GlidedoseGLP-1 dose schedule: what the labels say, week by week
Weekly GLP-1 injections start low and step up slowly. Here is the dose escalation from the official US prescribing information and Canadian product monographs for Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound, in one place. Your own schedule is set by your prescriber and may be slower.
Semaglutide: Ozempic and Wegovy
Both start at 0.25 mg once weekly for 4 weeks. Wegovy follows a fixed 4-week ladder; Ozempic's increases after 0.5 mg are optional and based on blood sugar control. The table shows the earliest week each step can happen under the US labels.
| Weeks | Ozempic (type 2 diabetes) | Wegovy injection (weight) |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1 to 4 | 0.25 mg | 0.25 mg |
| Weeks 5 to 8 | 0.5 mg | 0.5 mg |
| Weeks 9 to 12 | 0.5 mg, or 1 mg if needed | 1 mg |
| Weeks 13 to 16 | 1 mg or 2 mg if needed | 1.7 mg |
| Week 17 onward | Maintenance: 0.5, 1 or 2 mg (max 2 mg) | Maintenance: 2.4 mg or 1.7 mg (max 7.2 mg) |
Ozempic: after 4 weeks at 0.25 mg the dose goes to 0.5 mg. If more glycemic control is needed after at least 4 weeks, it may go to 1 mg, and after at least 4 weeks on 1 mg, to 2 mg, the maximum. Health Canada's Ozempic monograph also starts at 0.25 mg, notes that 0.25 mg "is not a therapeutic dose," and lists 2 mg as the maximum.
Wegovy injection: the US label's Table 1 runs 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 1.7 mg for 4 weeks each, then maintenance from week 17. For weight reduction in adults the maintenance dose is 2.4 mg (recommended) or 1.7 mg. The current label adds that people who tolerate 2.4 mg for at least 4 weeks may go up to a maximum of 7.2 mg if more weight reduction is clinically indicated. If a step isn't tolerated, the label says to consider delaying the next increase by 4 weeks. Wegovy tablets follow a separate daily schedule (1.5, 4, 9, then 25 mg, about 30 days per step).
Tirzepatide: Mounjaro and Zepbound
Both start at 2.5 mg once weekly for 4 weeks, then may increase in 2.5 mg steps after at least 4 weeks on the current dose, up to 15 mg. Mounjaro's increases are based on glycemic control; Zepbound's maintenance options for weight reduction are 5, 10 or 15 mg (10 or 15 mg for sleep apnea). The Canadian Mounjaro monograph gives the same 2.5 mg start, 4-week steps and 15 mg maximum for adults.
| Weeks (earliest) | Mounjaro / Zepbound dose |
|---|---|
| Weeks 1 to 4 | 2.5 mg (starting dose) |
| Weeks 5 to 8 | 5 mg |
| Weeks 9 to 12 | 7.5 mg, if increased |
| Weeks 13 to 16 | 10 mg, if increased |
| Weeks 17 to 20 | 12.5 mg, if increased |
| Week 21 onward | 15 mg maximum, if increased |
Many people stay on a lower maintenance dose for good. The table is the fastest pace the labels allow, not a target.
Why the doses step up slowly
Every one of these labels says the gradual escalation is there to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea. That is why the first dose is for starting treatment rather than the dose you stay on, and why prescribers sometimes hold a step for longer.
Keeping track of where you are
- Write down the date you started each new dose, so you know when you've done your 4 weeks.
- Note the pen strength you were dispensed; pens and doses change as you step up.
- Log side effects for the first week or two after each increase. It helps your prescriber decide whether to move on or wait (see tracking GLP-1 side effects).
- If you miss doses during escalation, check the missed-dose rules and call your prescriber before restarting, since some labels restart at a lower dose after several missed weeks.
Sources
- Ozempic prescribing information, section 2.2 (DailyMed, US)
- Wegovy prescribing information, sections 2.2 and 2.3 (DailyMed, US)
- Mounjaro prescribing information, section 2.1 (DailyMed, US)
- Zepbound prescribing information, sections 2.1 and 2.2 (DailyMed, US)
- Ozempic product monograph (Novo Nordisk Canada)
- Mounjaro product monograph (Eli Lilly Canada)
This page summarizes official product labels as general information, checked October 2026. It is not medical advice and is not a dosing plan. Never change your dose without talking to your prescriber or pharmacist. Labels are updated; check the current version for your product and country.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Ozempic dose schedule?
Per the US prescribing information, Ozempic starts at 0.25 mg once weekly for 4 weeks, then goes to 0.5 mg. If more glucose control is needed after at least 4 weeks, it may go to 1 mg, and after at least 4 more weeks to 2 mg, the maximum. The Canadian product monograph uses the same 0.25 mg start and 2 mg maximum.
What is the Wegovy dose schedule?
The US Wegovy label escalates every 4 weeks: 0.25 mg (weeks 1 to 4), 0.5 mg (5 to 8), 1 mg (9 to 12), 1.7 mg (13 to 16), then a maintenance dose from week 17. For weight reduction in adults that is 2.4 mg (recommended) or 1.7 mg, and the current label allows a further increase to a maximum of 7.2 mg for people who have tolerated 2.4 mg for at least 4 weeks.
What is the Mounjaro and Zepbound dose schedule?
Both tirzepatide labels start at 2.5 mg once weekly for 4 weeks. The dose can then go up in 2.5 mg steps after at least 4 weeks on each dose, to a maximum of 15 mg. Zepbound lists 5 mg, 10 mg or 15 mg as maintenance doses for weight reduction.
Is the starting dose supposed to work?
The first dose is mainly for getting started. The Ozempic Canadian monograph states that 0.25 mg is not a therapeutic dose, and the Zepbound label says 2.5 mg is for treatment initiation and is not approved as a maintenance dose. The labels say the slow increase is meant to reduce stomach side effects.
Do I have to increase my dose every 4 weeks?
No. The labels describe the fastest recommended pace ("at least 4 weeks" on each dose), not a requirement to keep going up. The Wegovy label says to consider delaying an increase by 4 weeks if a dose is not tolerated, and the tirzepatide labels say to consider response and tolerability. Your prescriber decides when, and whether, to change your dose.