Tirzepatide Dosage Chart: Every Dose in mg, mL, and U-100 Syringe Units

Key Takeaways

• A complete tirzepatide dosage chart has six dose strengths (2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, and 15 mg weekly) and four common compounded concentrations (5, 10, 15, and 20 mg/mL).
• At the most common 10 mg/mL, the doses translate to 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, and 150 units on a U-100 insulin syringe.
• Find your concentration in the left column, then read across to your prescribed milligram dose to get the milliliter volume and the U-100 syringe unit count.
• If you're starting compounded tirzepatide and have any choice in concentration, 10 mg/mL keeps the math clean.
• Tirzepatide is titrated up over months, not started at a maintenance dose.

Direct answer (40-60 words)

A complete tirzepatide dosage chart has six dose strengths (2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, and 15 mg weekly) and four common compounded concentrations (5, 10, 15, and 20 mg/mL). At the most common 10 mg/mL, the doses translate to 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, and 150 units on a U-100 insulin syringe.

Table of contents

1. The full tirzepatide dosage chart
2. The standard titration schedule
3. Why concentration matters more than dose
4. How to use the chart with your specific vial
5. Mounjaro and Zepbound pen doses (no math required)
6. Side-by-side: pen vs. compounded vial doses
7. Common chart-reading mistakes
8. Storage and stability at each concentration
9. When to hold or step down
10. FAQ
11. Author note and disclaimers

The full tirzepatide dosage chart

This is the core reference. Find your concentration in the left column, then read across to your prescribed milligram dose to get the milliliter volume and the U-100 syringe unit count.

The 10 mg/mL row is the easiest to remember because every milligram is exactly 10 units. If you're starting compounded tirzepatide and have any choice in concentration, 10 mg/mL keeps the math clean.

The standard titration schedule

Tirzepatide is titrated up over months, not started at a maintenance dose. Eli Lilly's prescribing information gives the schedule:

Each step requires a minimum of four weeks. The reason: tirzepatide's half-life is about 5 days, and steady-state plasma levels take roughly four to five weeks at any given dose. Stepping up before steady-state means chasing side effects without seeing the current dose's full effect.

You don't have to climb every rung. Real-world claims data (Karagiannis et al., Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 2024) shows about 38% of tirzepatide patients are at 5 mg or below at month 12, and only 21% reach 15 mg.

Why concentration matters more than dose

A common chart-reading error: patients memorize "25 units = 2.5 mg" from a friend or a previous prescription, then carry that number to a new vial at a different concentration. Same 25-unit draw, different mg, sometimes a 4x dose error.

The mg dose your provider prescribed is the constant. The unit number changes with the vial. Always re-read the concentration when you receive a new vial, even from the same pharmacy.

The four concentrations you're most likely to see:

• 5 mg/mL is sometimes used at very high doses to keep injection volume reasonable, or by pharmacies with smaller vial sizes.
• 10 mg/mL is the default. Clean math, mid-range injection volume.
• 15 mg/mL is occasionally used for compact 4-week supplies. Math is awkward (17 units, 33 units), so it's less common.
• 20 mg/mL is the highest most pharmacies will compound. Doses below 13 units are hard to read accurately on a U-100 barrel.

How to use the chart with your specific vial

Step 1: find the concentration on the vial label. Look for "X mg/mL" or "X mg / Y mL" (divide to get mg/mL). If only the total milligrams appear, the concentration is in the pharmacy's dispensing instructions or the patient handout.

Step 2: confirm your prescribed mg dose. Read the prescription label or the patient portal. Don't rely on memory if you've stepped up recently.

Step 3: look up the row and column in the chart above. The cell gives you both the milliliter volume and the syringe unit count. Either is correct, though the unit count is what most patients use because U-100 syringes are marked in units.

Step 4: write the unit number on the box in marker. This protects against mid-week confusion, especially if multiple medications are stored together.

Step 5: confirm the answer with the pharmacy when you receive a new vial. A 30-second phone call beats a 4x dose error.

For the deeper walkthrough, see our tirzepatide unit conversion guide.

Mounjaro and Zepbound pen doses (no math required)

If you have brand-name Mounjaro or Zepbound, the dosage chart math doesn't apply because each pen delivers a fixed mg dose. There is no concentration to convert, no syringe to read.

The same molecule, the same six doses, two different brand labels. Mounjaro is approved for type 2 diabetes; Zepbound is approved for chronic weight management. Insurance plans usually require the diagnosis code to match the brand.

Side-by-side: pen vs. compounded vial doses

Pen doses and compounded vial doses align on milligrams. The difference is delivery method, not strength.

Pens are easier to use and harder to misdose. They also cost an order of magnitude more out of pocket. Compounded vials require careful unit reading but are the practical option for patients without insurance coverage. See our Mounjaro savings card guide for cost comparison.

Common chart-reading mistakes

Mistake 1: confusing mg with mL. "0.25 mL" and "2.5 mg" both contain the digits 25. In a hurry, patients have drawn 25 units when they should have drawn the full 1.00 mL volume corresponding to 10 mg, or vice versa. Always cross-check the chart.

Mistake 2: pulling last fill's unit number forward. The same 5 mg dose can be 50 units, 100 units, 33 units, or 25 units depending on concentration. If you switch pharmacies or your pharmacy switches concentrations on a refill, the old number is wrong. Re-read the label.

