GLP-1 dosage charts
Start, step-up, maintenance and maximum doses of each GLP-1 medicine as its FDA label gives them, with the label's date.
Start, maintenance and maximum
The charts cover seven medicines: semaglutide (Wegovy injection, Wegovy tablets, Ozempic), tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound; it acts on the GIP and GLP-1 receptors) and liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza). Each label starts at a low dose and steps up, to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal side effects.
| Medicine | Start | Maintenance | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wegovy injectionsemaglutide, weekly; label | 0.25 mg | 2.4 mg, or 1.7 mg | 7.2 mg, weight reduction in adults |
| Wegovy tabletssemaglutide, daily; label | 1.5 mg | 25 mg | 25 mg, one tablet a day |
| Ozempicsemaglutide, weekly; label | 0.25 mg | 0.5, 1 or 2 mg | 2 mg |
| Mounjarotirzepatide, weekly; label | 2.5 mg | up in 2.5 mg steps as needed | 15 mg; 10 mg for children |
| Zepboundtirzepatide, weekly; label | 2.5 mg | 5, 10 or 15 mg; 10 or 15 mg for sleep apnea | 15 mg |
| Saxendaliraglutide, daily; label | 0.6 mg | 3 mg | 3 mg |
| Victozaliraglutide, daily; label | 0.6 mg | 1.2 mg, or 1.8 mg | 1.8 mg |
On a compounded vial? See this dose in units
Pens: mg only. Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound pens give the dose in mg, as their instructions say, and have no units scale. Mounjaro and Zepbound vials give the volume to draw on their label: 0.5 mL from a single-dose vial, 0.6 mL from a multi-dose vial.
Compounded vials: units. A compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide vial is drawn up with an insulin syringe, and its units depend on the strength printed on the vial. Enter that strength, and each step of the label schedule shows in units.
2.5 mg/mL is 2.5 in 1 mL; 10 mg/2 mL is 10 in 2 mL. Units on a U-100 insulin syringe, 100 units = 1 mL; a dose opens in its calculator.
| Dose | On the label | Units |
|---|---|---|
| 0.25 mg | Start, weeks 1 to 4: Wegovy and Ozempic | — |
| 0.5 mg | Wegovy weeks 5 to 8; Ozempic from week 5 | — |
| 1 mg | Wegovy weeks 9 to 12; Ozempic, if more glucose control is needed | — |
| 1.7 mg | Wegovy weeks 13 to 16, or maintenance | — |
| 2 mg | Ozempic maximum | — |
| 2.4 mg | Wegovy maintenance, recommended | — |
| 7.2 mg | Wegovy maximum, weight reduction in adults | — |
| Dose | On the label | Units |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 mg | Start, both labels; Zepbound for weeks 1 to 4 | — |
| 5 mg | Zepbound from week 5; maintenance for weight | — |
| 7.5 mg | Step up | — |
| 10 mg | Zepbound maintenance; Mounjaro maximum for children | — |
| 12.5 mg | Step up | — |
| 15 mg | Maximum; Zepbound maintenance | — |
Week-by-week schedules
Each schedule as its label sets it out. All are under the skin except Wegovy tablets, which are taken by mouth.
Wegovy injection (semaglutide)
For weight reduction (adults, and children from 12 years), to reduce major cardiovascular events in adults with cardiovascular disease, and for liver fibrosis in MASH. Once a week.
| When | Dose | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1 to 4 | 0.25 mg | |
| Weeks 5 to 8 | 0.5 mg | |
| Weeks 9 to 12 | 1 mg | |
| Weeks 13 to 16 | 1.7 mg | |
| From week 17, maintenance for every indication: 2.4 mg recommended, or 1.7 mg | 2.4 or 1.7 mg | |
| Maximum, weight reduction in adults, after at least 4 weeks on 2.4 mg | 7.2 mg |
Wegovy tablets (semaglutide)
For weight reduction, and to reduce major cardiovascular events in adults with cardiovascular disease. Once a day, one tablet at most.
| When | Dose | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1 to 30 | 1.5 mg | |
| Days 31 to 60 | 4 mg | |
| Days 61 to 90 | 9 mg | |
| From day 91, maintenance | 25 mg |
Ozempic (semaglutide)
For type 2 diabetes in adults, also to reduce cardiovascular and kidney risk. Once a week.
| When | Dose | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1 to 4 | 0.25 mg | |
| From week 5 | 0.5 mg | |
| If more glucose control is needed, after at least 4 weeks on 0.5 mg | 1 mg | |
| If more is needed, after at least 4 weeks on 1 mg; the maximum | 2 mg | |
| Maintenance, type 2 diabetes with chronic kidney disease, after at least 4 weeks on 0.5 mg | 1 mg |
Mounjaro (tirzepatide)
For type 2 diabetes in adults and children from 10 years, also to reduce cardiovascular risk in adults. Once a week.
