mg (22.5% among those who stayed on treatment).

Weight loss, compounded label-mirror titration (guide protocol)

Amount: 2.5 to 15 mg
How often: Once weekly. Up 2.5 mg every 4 weeks, then hold the dose that works.
Route: Subcutaneous injection

Who: Compounded or research-vial users copying the branded schedule. Published by dosing guides, not a label for these products.

Titration steps for Weight loss, compounded label-mirror titration (guide protocol)
When	Dose	U-100 units (10 mg vial + 1 mL water)
Weeks 1 to 4	2.5 mg	25 units · 0.25 mL
Weeks 5 to 8	5 mg	50 units · 0.5 mL
Weeks 9 to 12	7.5 mg	75 units · 0.75 mL
Weeks 13 to 16	10 mg	100 units · 1 mL
Weeks 17 to 20	12.5 mg	125 units · 1.25 mL(2 draws)
Weeks 21 to 24	15 mg	150 units · 1.5 mL(2 draws)

Weight loss, slow titration (compounded, guide protocol)

Amount: 2.5 to 15 mg
How often: Once weekly. Hold each 2.5 mg step for 6 to 8 weeks before moving up.
Route: Subcutaneous injection

Who: Compounded-vial users who want gentler GI effects. Same 2.5 mg steps as the label, held longer. No trial tested this pace.

Timing: Leave at least 72 hours between doses.

Other protocols: injected6

Obstructive sleep apnea with obesity, FDA label (Zepbound)

Amount: 2.5 to 15 mg
How often: Once weekly. Step up 2.5 mg after at least 4 weeks, then hold at 10 or 15 mg.
Route: Subcutaneous injection

Who: Adults with obesity and moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. Same 2.5 mg start and 2.5 mg steps; the label maintenance dose is 10 or 15 mg.

Timing: Inject in the abdomen, thigh or upper arm; exposure is similar, so rotate sites. Missed a dose? Take it within 4 days (96 hours), otherwise skip it.

Titration steps for Obstructive sleep apnea with obesity, FDA label (Zepbound)
When	Dose	U-100 units (10 mg vial + 1 mL water)
Weeks 1 to 4	2.5 mg	25 units · 0.25 mL
Weeks 5 to 8	5 mg	50 units · 0.5 mL
Weeks 9 to 12	7.5 mg	75 units · 0.75 mL
Weeks 13 to 16	10 mg	100 units · 1 mL
Weeks 17 to 20	12.5 mg	125 units · 1.25 mL(2 draws)
Weeks 21 to 24	15 mg	150 units · 1.5 mL(2 draws)

Weight maintenance step-down to 5 mg (SURMOUNT-MAINTAIN trial)

Amount: 5 mg
How often: Once weekly at 5 mg after stepping down from a higher dose
Route: Subcutaneous injection

Who: People who already lost weight on a higher dose, stepping down to 5 mg weekly to hold the loss. The trial is testing this; results were not found as of October 2026.

Extended dose steps with research vials (vendor guide describing users)

Amount: 2.5 mg
How often: Once weekly, staying longer than 4 weeks at each dose
Route: Subcutaneous injection

Who: Research-vial users at the 2.5 mg start who stay on each dose longer than 4 weeks. Some reconstitute only half the vial while on the low dose.

Low-dose real-world use (branded, observational data)

Amount: 2.5 to 7.5 mg
How often: Once weekly, held at 2.5 to 7.5 mg
Route: Subcutaneous injection

Who: US users in Optum claims data (Hankosky 2025, as summarized by a telehealth guide): about 74% of 20,000+ users stayed below 10 mg after six fills, most on 2.5 to 7.5 mg, with about 12% weight loss at 6 months.

Microdosing start (telehealth guide)

Amount: 0.25 to 0.5 mg
How often: Once weekly. Start at 0.25 mg for 2 to 4 weeks, then add 0.25 mg every 2 to 4 weeks.
Route: Subcutaneous injection

Who: People using very low doses for appetite control or maintenance. Guides call 0.5 mg or less a microdose. No randomized trial of microdosing exists.

