Dosage information
Mounjaro dosage
Mounjaro's FDA label starts at 2.5 mg injected under the skin once weekly and raises the dose in 2.5 mg steps, after at least 4 weeks on each dose, when more blood sugar control is needed.1 The maximum is 15 mg weekly for adults and 10 mg for children 10 and older.1 The prescriber sets the dose.
This page summarizes published sources for information only. It is not medical advice and does not tell anyone to use a product. Questions about your own health belong with a licensed clinician. For questions about an order or a product, contact us.
The label schedule
Mounjaro is dosed in fixed weekly steps. The label says to follow its starting dose and step-up schedule to reduce the risk of stomach and gut side effects.1 Each increase is conditional: the dose goes up only if more blood sugar control is needed.1
| Weekly dose | Earliest start under the label | Label notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 mg | Week 1 | Starting dose; since August 2026 it may also be kept for ongoing control12 |
| 5 mg | After at least 4 weeks on 2.5 mg | Only if more control is needed1 |
| 7.5 mg | After at least 4 weeks on 5 mg | Same condition1 |
| 10 mg | After at least 4 weeks on 7.5 mg | Maximum for children 10 and older1 |
| 12.5 mg | After at least 4 weeks on 10 mg | Adults1 |
| 15 mg | After at least 4 weeks on 12.5 mg | Maximum for adults1 |
Counting only the minimum intervals, the earliest possible start is week 5 for 5 mg, week 9 for 7.5 mg, week 13 for 10 mg, week 17 for 12.5 mg and week 21 for 15 mg. That is arithmetic on the label's 4-week minimum, not a timetable for anyone.
The August 2026 change to 2.5 mg
Until August 2026, the label treated 2.5 mg as a starting dose only. After 4 weeks the dose went up to 5 mg, and 2.5 mg was not intended for blood sugar control.3 FDA's approval letter of August 27, 2026 states that 2.5 mg can now be used for ongoing glycemic control.2
The label's exposure-response model predicts that 2.5 mg once weekly may lower HbA1c by about 1.8 points and fasting glucose by about 43 mg/dL after 52 weeks.1 That figure is a model estimate built from phase 2 and phase 3 data, not the result of a trial.1
How each presentation measures a dose
Every presentation holds a ready-made solution, so the dose comes from the strength on the pen or vial, not from any mixing.1
| Presentation | Volume per dose | Strengths |
|---|---|---|
| Single-dose pen, 4 per carton | 0.5 mL, the whole pen1 | 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5 or 15 mg1 |
| Single-dose vial, 1 per carton | 0.5 mL1 | The same six strengths1 |
| Multi-dose vial | 0.6 mL; 4 doses in 2.4 mL1 | 10 mg/2.4 mL (four 2.5 mg doses) up to 60 mg/2.4 mL (four 15 mg doses)1 |
| KwikPen | 0.6 mL; 4 fixed doses in 2.4 mL1 | The same range as the multi-dose vial1 |
Because each dose has a fixed volume, moving to a new dose means a pen or vial of a different strength.1 For vials, the label calls for a syringe that can measure 0.5 mL or 0.6 mL, such as a 1 mL syringe, plus a new syringe and needle for every injection.1
Timing, missed doses and changing the day
- Timing: once a week, at any time of day, with or without meals.1
- Missed dose: given as soon as possible within 4 days (96 hours); after more than 4 days it is skipped, and the next dose falls on the usual day.1
- New weekly day: allowed if at least 3 days (72 hours) separate the two doses.1
- Half-life: about 5 days, which is what makes a weekly schedule possible.1
Adjustments the label names
- With insulin or a sulfonylurea: when Mounjaro starts, the label says to consider lowering the dose of those drugs to reduce the risk of low blood sugar.1
- Kidney or liver impairment: no dose adjustment is recommended; tirzepatide levels did not change with kidney impairment, including end-stage kidney disease, or with liver impairment.1
- Children 10 and older: the ceiling is 10 mg once weekly.1
- Overdose: the label advises contacting Poison Help or a medical toxicologist, with supportive care. Because the half-life is about 5 days, observation may need to last longer.1
How the Zepbound schedule differs
Zepbound contains the same molecule, approved for weight reduction and sleep apnea. It also starts at 2.5 mg once weekly for 4 weeks, but its label says 2.5 mg is not approved as a maintenance dose.4 Its maintenance doses are 5, 10 or 15 mg for weight reduction and 10 or 15 mg for obstructive sleep apnea.5 So since August 2026 the two tirzepatide labels differ on 2.5 mg: Mounjaro's allows it for ongoing blood sugar control, while Zepbound's does not approve it as a maintenance dose.24 Details: Zepbound dosage.
