Mounjaro doses: the 2.5 mg to 15 mg schedule
Six doses, one simple rule: you only move up when the current dose is tolerated and progress has slowed. Here is how prescribers think about each step.
Why doses rise in steps
Tirzepatide slows the stomach and changes appetite signalling. Introduced all at once, those effects would cause severe nausea for most people. Staggering the dose over months lets your gut adapt gradually, so each increase brings a smaller, manageable wave of symptoms.
The starter dose of 2.5 mg is deliberately sub-therapeutic. It exists to train your body, not to lose weight. Judging Mounjaro by your first month is like judging a marathon by the warm-up.
Each dose, in detail
| Dose | Earliest start | What to expect | Price per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 mg | Week 1 | Appetite dips slightly. Nausea possible but usually mild. Weight change often small. | £139 |
| 5 mg | Week 5 | Clear appetite reduction for most. Steady weekly loss often begins. A common long-term dose. | £169 |
| 7.5 mg | Week 9 | A stronger step. Used when 5 mg is tolerated but loss has slowed for 3 to 4 weeks. | £189 |
| 10 mg | Week 13 | Carried much of the trial data. Substantial, consistent loss for most responders. | £209 |
| 12.5 mg | Week 17 | For those who tolerate 10 mg well and need more effect. | £229 |
| 15 mg | Week 21 | Highest dose. The SURMOUNT-1 average of about 21% loss came from this arm. | £249 |
When to move up, and when not to
Your monthly check-in weighs three signals:
- Tolerance. Side effects settled or mild? If nausea still disrupts your week, you stay put. There is no rush.
- Progress. Still losing around 0.5 kg or more a week? Staying on the current dose is usually the right call.
- Your preference. Some people choose comfort over speed and hold at 5 mg for months. That is a legitimate strategy, not a failure.
Missed dose rules
If you miss your usual day, take the dose within 4 days (96 hours). After 96 hours, skip it entirely and take the next dose on your normal day. Never take two doses within 3 days of each other.
If more than two weeks pass without a dose, talk to your prescriber before restarting. You may need to step back down to rebuild tolerance. The missed dose guide covers every scenario.
Changing your injection day
You can move your weekly day, as long as the last dose was at least 3 days ago. Pick a day you can protect, many people anchor it to a routine like a Sunday morning weigh-in.
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Mounjaro plan from £139 a month
Weekly injection, tirzepatide. Price covers the medicine, prescriber review, monthly check-ins and tracked delivery.
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- Written by
- Able Clinic editorial team
- Clinical review
- Pharmacy team at Curb Healthcare Ltd, GPhC 9012581
- Last reviewed
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