Split dosing, twice weekly (telehealth guide)

Amount: 2.5 mg
How often: Twice weekly, 3 to 4 days apart
Route: Subcutaneous injection

Who: Vial users splitting a weekly dose, for example 5 mg a week as two 2.5 mg shots. No trial supports splitting.

Timing: Some split into three smaller shots a week. The stated reason is the roughly 5-day half-life, which is said to give flatter levels.

Doses shown are what sources report, labelled by origin. Not medical advice.

Community-reported amounts

The Tirzepatide amounts people mention most on Reddit, by goal. Counts, not recommendations.

Tirzepatide amounts reported on Reddit, by goal, with mention counts
Goal	Most reported amounts (mentions)
Weight loss	5 mg (127), 2.5 mg (111), 15 mg (94), 10 mg (80)
Goal not stated	15 mg (7), 2.5 mg (5), 5 mg (3), 10 mg (3)
Metabolic health	2.5 mg (4), 7.5 mg (3), 10 mg (2)

From 900 Reddit posts and comments, last mined Oct 24, 2026.

Tirzepatide dose chart by vial size

Units to draw for the doses sources cite most, at every vial size and water volume.

Tirzepatide: concentration and U-100 syringe units for each vial size and water volume
Water	Strength	2.5 mgdose, units	5 mgdose, units	15 mgdose, units
10 mg vial
1 mLVendor guide	10 mg/mL	250.25 mL	500.5 mL	1501.5 mL2 draws
2 mLCompetitor guide	5 mg/mL	500.5 mL	1001 mL	3003 mL3 draws
15 mg vial
1.5 mLVendor guide	10 mg/mL	250.25 mL	500.5 mL	1501.5 mL2 draws
20 mg vial
1 mLVendor guide^†	20 mg/mL	12.50.125 mL	250.25 mL	750.75 mL
1.5 mLVendor guide^†	13.333 mg/mL	18.80.188 mL	37.50.375 mL	112.51.125 mL2 draws
2 mLCompetitor guide^†	10 mg/mL	250.25 mL	500.5 mL	1501.5 mL2 draws
3 mLVendor guide^†	6.667 mg/mL	37.50.375 mL	750.75 mL	2252.25 mL3 draws
6 mLVendor guide^†	3.333 mg/mL	750.75 mL	1501.5 mL2 draws	4504.5 mL5 draws
30 mg vial
2 mLVendor guide	15 mg/mL	16.70.167 mL	33.30.333 mL	1001 mL
3 mLVendor guide	10 mg/mL	250.25 mL	500.5 mL	1501.5 mL2 draws
6 mLVendor guide	5 mg/mL	500.5 mL	1001 mL	3003 mL3 draws
40 mg vial
1 mLVendor guide^†	40 mg/mL	6.30.063 mL	12.50.125 mL	37.50.375 mL
1.5 mLVendor guide^†	26.667 mg/mL	9.40.094 mL	18.80.188 mL	56.30.563 mL
2 mLCompetitor guide^†	20 mg/mL	12.50.125 mL	250.25 mL	750.75 mL
3 mLVendor guide^†	13.333 mg/mL	18.80.188 mL	37.50.375 mL	112.51.125 mL2 draws
6 mLVendor guide^†	6.667 mg/mL	37.50.375 mL	750.75 mL	2252.25 mL3 draws
50 mg vial
1 mLVendor guide^†	50 mg/mL	50.05 mL	100.1 mL	300.3 mL
1.5 mLVendor guide^†	33.333 mg/mL	7.50.075 mL	150.15 mL	450.45 mL
2 mLCompetitor guide^†	25 mg/mL	100.1 mL	200.2 mL	600.6 mL
3 mLVendor guide^†	16.667 mg/mL	150.15 mL	300.3 mL	900.9 mL
6 mLVendor guide^†	8.333 mg/mL	300.3 mL	600.6 mL	1801.8 mL2 draws
60 mg vial
6 mLVendor guide	10 mg/mL	250.25 mL	500.5 mL	1501.5 mL2 draws

Units are on a U-100 insulin syringe (100 units = 1 mL). U-50 and U-30 barrels read the same units.† Water volume sourced for a different vial size. The math is exact either way.Water volumes from

Doses shown are what sources report, labelled by origin. Not medical advice.