Doses studied in the trials
The five adult SURPASS trials tested 5, 10 and 15 mg once weekly, and SURPASS-PEDS tested 5 and 10 mg in children 10 and older.1 SURPASS-CVOT gave adults up to 15 mg and compared it with dulaglutide 1.5 mg weekly.1 Results by trial are on Mounjaro benefits and uses.
Who sets the dose
The prescriber applies the label schedule: starting at 2.5 mg, judging before each step whether more blood sugar control is needed, and choosing which dose to keep.1 This page reports what the FDA label says; it is not dosing advice for any person.
Related pages
Back to the Mounjaro profile. The stomach effects that the slow start is meant to limit are listed on Mounjaro side effects. How the pen and vials deliver each dose is on Mounjaro injection sites and pen use, and label schedules across the drug class are compared in GLP-1 dosage.
More on Mounjaro
Mounjaro side effects
Side effects of Mounjaro as reported in labels, trials and published studies, with links to the full profile. Reviewed by a qualified reviewer.
Mounjaro injection sites and pen use
Where Mounjaro is injected, how the pen is used, and site rotation, from the FDA label and Instructions for Use. Sourced and reviewed.
Mounjaro benefits and uses
What published sources report about Mounjaro and its uses, with the evidence level of each finding. No promises.
Frequently asked questions
What is Mounjaro 2.5 mg injection used for?
2.5 mg once weekly is the label's starting dose, and the label links the slow start to a lower risk of stomach and gut side effects.1 Since FDA's August 27, 2026 approval, 2.5 mg may also be continued for ongoing blood sugar control.2 Before that change, the April 2026 label said 2.5 mg was for starting treatment only, was not intended for glycemic control, and was to be raised to 5 mg after 4 weeks.3
What happens if a Mounjaro dose is missed?
Per the label, a missed dose is given as soon as possible within 4 days (96 hours).1 If more than 4 days have passed, the missed dose is skipped and the next one is given on the usual day, after which once-weekly dosing carries on.1 The Medication Guide adds that 2 doses should never be taken within 3 days of each other.1
What is the highest dose of Mounjaro?
15 mg once weekly for adults and 10 mg once weekly for children 10 and older.1 Doses rise only in 2.5 mg steps, each after at least 4 weeks on the current dose, so under the label minimums 15 mg could not begin before week 21.1 Each increase is conditional: the label raises the dose only when more blood sugar control is needed.1
Can the day of the Mounjaro injection be changed?
Yes. The label allows a new weekly day as long as at least 3 days (72 hours) separate the last dose from the next one.1 The Medication Guide states the same rule from the other side: never take 2 doses within 3 days of each other.1 The injection can be given at any time of day, with or without meals.1
Does kidney or liver disease change the Mounjaro dose?
No. The label recommends no dose adjustment for kidney or liver impairment, and tirzepatide blood levels did not change in people with kidney impairment, including end-stage kidney disease, or with liver impairment.1 The label does warn that acute kidney injury, sometimes needing dialysis, has been reported, mostly in people dehydrated by nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.1 The Medication Guide advises drinking fluids and telling a healthcare provider right away about nausea, vomiting or diarrhea that does not go away.1
Written by D2C Peptides Editorial Team.
Pending qualified review.
Updated .
Sources
- MOUNJARO (tirzepatide) injection Prescribing Information, Medication Guide and Instructions for Use, revised 08/2026 (NDA 215866/S-044, S-045). U.S. Food and Drug Administration (Drugs@FDA), 2026.
- FDA supplement approval letter, NDA 215866/S-044 and S-045 (Mounjaro), signed 08/27/2026. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2026.
- MOUNJARO Prescribing Information, revised 04/2026 (NDA 215866/S-052), Section 2.1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (Drugs@FDA), 2026.
- ZEPBOUND Prescribing Information, revised 08/2026: Starting dosage. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (label for Eli Lilly and Company), 2026.
- Same source as 4: Maintenance dosage.