Guide
Tirzepatide Dosage Chart: The Label Schedule, and What It Costs at Each Step
The label directs 2.5 mg once weekly for four weeks, then 5 mg, then increases in 2.5 mg steps no sooner than every four weeks. It names 5, 10 and 15 mg as recommended ma
The label directs 2.5 mg once weekly for four weeks, then 5 mg, then increases in 2.5 mg steps no sooner than every four weeks. It names 5, 10 and 15 mg as recommended maintenance dosages and states plainly that 2.5 mg is treatment initiation and is not approved as a maintenance dosage. Reaching 15 mg by the label takes at least 20 weeks.
The schedule
| Weeks | Dose | Status | Brand self-pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 | 2.5 mg | Treatment initiation. Not approved as a maintenance dosage | $299 |
| 5–8 | 5 mg | First recommended maintenance dosage | $399 |
| 9–12 | 7.5 mg | Titration step | $449 |
| 13–16 | 10 mg | Second recommended maintenance dosage | $449 |
| 17–20 | 12.5 mg | Titration step | $449 |
| 21+ | 15 mg | Third recommended maintenance dosage | $449 |
Brand figures captured from Lilly's own pages on 27 July 2026. The four-week interval is a minimum, not a schedule: the label directs increases no sooner than every four weeks, based on tolerability and response.
Three destinations, not one
5, 10 and 15 mg are all recommended maintenance dosages. Nothing in the label requires reaching 15 mg, and plenty of people do well and stay at 5 or 10.
That matters clinically and financially. A programme that escalates on a fixed calendar without assessing how you are doing is not following the label's logic, and holding at a tolerated dose is a legitimate option to raise rather than endure.
What the trials found at each dose
SURMOUNT-1 reported mean body-weight reductions of roughly 16.0% at 5 mg, 21.4% at 10 mg and 22.5% at 15 mg on the efficacy estimand over 72 weeks, and approximately 15.0%, 19.5% and 20.9% on the treatment-regimen estimand.
The dose response is real but not linear: the step from 5 to 10 mg buys more than the step from 10 to 15. If tolerability is difficult at 12.5, that context is worth having.
Side effects cluster at the steps, not evenly
At 15 mg in SURMOUNT-1: nausea 29%, diarrhoea 23%, constipation 17%, vomiting 13%. Most were mild to moderate and clustered around dose increases rather than persisting. Discontinuation for adverse events ran 4.3% to 7.1% by dose against 2.6% on placebo.
That is why the interval is a minimum. Extending it is permitted and is often the right answer. Our nausea page covers what to bring to a prescriber.
The cost the chart makes visible
Following the label exactly, brand self-pay for the first year is roughly $299 + $399 + ten months at $449, about $5,188. The advertised starting price describes month one.
The same logic applies to compounded programmes, and harder: several are reported to raise the price at each step, while most do not publish the ladder at all. That is why our cheapest comparison ranks on the twelve-month total.
Missing a dose, and changing your day
The label contains a missed-dose section and a separate condition on changing your dosing day, and the specifics differ between tirzepatide and semaglutide. We do not publish the windows here because a wrong figure would cause real harm. See missing a dose for what to ask.
| Step | What the label says | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Starting dosage | 2.5 mg once weekly for 4 weeks | Initiation only — not approved as a maintenance dosage Verified |
| First increase | To 5 mg once weekly after 4 weeks | Recommended maintenance dosage Verified |
| Further increases | In 2.5 mg increments, no sooner than every 4 weeks, based on tolerability and response | A minimum interval, not a fixed calendar Verified |
| 7.5 mg and 12.5 mg | Available strengths used during titration | Titration steps, not recommended maintenance dosages Verified |
| 10 mg | Once weekly | Recommended maintenance dosage Verified |
| 15 mg | Once weekly | Recommended maintenance dosage and the maximum Verified |
| Above 15 mg | No approved dosage exists | Verified Verified |
| Program type | What it covers | Comparable with |
|---|---|---|
| Starter program | Introductory period, often lower doses | Other starter programs only |
| Ongoing program | Standard continuing supply | Other ongoing programs only |
| Maintenance program | Post-titration supply, often a fixed dose | Other maintenance programs only |
| Prepaid term | Several months paid upfront | Monthly plans only after conversion |
| Month-to-month | Cancellable each cycle | Other month-to-month plans only |
| Microdose program | Sub-therapeutic dosing outside trial evidence | Other microdose programs only |
Questions readers actually ask
What is the tirzepatide dosage schedule?
2.5 mg once weekly for four weeks, then 5 mg, then increases in 2.5 mg steps no sooner than every four weeks. Recommended maintenance dosages are 5, 10 and 15 mg.
How long does it take to reach 15 mg?
At least 20 weeks following the label's minimum four-week intervals. The interval is a minimum, not a schedule.
Do I have to reach 15 mg?
No. The label names 5, 10 and 15 mg as recommended maintenance dosages and directs increases based on tolerability and response.
What does each dose cost?
Brand self-pay through LillyDirect: $299 at 2.5 mg, $399 at 5 mg, $449 from 7.5 mg up. Captured from Lilly's own pages on 27 July 2026.
Related on this site
- The 100-point rubricCore & Trust
- Cost calculatorTools
- The underlying price recordsData
- Tirzepatide Price by DosePillar / Money
- How Dose Escalation Changes Tirzepatide CostJournal
- PlushCare Tirzepatide ReviewProviders
- NexLife vs Hims & HersComparisons
- Mounjaro vs ZepboundPillar / Money
- Hims & Hers Tirzepatide ReviewProviders
- Zepbound vs MounjaroComparisons
Related coverage
Tirzepatide Ranked. “Tirzepatide Dosage Chart: The Label Schedule, and What It Costs at Each Step.” S.J Partners LLC, 2026-07-26. https://tirzepatideranked.com/tirzepatide-dosage-chart/
When quoting a figure, include the capture date shown beside it rather than the date you read this page. A price without its capture date is not a usable citation.
Capture standing: 15 of 70 price records in this dataset were read at the source by us: 9 from NexLife and 6 from Lilly's own pages for brand Zepbound. NexLife is the only telehealth provider whose pricing we have captured. Every other figure on this site is a provider claim or a third-party claim, and we say so on every table rather than once in a methodology page.