Calculate with this peptideYour vial, your water, your dose: Tirzepatide in syringe units, with the math shown.

Mixing Tirzepatide

Diluent: Bacteriostatic water

Water volumes sources use: 1 mL, 1.5 mL, 2 mL, 3 mL, 6 mL

Most guides mix to 10 mg per mL (1 mL per 10 mg of powder). A 30 mg vial with 6 mL makes a weaker mix that some use for microdosing. Weak mixes make big doses bulky, so high doses may need two draws or a larger syringe. Swirl gently, never shake, and do not freeze. Research vials are not guaranteed: of 200 recent results on one public testing aggregator, 137 passed and 59 failed. Branded pens and compounded pharmacy vials come as ready-made solutions and need no mixing.

Tirzepatide dose questions

What is the starting dose of compounded tirzepatide?

2.5 mg once a week for 4 weeks, the same start as the Zepbound and Mounjaro labels. Guides then add 2.5 mg every 4 weeks as needed, and some hold each step 6 to 8 weeks to go easier on the stomach.

How much bacteriostatic water do I add to a 30 mg tirzepatide vial?

Usually 3 mL, which gives 10 mg per mL. Some use 2 mL for a stronger 15 mg per mL mix, and 6 mL (5 mg per mL) is used for microdosing. Use the calculator to turn your dose into syringe units for your mix.

What if I miss a tirzepatide dose?

Per the label, take it within 4 days (96 hours) of the missed day. If more than 4 days have passed, skip it.

How long is mixed tirzepatide good for?

About 28 days in the fridge. Some sellers claim 45 to 60 days, but nobody has shown that. Do not freeze it, and throw it out if it goes cloudy.

Can I split my weekly tirzepatide dose?

Vials make it possible, for example 5 mg a week as two 2.5 mg shots 3 to 4 days apart. The argument is that the roughly 5-day half-life gives flatter levels when split. No trial has tested it.

What is tirzepatide microdosing?

Guides use the word loosely. One telehealth guide calls 0.5 mg or less a microdose and starts at 0.25 mg weekly, adding 0.25 mg every 2 to 4 weeks. Others point to real-world data where most branded users stayed at 2.5 to 7.5 mg. No randomized trial of microdosing exists.

Sources for these doses

19 sources, each checked by date. Record updated Oct 23, 2026. Numbers are restated in our own words and labelled by where they came from.

Clinical study2

SURMOUNT-1 trial summaryAmerican College of Cardiology · checked Oct 23, 2026
SURMOUNT-MAINTAIN design paperPubMed Central · checked Oct 23, 2026

Regulatory6

Mounjaro and Mounjaro KwikPen label, rev. 8/2026DailyMed · checked Oct 23, 2026
What is the recommended dose of Mounjaro (tirzepatide)?Lilly Medical · checked Oct 23, 2026
FDA review, NDA 215866/S-039 (pediatric)FDA · checked Oct 23, 2026
Zepbound Prescribing Information, rev. 04/2026FDA · checked Oct 23, 2026

Vendor guide9

How much bac water to mix with 30 mg tirzepatideSeekPeptides · checked Oct 23, 2026
Microdosing GLP-1s: semaglutide and tirzepatideRo · checked Oct 23, 2026
Microdosing tirzepatide: what to knowDoctronic · checked Oct 23, 2026
Microdosing tirzepatide: compounded vs brandedGLP1Clinics · checked Oct 23, 2026

Competitor guide2

Tirzepatide dosagePeptideDosages · checked Oct 23, 2026
Compound tirzepatide dosage chartPeptidesExplorer · checked Oct 23, 2026

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