| When | Dose | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Start | 2.5 mg | |
| Each step up, if more glucose control is needed, after at least 4 weeks on the current dose | +2.5 mg | |
| Maximum, adults | 15 mg | |
| Maximum, children 10 years and older | 10 mg |
Zepbound (tirzepatide)
For weight reduction in adults and for obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity. Once a week.
| When | Dose | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1 to 4; for starting only, not a maintenance dose | 2.5 mg | |
| From week 5 | 5 mg | |
| Each step up, after at least 4 weeks on the current dose | +2.5 mg | |
| Maintenance, weight reduction | 5, 10 or 15 mg | |
| Maintenance, obstructive sleep apnea | 10 or 15 mg | |
| Maximum | 15 mg |
Saxenda (liraglutide)
For weight reduction in adults, and in children from 12 years with obesity who weigh more than 60 kg. Once a day.
| When | Dose | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 0.6 mg | |
| Week 2 | 1.2 mg | |
| Week 3 | 1.8 mg | |
| Week 4 | 2.4 mg | |
| From week 5, maintenance; lower doses are for the step-up only | 3 mg | |
| Maintenance, children 12 years and older who do not tolerate 3 mg | 2.4 mg |
Victoza (liraglutide)
For type 2 diabetes in adults and children from 10 years, also to reduce major cardiovascular events in adults with cardiovascular disease. Once a day.
| When | Dose | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Start; adults stay on it for one week | 0.6 mg | |
| From week 2, adults | 1.2 mg | |
| Each step up, children 10 years and older, after at least a week on the current dose | +0.6 mg | |
| If more glucose control is needed, after at least a week on 1.2 mg; the maximum | 1.8 mg |
Pens, vials and units
The pens give the dose in mg, fixed or dialled, and have no units scale, so there is nothing to convert. Mounjaro and Zepbound also come in vials: a single-dose vial holds one dose in 0.5 mL, a multi-dose vial four doses of 0.6 mL, and both labels ask for a 1 mL syringe that can measure 0.5 or 0.6 mL.
For a vial drawn up with a U-100 insulin syringe, the tirzepatide calculator turns a dose in mg into units, and semaglutide units to mg does it from the strength on a semaglutide vial’s label.
Other calculators
- Tirzepatide dosage calculatorUnits to draw for a tirzepatide dose, from the mg in the vial and the mL of liquid in it.
- Semaglutide units to mgThe mg in the units you draw of a semaglutide vial, or the units for a dose, from the strength printed on the vial.
- Retatrutide dosage calculatorUnits to draw for a retatrutide dose, from the mg in the vial and the water you added.
- Insulin syringe units to mLUnits on a U-100 insulin syringe in mL, and mL in units.
Questions
What is the starting dose of each GLP-1 medicine?
Wegovy injection and Ozempic start at 0.25 mg a week, Mounjaro and Zepbound at 2.5 mg a week, Saxenda and Victoza at 0.6 mg a day, and Wegovy tablets at 1.5 mg a day.
How long do you stay on each dose?
For the weekly injections, at least 4 weeks before each step up. Saxenda steps up every week, Victoza after at least a week, and Wegovy tablets every 30 days.
What is the highest dose on each label?
Wegovy injection 7.2 mg a week, for weight reduction in adults after at least 4 weeks on 2.4 mg. Ozempic 2 mg a week, Mounjaro and Zepbound 15 mg a week, Saxenda 3 mg a day, Victoza 1.8 mg a day, Wegovy tablets 25 mg a day.
Are Wegovy and Ozempic doses the same?
Both are semaglutide and start at 0.25 mg a week. Ozempic goes up to 2 mg; Wegovy’s maintenance dose is 2.4 mg or 1.7 mg, and its maximum 7.2 mg.
Is 2.5 mg of Zepbound a maintenance dose?
No. The Zepbound label gives 2.5 mg for the first 4 weeks only; maintenance is 5, 10 or 15 mg.
Sources
- Wegovy (semaglutide) injection and tablets, prescribing informationFDA, label of 2026-06-23. 1: indications; 2.2 and Table 1: the injection schedule and the 7.2 mg maximum; 2.3 and Table 2: the tablets.
- Ozempic (semaglutide) injection, prescribing informationFDA, label of 2026-06-10. 1: indications; 2.2: start, steps, maintenance and maximum.
- Mounjaro (tirzepatide) injection, prescribing informationFDA, label of 2026-09-01. 1: indications; 2.1: start, steps and maximum for adults and children; 2.2 and 3: vials and the syringe.
- Zepbound (tirzepatide) injection, prescribing informationFDA, label of 2026-09-10. 1: indications; 2.1 and 2.2: start, steps, maintenance and maximum; 2.4 and 3: vials and the syringe.
- Saxenda (liraglutide) injection, prescribing informationFDA, label of 2026-08-19. 1: indications; 2.2 and Table 1: the weekly steps and the maintenance dose.
- Victoza (liraglutide) injection, prescribing informationFDA, label of 2025-10-15. 1: indications; 2.1: start, steps and maximum for adults and children.