Mounjaro dosage: the full schedule, with the label's own conditions
The schedule is short: start at 2.5 mg once weekly for 4 weeks, move to 5 mg, then increase in 2.5 mg increments with at least 4 weeks on each dose, to a maximum of 15 mg. What the dosage pages leave out is the condition on every step after 5 mg: the label allows an increase only if additional glycemic control is needed, because Mounjaro is approved for type 2 diabetes. Pediatric patients aged 10 and older stop at 10 mg. Everything below is quoted from the current FDA label on DailyMed, effective July 29, 2026.
Your prescriber sets your dose. This page reports what the label says, so you can tell when a program's plan matches it and when it does not.
The full titration schedule
| Earliest week | Dose, once weekly | What the label says it is |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 4 | 2.5 mg | Starting dose. The label says it is for treatment initiation and is not intended for glycemic control. |
| 5 to 8 | 5 mg | The label's first treatment dose: increase to 5 mg after 4 weeks. |
| 9 to 12 | 7.5 mg | Increase in 2.5 mg increments only if additional glycemic control is needed, after at least 4 weeks on the current dose. |
| 13 to 16 | 10 mg | Same rule. Also the maximum dose for pediatric patients aged 10 and older. |
| 17 to 20 | 12.5 mg | Same rule. |
| 21 and on | 15 mg | Maximum dose for adults. |
Inject once weekly at any time of day, with or without meals, under the skin of the abdomen or thigh, or in the back of the upper arm when another person gives the injection, rotating sites with each dose.
Missed doses and changing the day
- Within 4 days (96 hours) of the missed dose: take it as soon as possible, then resume the regular weekly day.
- More than 4 days: skip the missed dose and take the next one on the regular day.
- Changing the weekly day: allowed as long as at least 3 days (72 hours) separate the two doses.
Mounjaro and Zepbound: same milligrams, different rules
Both are tirzepatide from Eli Lilly and both climb 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15 mg with at least 4 weeks per step. Zepbound is approved for chronic weight management and obstructive sleep apnea, and its label names 5, 10 and 15 mg as maintenance doses; Mounjaro is approved for type 2 diabetes, and its label conditions every increase past 5 mg on glycemic control. A compounded tirzepatide program uses the same milligrams from a vial, where the volume you draw depends on the concentration. The Zepbound schedule and the tirzepatide dosage page cover the other two.
What it costs without insurance
Lilly's list price is $1,112.16 per month at every strength, and its savings card page publishes no self-pay figure. With commercial insurance that covers it, the card is as little as $25 for up to a 3-month prescription fill with commercial insurance that covers Mounjaro; without coverage, commercial insurance that does not cover Mounjaro: as low as $499 for a 1-month fill, capped at $647 of savings per month and $8,411 per calendar year. The conditions, and the compounded tirzepatide prices for the same milligrams, are on the Mounjaro coupon and savings card page and the Mounjaro alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the starting dose of Mounjaro?
2.5 mg injected under the skin once weekly for 4 weeks. The label states the 2.5 mg dose is for treatment initiation and is not intended for glycemic control; after 4 weeks the dose increases to 5 mg.
How fast can the Mounjaro dose go up?
After the first 4 weeks at 2.5 mg, the dose becomes 5 mg. From there the label allows increases in 2.5 mg increments only if additional glycemic control is needed, and only after at least 4 weeks on the current dose. The weeks column above is the earliest the label allows, not a target; many people stay at 5 mg or 10 mg.
What is the maximum dose of Mounjaro?
15 mg once weekly for adults, and 10 mg once weekly for pediatric patients aged 10 years and older.
What if I miss a Mounjaro dose?
Take it as soon as possible within 4 days (96 hours) of the missed dose. If more than 4 days have passed, skip it and take the next dose on the regular day. The weekly day can be changed as long as at least 3 days (72 hours) separate two doses.
Is the Mounjaro schedule the same as Zepbound's?
The milligrams are the same, 2.5 to 15 mg in 2.5 mg steps with at least 4 weeks per step, because both are tirzepatide from Eli Lilly. The rules differ: Zepbound is approved for weight management and its label names 5, 10 and 15 mg as maintenance doses; Mounjaro is approved for type 2 diabetes and its label conditions each increase on glycemic control. The Zepbound schedule is on its own page.
What does Mounjaro cost per dose without insurance?
Lilly's list price is $1,112.16 per month at every strength, and the savings card page publishes no self-pay figure. With commercial insurance that covers it the card is as little as $25 for up to a 3-month prescription fill with commercial insurance that covers Mounjaro; without coverage, commercial insurance that does not cover Mounjaro: as low as $499 for a 1-month fill, capped at $647 of savings per month and $8,411 per calendar year. Compounded tirzepatide programs price the same milligrams very differently; the Mounjaro page compares them.
Dosing statements are quoted from the Mounjaro prescribing information on DailyMed, effective July 29, 2026, read September 4, 2026. Prices from the manufacturer on the date shown. Informational only, not medical advice; your prescriber sets your dose.