Mounjaro comes in five different strengths. When starting treatment, people begin on the starting dose of 2.5mg, once weekly. Your dose is then gradually increased in stages spaced at least four weeks apart until you reach a dose that’s right for your body.
This step-by-step approach helps your body adjust to the medicine and lowers the chance of side effects. It also helps you find the strength that’s right for you, as not everyone needs the highest dose. Many of our patients continue losing weight on lower doses and stay on them long term to maintain their weight.
In this article, we explain the different strengths of Mounjaro and the usual dosing schedule, so you feel more confident about what your treatment journey may look like.
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What is the starting dose of Mounjaro?
The starting dose of Mounjaro for weight management is 2.5mg, the lowest available strength (1).
This low dose is not designed to produce the full treatment effects. You may not lose any weight on this low dose, and many people only notice subtle changes in appetite. The idea is to move up to a higher strength, as most people notice stronger appetite and weight changes as the dose increases.
However, you’ll need to take this starting dose once weekly for at least four weeks before increasing is an option. After the first month of using Mounjaro, your prescriber will review how you are responding to Mounjaro before deciding whether to increase your dose or wait a little longer.
Can’t I start at a higher dose of Mounjaro?
No, you cannot skip the low 2.5mg dose of Mounjaro and start at a higher strength. Everyone taking Mounjaro usually needs to follow the clinical guidance, beginning treatment at the lowest dose and staying at this low strength for at least one month.
GLP-1 injections change how your body digests food and commonly cause side effects like:
Nausea
Constipation
Diarrhoea
Stomach pain
Starting at a low dose gives your body time to adjust to the medicine and lowers the risk of these side effects becoming so extreme that you don’t want to continue with treatment. The medicine becomes more tolerable, and committing to weight loss injections long-term becomes easier.
How are doses increased from the starting dose?
Mounjaro doses increase gradually up from the starting dose. Each step typically lasts four weeks, but you may stay on a dose longer if you’re not tolerating it well (1). Our pharmacists usually only recommend stepping up your dose after assessing your level of appetite suppression, whether food noise has reduced, whether you have side effects, if they are tolerable and amount of weight loss over the four weeks.
Here is a typical dosing pathway:
Weeks 1-4 = 2.5mg weekly
Weeks 5-8 = 5mg weekly
Weeks 9-12 = 7.5mg weekly
Weeks 13-16 = 10mg weekly
Weeks 17-20 = 12.5mg weekly
Weeks 21+ = 15mg weekly
You can learn more about why Mounjaro doses increase over time in our guide to dose escalation.
Do I always have to increase my dose?
No, you don’t always need to increase your Mounjaro dose. Whether or not stepping up is right for you depends on your individual progress and how well you’re tolerating treatment.
However, you will usually need to move beyond the starting strength of 2.5mg to see greater results. This low dose doesn’t produce a therapeutic effect in most people and is purely meant as a stepping stone to higher doses, helping to keep side effects to a minimum and allowing your body to slowly get used to the medicine.
You can start on the starting dose for longer than four weeks if needed. But if increasing doesn’t feel manageable because of side effects, Mounjaro might not be the right option for you. Your prescriber may suggest adjusting your plan or recommend a different weight loss medication.
Do I need to reach the highest dose of Mounjaro?
No, you do not need to reach the highest strength of Mounjaro. The recommended maintenance doses are 5mg, 10mg and 15mg (2), and all three have been shown to support significant weight loss in people with obesity (3).
Clinical trials have shown that people lose more weight on average at the highest 15mg dose over 72 weeks (3-4). This might be tolerated by some people, but others might experience bad side effects and find it harder to maintain long-term (4). That’s why the goal is to gradually increase until you find the lowest effective dose that supports steady, sustainable weight loss.
This is another of the benefits of the step-by-step dose escalation. Increasing doses incrementally helps you find the correct strength for your body. If your current dose is working well and feels manageable, your prescriber may recommend staying at that level rather than increasing.
Many of our patients continue losing weight successfully at 5mg, 7.5mg or 10mg of Mounjaro.
How long do you need to stay on each dose?
You will need to stay on each dose for at least four weeks before moving up. This gives your body a chance to adjust to Mounjaro and time for your prescriber to assess:
How your appetite is changing
How your weight is responding
How well your body is tolerating treatment
Depending on their findings and how treatment is progressing, your dose may increase, stay the same long-term, or temporarily pause at your current level and increase later. For example, some people find their weight loss slows after a while on the same dose, so it might be right to step up to a higher dose at a later date.
If you’re unsure if your current strength is right for you, contact your prescriber. They can review your progress and recommend the next step.
Can I start Mounjaro weight loss injections?
To see whether you’re eligible for Mounjaro weight loss injections, start a confidential online consultation with Oxford Online Pharmacy. Our doctors will review the answers to your questions and decide whether Mounjaro could help you manage your weight.
If treatment is appropriate, you can start at the lowest 2.5mg strength. Our friendly team will then review your progress after four weeks to decide whether it’s time to step up your dose. We are also there throughout your treatment journey if you have any questions between monthly follow-ups.
Start your weight loss consultation or visit our weight management hub for more information.
Get £15 off your first weight loss order with code: START15.