Mounjaro Dosages

Dr Babak Ashrafi

Medically reviewed by

Dr Babak Ashrafi

Last reviewed: 10 Apr 2024

Mounjaro is a weight loss injection that's taken once weekly and contains the active ingredient tirzepatide. It reduces your appetite and makes you feel more full between meals, so you can lose weight alongside a diet and exercise plan. You’ll follow the Mounjaro dosing schedule while taking it, which involves increasing your dose every 4 weeks, unless you want to stick to a lower maintenance dose. Below we look at the different Mounjaro doses, when to take them, and which dose is the most effective for weight loss.

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Contents
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) weight loss injection 2.5mg and 5 mg dosages
 

Mounjaro doses

Each Mounjaro dose contains the active ingredient tirzepatide. There are 6 Mounjaro doses available:

  • 2.5 mg
  • 5 mg
  • 7.5 mg
  • 10 mg
  • 12.5 mg
  • 15 mg

from £179.00

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How to take your Mounjaro dose

Mounjaro comes in the form of an injectable pen, with pre-filled doses. This means you don’t need to draw up your dose before injecting it. You should take Mounjaro once weekly, at the same time and day. This makes the medication most effective and can reduce side effects by keeping the medication at a steady level.

Mounjaro can be injected into the upper legs or abdomen. It may also be injected into the upper arms but only with help from someone else. Switch your injection site each week to prevent soreness and irritation. You can find out more about injecting Mounjaro in the image below:

Injection site guide: Where to inject Mounjaro

For more information on taking Mounjaro, read the patient information leaflet before taking it for the first time.

Mounjaro dosing schedule

The Mounjaro dosing schedule is as follows:

Mounjaro dose When to take it

2.5 mg

For the first 4 weeks

5 mg

For at least 4 weeks, or you can stick with 5 mg as a maintenance dose

7.5 mg

For at least 4 weeks

10 mg

For at least 4 weeks, or you can stick with 10 mg as a maintenance dose

12.5 mg

For at least 4 weeks

15 mg

For at least 4 weeks, this is the maximum maintenance dose

The starting dose of Mounjaro is always 2.5 mg, even if you’ve taken weight loss injections before. You’ll usually stay at each dose for 4 weeks before increasing to the next Mounjaro dose.

You may need to stay on a lower dose for longer if you’re:

  • getting severe side effects
  • happy with your weight loss results at a dose of 5 mg or 10 mg

You can choose to increase your Mounjaro dose at any time, as long as it’s been longer than 4 weeks.

You can’t take more than 15 mg once a week as this is the maximum maintenance dose. Taking more than 15 mg could cause severe side effects and serious illness.

Mounjaro dosage chart

Our Mounjaro dosage chart explains when to increase your dose, but always follow your doctor’s instructions:

Mounjaro weekly dose chart to follow for your injections

Why does Mounjaro follow a dosing schedule?

Mounjaro follows a dosing schedule to give your body time to adjust to the new medication. Increasing the dose too quickly, or starting at a higher dose, could increase your risk of side effects or serious illness. Mounjaro has been studied by doctors and the Mounjaro dosing schedule was created to be the safest and most effective way of taking Mounjaro. Other weight loss injections, such as Wegovy, also follow their own dosing schedule.

Wegovy works similarly to Mounjaro, is taken once weekly, and contains the active ingredient semaglutide. This is also the active ingredient in Ozempic, a type 2 diabetes treatment. The Wegovy dosing schedule is similar to Mounjaro’s as you increase your dose every 4 weeks, but there’s only one maintenance dose: 2.4 mg. You can find out more about the similarities and differences between Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Ozempic in our comparison guide.

Which Mounjaro dose is the most effective?

According to a clinical study, the most effective Mounjaro dosage for weight loss is 15 mg, although lower doses are still effective. After 72 weeks of treatment, patients lost on average:

  • 22.5% of their starting body weight while taking the 15 mg maximum maintenance dose
  • 21.4% of their starting body weight while taking the 10 mg maintenance dose
  • 16% of their starting body weight while taking the 5 mg maintenance dose

Mounjaro works best when following a diet and exercise plan. If you get Mounjaro prescribed from Asda Online Doctor, we’ll provide you with a weight loss support pack so you can get the most from your treatment.

What if I miss a Mounjaro dose?

If you forget a Mounjaro dose and it’s been:

  • 4 days or less since you should have taken it: Inject it as soon as you remember, take your next dose as usual on your scheduled day.
  • more than 4 days since you should have taken it: Skip your missed dose, take your next dose as usual on your scheduled day.

Don’t inject a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose – this won’t make it more effective and can increase the risk of side effects. The minimum time between 2 Mounjaro doses must be at least 3 days.

Where can I get Mounjaro?

You’ll need a prescription from a doctor to get Mounjaro. Asda Online Doctor can prescribe weight loss injections, so you can get your Mounjaro prescription and treatment with us. To request Mounjaro through our service, follow these simple steps:

  • Answer a few questions about your medical history and current health with our online questionnaire.
  • One of our doctors will review your questionnaire and provide a prescription if Mounjaro is suitable. We can also offer alternative weight loss treatments if it isn’t.
  • Your Mounjaro pen will be delivered straight to your door, with a choice of delivery options at checkout.
  • You can speak to a doctor for free through your free online account, and you’ll have access to our weight loss support package.

Mounjaro is currently unavailable on the NHS, although it may be available in the future.

from £179.00

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Frequently asked questions

Can you start Mounjaro at 5mg?

No, you should never start Mounjaro at 5 mg. The starting dose of Mounjaro is always 2.5 mg. Following the dosage schedule is the safest way to take Mounjaro, to reduce the risk of side effects and to allow your body to get used to the medication.

Can I stay on 2.5 mg of Mounjaro?

You shouldn’t normally stay on 2.5 mg of Mounjaro. The first maintenance dose is 5 mg, so you should increase your dose after 4 weeks. If you get severe side effects on 2.5 mg and don’t want to increase your dose, your doctor may recommend a different treatment. Occasionally, your doctor might agree to keep you on 2.5mg if it’s the right dose for you.

Can you lose weight on 2.5 mg of Mounjaro?

Yes, you may start losing some weight on 2.5 mg of Mounjaro, but you’ll get the best effect from one of the maintenance doses. Some people start to see weight loss within a few weeks of treatment, but this can also be from following a new diet and exercise program.

When do you move from 2.5 mg to 5 mg of Mounjaro?

You move from 2.5 mg to 5 mg of Mounjaro after 4 weeks. Speak to your doctor if you can’t increase your dose after 4 weeks due to side effects.

Can you take Mounjaro every 10 days?

Mounjaro should only be taken once a week, at the same time and day. It’s important to follow the Mounjaro dosing schedule as this is created specifically for weight loss. Taking Mounjaro every 10 days could cause you to start getting hungry between doses. Instead, you can stay at a lower maintenance dose if you’re happy with your results.

What is the best time to take Mounjaro?

There’s no best time to take Mounjaro, as long as you can follow the same schedule each week. It can be taken in the morning or evening, so find a time that suits you.

dr-babak-ashrafi-2.png
Medically reviewed by:
Dr Babak Ashrafi Clinical Lead for Service Expansion

Babak studied medicine at King’s College London and graduated in 2003, having also gained a bachelor’s degree in Physiology during his time there. He completed his general practice (GP) training in East London, where he worked for a number of years as a partner at a large inner-city GP practice. He completed the Royal College of GPs membership exam in 2007.

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Last reviewed: 10 Apr 2024



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