Tirzepatide dosing schedule
> Updated:
Human schedule
Tirzepatide is given as a subcutaneous injection once weekly. The figures below are a generalized reference drawn from published studies and titration protocols.
This is a concise reference to regimens described for adults; it is not an individual prescription.
Tirzepatide dosing is raised gradually in clinical trials, so the 2.5 mg titration steps in the table below reflect an escalation protocol, not an arbitrary dose choice.
| Period / condition | Dose | Escalation |
|---|---|---|
| Start (weeks 1–4) | 2.5 mg weekly | Starting dose |
| Titration | 5 → 7.5 → 10 → 12.5 mg weekly | +2.5 mg every 4 weeks if needed |
| Maximum | 15 mg weekly | Maximum in this schedule |
Practical dosing and effect details
In the SURMOUNT-1 trial (Jastreboff and colleagues, New England Journal of Medicine, 2022), 2,539 adults with obesity received subcutaneous tirzepatide once weekly at 5, 10, or 15 mg, after a 20-week titration period, over 72 weeks.
Mean body weight change was -15.0% at 5 mg, -19.5% at 10 mg, and -20.9% at 15 mg, versus -3.1% with placebo (p<0.001 for each comparison). The result was clearly dose-dependent: a higher dose within the studied range corresponded to a larger average weight change. After titration ended, participants stayed on the same dose with no further increase through week 72, so the «Maximum» row in the table on this page marks a hold point, not a step to keep climbing past.
The trial's 20-week titration period matches exactly a +2.5 mg step every 4 weeks: five such steps from 2.5 to 15 mg add up to those 20 weeks, the same schedule shown in the table on this page. This is reference information for planning a research protocol, not a medical recommendation and not a guaranteed outcome for any individual.
This reference is research-use material. The information is not medical advice and is not intended for diagnosis, treatment or prevention of disease.