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Tirzepatide
How it is taken
The schedule
| Route | Injection under the skin |
|---|---|
| Amount to start | 2.5 mg |
| How often | Once a week |
| When | Same day each week, any time of day |
| Steps up and down |
|
| How long | 6 to 18 months, until the goal is reached |
| Cycle | One continuous course, then a lower maintenance dose |
| Mixing | Add 2 mL bacteriostatic water slowly down the side of the vial. Swirl, never shake. |
| Storage | Before mixing: cool and dark, freezer for long storage. After mixing: fridge at 2 to 8 C, use within 28 days. |
Tirzepatide is injected under the skin of the belly, thigh or upper arm once a week, on the same day each week. It starts at 2.5 mg a week for 4 weeks, then rises by 2.5 mg every 4 weeks until the dose that works, up to 15 mg a week. It is taken for as long as the fat-loss and blood sugar goals need, usually 6 to 18 months.
Dose calculator
Change any box to work out a different amount.
How it works: strength per mL = vial strength ÷ water added. mL to draw = dose ÷ strength per mL. Units on a U-100 insulin syringe = mL × 100 (1 mL = 100 units). Doses per vial = vial strength ÷ dose. 1 mg = 1000 mcg.
Your personal schedule is set after we review your survey.
Sources
Read the original sources
- SURMOUNT-1: tirzepatide and obesity (Jastreboff and colleagues · 2022 · Published abstract · checked 2026-10-08)
- Tirzepatide protocol, Peptide Dosing Protocols (Full text · checked 2026-10-13)