Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a prescription drug that’s used to treat type 2 diabetes. The drug comes as a liquid solution that you inject under your skin, typically once per week.
Mounjaro is prescribed along with a balanced diet and exercise to help manage blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Mounjaro contains the active ingredient tirzepatide. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) It’s a type of drug called a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist.
This article describes the usual dosages of Mounjaro, as well as its strengths and how to take it. To learn more about Mounjaro, see this in-depth article.
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Discover more about Mounjaro
The chart below highlights the basics of Mounjaro’s dosage.
| Mounjaro form | Mounjaro strengths* | Mounjaro starting dosage |
| liquid solution in a prefilled pen | • 2.5 mg/0.5 mL • 5 mg/0.5 mL • 7.5 mg/0.5 mL • 10 mg/0.5 mL • 12.5 mg/0.5 mL • 15 mg/0.5 mL | 2.5 mg once per week |
* The strengths in this chart are given in milligrams per milliliter of solution (mg/mL).
Keep reading for more details.
What is Mounjaro’s form?
Mounjaro comes as a liquid solution in a prefilled pen containing a single dose of medication. You use the pen to inject the solution under your skin. You can give the injection in your abdomen or front of your thigh. (A caregiver can also give you an injection in the back of your upper arm.)
Keep in mind that each Mounjaro pen is single-use, so you should dispose of the pen after each injection.
For more information about how this drug is administered, see the “How is Mounjaro used?” section below.
What strengths does Mounjaro come in?
Mounjaro prefilled pens come in the following strengths:
- 2.5 milligrams (mg)/0.5 milliliter (mL)
- 5 mg/0.5 mL
- 7.5 mg/0.5 mL
- 10 mg/0.5 mL
- 12.5 mg/0.5 mL
- 15 mg/0.5 mL
What’s the Mounjaro dosage chart?
For treating type 2 diabetes, your doctor will likely start you on a low dosage of Mounjaro and adjust it over time to reach the right amount for you. They’ll ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.
The table below describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. But be sure to follow the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. They’ll determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
| Mounjaro starting dosage | Dose increase at week 5 | Possible additional dose increases | Maximum dosage |
| 2.5 mg per week, for 4 weeks | After 4 weeks, your doctor will increase your dosage to 5 mg per week. You’ll stay at this dosage long term if it works well for you. | If your blood sugar is still too high after 4 weeks, your doctor can increase your dose again by 2.5 mg. You’ll take this increased dose once per week. If your blood sugar is still too high, your doctor can keep increasing your dose in 2.5-mg increments every 4 weeks. | 15 mg per week |
Is Mounjaro used long term?
Yes, Mounjaro is usually used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that it’s safe and effective for your condition, you’ll likely use it long term.
The dosage of Mounjaro you’re prescribed may depend on several factors. These include:
- the type and severity of the condition you’re using the drug to treat
- your age
- other drugs you’re taking to lower blood sugar levels
- other conditions you may have
You’ll receive Mounjaro as an injection just under the skin. You’ll usually inject a dose once per week at any time of day. It doesn’t matter whether you eat around the time you inject your dose.
The following are general instructions for injecting Mounjaro. Your doctor or pharmacist can demonstrate how to give yourself an injection. Or you may have a caregiver learn how to give you the injection.
- Choose an injection site on your abdomen or front of your thigh. (A caregiver can also give you an injection in the back of your upper arm.) The area should be clean and dry. Avoid areas of skin that are broken, discolored, or hard.
- Check that the Mounjaro pen is in the locked position.
- Remove the gray base cap and put the bottom of the pen flat against your skin.
- Unlock the pen, and then press and hold the purple injection button for about 10 seconds.
- Listen for the first click as the injection starts and the second click as the injection ends.
- Throw the pen away in a
sharps disposal container (a hard plastic container for sharp objects).
This is just a brief summary of the instructions for Mounjaro injections. On the drug manufacturer’s website, you can read detailed instructions about how to inject Mounjaro or watch a helpful video. Your doctor or pharmacist can also answer any questions about Mounjaro injections.
For information on the expiration, storage, and disposal of Mounjaro, see this article.
