Mounjaro dosages for weight loss: Starting, maintenance, and more

When considering a medication like Mounjaro® (tirzepatide) for weight loss, it’s natural to wonder what the dosing schedule looks like and how long people need to be on the drug to see results. Here's a look at what being on this prescription medication may involve, including typical Mounjaro dosages for weight loss and what to do if you miss a dose or find it’s not working for you.

What is Mounjaro?

Before delving into Mounjaro dosages, it's helpful to understand how this medication works.

A once-weekly injection in the upper arm, thigh, or stomach, Mounjaro mimics two of the body’s hormones that help with controlling blood sugar: glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). 

Manufactured by Eli Lilly,  Mounjaro is the first dual agonist drug to treat type 2 diabetes by acting on the GLP-1 and GIP receptors. Not only does Mounjaro help improve blood sugar, but it also prompts feelings of satiety thanks to delayed gastric emptying. Basically, it slows digestion, which helps you feel full for longer, which tends to reduce appetite.

While Mounjaro is approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to treat type 2 diabetes, italso may be prescribed off-label by your provider to reduce food cravings and assist with weight-loss efforts.

What’s the Mounjaro starting dose for weight loss?

There is no “official” starting dose for weight loss for Mounjaro since it’s only FDA-approved to treat type 2 diabetes. (Eli Lilly also manufactures Zepbound®, which is also tirzepatide, but FDA-approved for weight loss.)

However, for type 2 diabetes Eli Lilly’s recommended starting dosage for Mounjaro is 2.5 mg, injected once a week (at any time as long as it’s on the same day each week) for at least four weeks. After that, the standard dosage gradually increases on a stepped-dosing schedule. Typically,  health care providers prescribing Mounjaro off-label for weight loss follow the same dosing schedule. 

The manufacturer’s dosing schedule recommends increasing the dosage by 2.5 mg increments every four weeks, as  tolerated, up to a maximum dose of 15 mg to minimize side effects. (Mounjaro is available in 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg doses.) Not everyone will need the highest dose to achieve results. Each dose is taken as a once-weekly injection from a single-use pen. So, as the dosage increases, so does the amount of medicine in each Mounjaro pen.

Whether and how quickly a patient progresses through the dosage increases will depend on side effects, blood sugar regulation, and weight loss on the drug. For some, the maintenance dosage will be less than the maximum dose of 15 mg. 

What if I miss a dose of Mounjaro? 

If four or fewer days have passed since your scheduled dose of Mounjaro, Eli Lilly recommends taking the missed dose immediately and resume your regular schedule. If it's been more than four days, your provider will likely tell you to skip your missed dose— and wait until your next regularly scheduled day to take your next injection, which will get you back on track with your medication.

If you want to change your Mounjaro injection day, discuss a new schedule with your Found provider since doses need to be taken at least three days apart. Also, never increase your dosage on your own; as with other medications, the effects of Mounjaro need to be monitored to ensure that you're taking the drug safely and effectively.

What’s the Mounjaro maintenance dose?

Although Eli Lilly has a recommendation for Mounjaro’s starting dosage, the company doesn't have a specific maintenance dose at this time. That's because one person’s experience at a particular dose might differ from another’s experience at the same dose.

For example, someone who has achieved their weight loss and health goals on 10 mg might stay on their current dose or even come down to 7.5 mg or 5 mg, depending on their situation, to maintain their current weight. For someone else, staying at a higher dosage, like 12.5 mg or 15 mg a week, might be a better strategy for maintaining weight loss.

In short, your maintenance dose will depend on how well your body tolerates the drug and how well it works for you. If you reach your goal for weight loss or blood sugar control on a lower dosage, or if you have concerns with side effects at a higher dose, your provider may suggest that you take the lower dosage as your maintenance dose on a long-term basis.

What are potential side effects of Mounjaro that might affect my dosage? 

Some people experience only mild side effects on Mounjaro; others find them severe enough to consider switching to another medication or reducing the dosage.

The most common side effects of GLP-1/GIP medications like Mounjaro, Ozempic®, Wegovy®, and Saxenda® include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, decreased appetite and stomach pain. Some people may experience reactions at the injection site. More serious but less common side effects include pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, and worsening of diabetic retinopathy. Be sure to tell your health care provider if you experience severe stomach problems that won’t go away, including abdominal bloating or pain, acid reflux, a feeling of fullness after eating just a few bites of food, nausea, and vomiting (including vomiting undigested food eaten a few hours earlier). These may be symptoms of gastroparesis (stomach paralysis). 

Importantly, people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 should not take Mounjaro. Do not take Mounjaro if you have ever had thyroid cancer—or if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant. Mounjaro may cause fetal harm. Find more detailed side effect and risk information on our dedicated Mounjaro page. 

What if Mounjaro isn’t working for me?

Found-affiliated clinicians work with patients to determine the best option for each member, but the ultimate decision as to whether a patient is qualified for a medication rests with the provider.

If you’ve been prescribed Mounjaro but are not losing weight or your weight loss has stalled for more than a few weeks, talk to your Found health care provider. They may recommend lifestyle changes to help restart your weight loss or adjust your Mounjaro dosage.

Your provider may also suggest a different medication. For example, there are GLP-1 injections such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Saxenda, as well as oral GLP-1s and non-GLP medications. Find detailed side effect and risk information for specific medications by name on our dedicated medication page.

The Found program focuses on personalization to support you with the right clinical treatment for your unique needs. Our clinicians use a metabolic health assessment called MetabolicPrint™, which uncovers the root causes of weight challenges and this assessment creates a foundation for each personalized treatment plan. To determine whether Mounjaro or a different medication may be the best fit for you, get started today by taking our quiz.

About Found

Found is among the largest medically-supported telehealth weight care clinics in the country, having served more than 250,000 members to date. To discover your MetabolicPrint™ and start your journey with Found, take our quiz.

Found is not affiliated with Eli Lilly and Co., the owner of the registered trademark Mounjaro® and Zepbound®, nor is it affiliated with Novo Nordisk A/S., the owner of the registered trademark Wegovy®, Ozempic®, and Saxenda®. The content provided is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a basis for diagnosing or treating any health condition. Always follow your health care provider’s instructions to ensure safe and effective management of your health conditions. Certain medications are only FDA approved to treat conditions other than weight but may be prescribed to help aid in weight loss. Prescriptions are up to a medical provider’s discretion. Visit website for risk information.