At a glance
- Zepbound titrates 2.5 to 5 to 7.5 to 10 to 12.5 to 15mg weekly, at least 4 weeks per step.
- The three maintenance doses for weight loss are 5, 10, and 15mg.
- SURMOUNT-1 showed 16% to 22.5% mean weight loss at 72 weeks (Jastreboff et al. 2022).
- Zepbound and Mounjaro are the same molecule (tirzepatide); only the approved use differs.
- The 2.5mg starting dose builds tolerance and is not a maintenance dose.
Zepbound and Mounjaro are the same molecule. Same 2.5mg start, same ladder to 15mg. The difference is the box: Zepbound is tirzepatide approved for weight loss, Mounjaro is tirzepatide approved for type 2 diabetes. If you were prescribed Zepbound, this is your dosing.
For the research-compound version of the molecule, see the tirzepatide guide and the tirzepatide dosage chart. The diabetes-framed schedule lives on the Mounjaro dosage chart. This page covers the FDA-approved weight-loss brand.
The Zepbound titration schedule
| Dose (once weekly) | Timing | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 mg | Weeks 1 to 4 | Initiation. Builds tolerance. |
| 5 mg | Week 5 onward | Maintenance option |
| 7.5 mg | After 4+ weeks | Transitional step |
| 10 mg | After 4+ weeks | Maintenance option |
| 12.5 mg | After 4+ weeks | Transitional step |
| 15 mg | After 4+ weeks | Maximum, maintenance option |
The three maintenance doses are 5, 10, and 15mg. Higher doses drove more weight loss in the trials, so many people titrate toward 10 or 15mg, but the correct dose is the lowest one that gets you the result at a tolerable side-effect level.
The three maintenance doses
Unlike Wegovy, which has a single 2.4mg target, Zepbound gives three landing spots. That flexibility matters: someone who responds well and tolerates 5mg has no reason to climb higher, while someone who plateaus can step up. The transitional 7.5 and 12.5mg rungs exist to smooth the jump between maintenance levels.
What SURMOUNT-1 showed
In the 72-week SURMOUNT-1 obesity trial, tirzepatide produced mean weight loss of 16.0% at 5mg, 21.4% at 10mg, and 22.5% at 15mg, versus 2.4% on placebo (Jastreboff et al. 2022). Those are the largest numbers in the approved GLP-1 class, ahead of semaglutide's roughly 15% in the Wegovy trials.
Warning: Real-world safety monitoring flags gastrointestinal events as the dominant tirzepatide side effect, concentrated during dose escalation (FAERS analysis 2025). Slow titration is the mitigation.
Zepbound versus Mounjaro
Identical tirzepatide, identical ladder. Zepbound is the one to ask about if weight loss is the goal and you want the on-label indication, which can affect coverage and access. The molecule and the dosing are the same either way.
Bottom line: Zepbound climbs 2.5mg to 15mg, at least 4 weeks per step, with 5, 10, and 15mg as maintenance doses. Higher doses lost more weight in SURMOUNT-1, but the right dose is the lowest effective one. A clinician manages the titration. To access tirzepatide via telehealth, see our compounded tirzepatide and cheapest GLP-1 options.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Zepbound is an FDA-approved prescription medication. The schedule above is the published label titration for reference; your clinician determines your dose. Consult a licensed provider before starting or changing any GLP-1 medication.