Accessible drug containers and labels
Some pharmacies provide medication labels that:
- have large print
- use braille
- feature a code you can scan with a smartphone to change the text to audio
Your doctor or pharmacist may be able to recommend pharmacies that offer these accessibility features if your current pharmacy doesn’t.
What to do about a missed Mounjaro dose depends on when you remember the missed dose:
- It’s been 4 days or less since your missed dose: Give yourself the missed dose of Mounjaro as soon as you remember. Then resume your regular dosing schedule.
- It’s been more than 4 days since your missed dose: Wait to take your weekly dose at the next usually scheduled time.
Do not take a double dose of Mounjaro to make up for a missed dose. You should also not take a dose of the drug if it’s been less than 72 hours since your last dose. If you’re unsure when to take your next dose of Mounjaro, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
If you need help remembering to take your dose of Mounjaro on time, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or downloading a reminder app on your phone. You can also use a paper calendar or planner if that works better for you.
Do not use more Mounjaro than your doctor prescribes, as this can lead to serious side effects.
What to do in case you use too much Mounjaro
Call your doctor right away if you think you’ve injected too much Mounjaro. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 (or your local emergency number) or go to the nearest emergency room.
Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about Mounjaro’s dosage.
What’s the Mounjaro dosage for weight loss?
Mounjaro is not FDA-approved for weight loss. But doctors may prescribe it off-label for this use in certain adults. Off-label drug use means prescribing a drug for a purpose other than what it’s been approved for by the FDA.
Your doctor may prescribe the typical recommended dosage of Mounjaro for weight loss, which is 2.5 milligrams (mg) per week for 4 weeks. After this, your doctor might increase your dose by 2.5 mg every 4 weeks. (See “What is Mounjaro’s dosage?” above for details.) Whether your doctor increases your dose depends on how your body responds to treatment, such as how much weight loss you’re experiencing.
Your doctor will decide whether it’s safe for you to use Mounjaro for weight loss. Be sure to follow the dosage they prescribe for you.
Note: A drug called Zepbound has been approved by the FDA to help with weight loss and weight management. Zepbound and Mounjaro have the same active drug, tirzepatide. Your doctor might prescribe Zepbound instead of prescribing Mounjaro off-label for weight loss. If you’re interested in Zepbound, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Will my insulin dose change when I start receiving Mounjaro?
If insulin is part of your treatment plan, your doctor may carefully decrease your dosage of insulin when you start Mounjaro treatment. This is to avoid a blood sugar level that’s too low.
Be sure to inject Mounjaro and insulin separately. Either use different injection sites on your body or use areas on the same injection site that aren’t right next to each other.
If you have any questions about your insulin dosage during Mounjaro treatment, talk with your doctor.
Do I need to change my Mounjaro dosage if I take birth control pills?
No, you won’t need to change your Mounjaro dosage while taking birth control pills. But you’ll need a backup birth control method. This is because Mounjaro affects how your body absorbs the medication in birth control pills.
Backup birth control methods include barrier methods, such as condoms or diaphragms.
The drug manufacturer suggests using a backup birth control method for at least 4 weeks after you start Mounjaro. It’s also recommended that you use this kind of birth control for at least 4 weeks after any Mounjaro dose increases.
Before you start Mounjaro, let your doctor know whether you take birth control pills.
You can see the “Drug interactions explained” section in this article for details about how Mounjaro interacts with birth control pills.
The sections above describe the usual dosages provided by the manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Mounjaro for you, they’ll prescribe the dosage that’s right for you.
Remember, you should not change your dosage of Mounjaro without your doctor’s recommendation. Only take Mounjaro exactly as prescribed. Talk with your doctor if you have questions or concerns about your current dosage.
Here are examples of some questions you may want to ask your doctor about Mounjaro’s dosage:
- Will my Mounjaro dosage change if my insulin dosage changes?
- Are lower doses of Mounjaro less likely to cause side effects?
- Should I take a higher dose of Mounjaro if it’s not working well enough to manage my blood sugar?
- Will the dosage of other medications I take need to change when I start Mounjaro treatment?
- What should I expect when my Mounjaro dose increases?
To learn more about Mounjaro, see these articles:
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Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.