How to Calculate Tirzepatide Dose

What is Tirzepatide Dose?

The Tirzepatide Dose Calculator determines the appropriate weekly dose of tirzepatide (Mounjaro for diabetes, Zepbound for weight loss) based on your titration phase. Tirzepatide is a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist with a unique six-step titration schedule reaching up to 15 mg per week.

Formula

Weekly Dose (mg) = Titration Step Dose × 1 injection/week

D: Current Dose (mg/week) — Prescribed weekly dose of tirzepatide
S: Titration Step (1-6) — Current step in the dose escalation sequence
W: Weeks on Treatment (weeks) — Total weeks since starting tirzepatide
V: Injection Volume (mL) — Volume per injection (0.5 mL for all doses)

Step-by-Step Guide

1Select your tirzepatide brand (Mounjaro or Zepbound) and weeks since initiation
2The calculator identifies your current titration step and corresponding dose
3View your current pen strength and the next scheduled dose increase
4Check dose adjustment recommendations if experiencing tolerability issues

Worked Examples

Input

Mounjaro, week 14 of treatment

Result

Current dose: 10 mg/week (Step 4 of 6). Using 10 mg/0.5 mL pen. Next increase to 12.5 mg at week 17 if needed for glycemic control.

Input

Zepbound, week 22 of treatment

Result

Current dose: 15 mg/week (Step 6, maintenance). Using 15 mg/0.5 mL pen. Maximum dose reached — continue indefinitely.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

✕Not recognizing that tirzepatide has 6 available doses (2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15 mg) vs. semaglutide's 5
✕Attempting to split or combine pens to create intermediate doses — each pen is single-use
✕Skipping the 2.5 mg starting dose, which is the required initiation dose regardless of patient weight

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes tirzepatide different from semaglutide?

Tirzepatide is a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist, meaning it activates two incretin hormone receptors instead of one. This dual mechanism appears to produce greater weight loss (up to 20.8% in trials) and comparable or superior A1C reduction compared to semaglutide, which only targets the GLP-1 receptor.

Can I stay on a lower dose of tirzepatide if it is working?

Yes. Unlike the titration schedule which must be followed during dose escalation, your maintenance dose can be 5, 10, or 15 mg depending on your clinical response. If you achieve adequate weight loss or glycemic control at 10 mg, your provider may keep you there rather than escalating to 15 mg.

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