Mistake 3: reading a 0.3 mL syringe like a 1 mL syringe. A 1 mL barrel marks in 1-unit increments. A 0.3 mL barrel marks in 0.5-unit increments. Counting marks past zero on a 0.3 mL syringe gives you half the dose you think you're drawing. Always read the printed numbers, not the marks.

Mistake 4: drawing from a freshly reconstituted powder vial without recalculating. A 30 mg powder reconstituted with 1.5 mL of bacteriostatic water makes a 20 mg/mL solution. With 3 mL it's 10 mg/mL. The unit math changes accordingly.

The 2024 FAERS data on compounded GLP-1 dosing errors flagged these four mistakes as the most common, in roughly that order.

Storage and stability at each concentration

Concentration affects shelf life slightly, though the bigger driver is whether the formulation is preserved.

• Refrigeration: all concentrations stored at 36 to 46°F (2 to 8°C). Don't freeze. Freezing aggregates the peptide.
• Room temperature excursions: the manufacturer guidance varies, but most compounded tirzepatide is stable at room temperature for up to 21 days if it contains a preservative, and shorter if it doesn't.
• Beyond-use date (BUD): stamped on every compounded vial. Most BUDs are 28 days from the first puncture for preserved formulations, 21 days for unpreserved.
• Color: clear to faintly straw-yellow is normal. A pink, red, or orange tint usually means added vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin), which some pharmacies include in compounded tirzepatide. Cloudiness or visible particles means do not use.

For the longer storage and travel protocol, see our tirzepatide storage guide.

When to hold or step down

The chart is a target, not a rule. Hold the current dose for an extra four weeks if:

• Nausea is causing you to skip meals.
• Vomiting happens more than once a week.
• Constipation has lasted more than 5 days despite hydration and fiber.
• You feel lightheaded or dehydrated.

Step down to the previous dose if:

• Side effects don't improve after a 4-week hold.
• Severe abdominal pain develops, especially radiating to the back (possible pancreatitis).
• Weight is dropping faster than your provider's target.

Stop entirely and call your provider if you experience signs of an allergic reaction (hives, swelling, breathing difficulty), persistent severe vomiting, or symptoms suggesting gallbladder disease (right-upper-quadrant pain, fever, jaundice).

FAQ

What's the simplest tirzepatide dosage chart? For a 10 mg/mL compounded vial: 2.5 mg = 25 units, 5 mg = 50 units, 7.5 mg = 75 units, 10 mg = 100 units, 12.5 mg = 125 units, 15 mg = 150 units. Multiply mg by 10 to get units.

How do I read my vial concentration? Look at the vial label for "X mg/mL" or "X mg / Y mL." If only the total milligrams are shown, the concentration is in the pharmacy's dispensing instructions or the patient handout that came in the box.

What if my concentration isn't 10 mg/mL? Use the full chart in this article. At 5 mg/mL, multiply by 20 to get units (e.g., 2.5 mg = 50 units). At 20 mg/mL, multiply by 5 (e.g., 2.5 mg = 13 units, rounded).

How long do I stay at each tirzepatide dose? A minimum of four weeks before stepping up. This is the time required for plasma levels to reach steady state. Longer is fine if side effects need more time to settle or if your current dose is meeting your A1C or weight goal.

Do I have to reach 15 mg? No. Many patients stay at 5 mg or 10 mg long-term because their target is met. Real-world data shows only about 21% of tirzepatide patients reach 15 mg.

What's the maximum tirzepatide dose? 15 mg once weekly. There is no FDA-approved dose above 15 mg.

What syringe should I use? A U-100 insulin syringe with a 31-gauge, 5/16-inch needle is standard. The 0.3 mL barrel has half-unit markings, helpful for fractional doses; the 0.5 mL or 1 mL barrels handle larger volumes for higher doses or lower concentrations.

Can I split a weekly tirzepatide dose into two smaller injections? Tirzepatide is designed for once-weekly dosing. Splitting changes the steady-state pharmacology and is not how the drug was studied or approved. Some providers allow it during titration if side effects are intolerable, but only as a clinical decision, not self-managed.

What if I draw the wrong unit count? Push the excess back into the vial. Don't inject more "to be safe." If you've already injected an over-dose, monitor for nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Call your provider if symptoms are severe or last more than 24 hours.

Does the dosage chart apply to Mounjaro and Zepbound pens? The mg doses match (2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15 mg), but pens deliver a fixed dose without unit math. The chart's mL and unit columns only apply to compounded vials drawn with a U-100 syringe.

Can I round if my dose falls between unit markings? At small doses (under 1 unit), don't round. At larger doses, rounding within 1 unit is usually clinically irrelevant given the tolerance of insulin syringes (plus or minus 5% per ISO 8537). Round down if you're unsure.

Why does my dose seem to vary from a friend's even at the same mg? Different concentrations. A friend's pharmacy may use 5 mg/mL while yours uses 10 mg/mL. Same mg, different unit count. The chart lets you map your specific concentration to the right number.

Author / review note

Reviewed by the FormBlends Medical Team. References include the Eli Lilly Mounjaro and Zepbound prescribing information (rev. 2024), Karagiannis et al., Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 2024 (real-world tirzepatide titration patterns), the U.S. Pharmacopeia chapter on insulin syringes, and the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System dataset accessed Q1 2026.

Sources

1. The Eli Lilly Mounjaro and Zepbound prescribing information (rev. 2024).
2. Karagiannis et al., Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 2024 (real-world tirzepatide titration patterns).
3. The U.S. Pharmacopeia chapter on insulin syringes.
4. The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System dataset accessed Q1 2026.

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