Compounded Tirzepatide Dosage Chart: mg, Units, Titration

Last updated November 11, 2026 · Reviewed by the Gala Health team

Tirzepatide dosage chart (Zepbound label)

This is the dose escalation in the Zepbound prescribing information, the only FDA-approved tirzepatide schedule for weight management. Each step is a minimum of 4 weeks; your prescriber may move more slowly or stop at a lower dose.

Once-weekly dose	Earliest start on the label schedule	Role on the label
2.5 mg	Weeks 1 to 4	Starting dose only, not a maintenance dose
5 mg	Week 5	Maintenance option
7.5 mg	Week 9	Step on the way up
10 mg	Week 13	Maintenance option (also for sleep apnea)
12.5 mg	Week 17	Step on the way up
15 mg	Week 21	Maintenance option and maximum dose

Earliest weeks assume each step lasts exactly the label minimum of 4 weeks. The label says to follow the escalation to reduce the risk of digestive side effects, and to consider response and tolerability when choosing the maintenance dose.

Maintenance dose

For weight reduction and long-term maintenance, the Zepbound label lists 5 mg, 10 mg or 15 mg once weekly. For obstructive sleep apnea it lists 10 mg or 15 mg. The maximum for any use is 15 mg once weekly. If a maintenance dose is not tolerated, the label says to consider a lower maintenance dose. There is no single right maintenance dose: it is the one your prescriber chooses based on how you respond and tolerate the medicine.

The FDA has received adverse event reports, some serious, that may be related to compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide prescribed beyond the FDA-approved label: more in a single dose, doses more often, or faster increases. Do not raise your dose on your own.

Converting mg to mL and units

A compounded vial is labeled with its concentration, how many milligrams of tirzepatide are in each milliliter (mg/mL). To draw a dose, the milligrams are converted into a volume. Insulin-style syringes are often marked in units; on a U-100 syringe, 100 units equal 1 mL.

Volume in mL = dose in mg ÷ concentration in mg/mL.
Units on a U-100 syringe = volume in mL × 100.

Worked example: a 2.5 mg dose from a vial labeled 10 mg/mL is 2.5 ÷ 10 = 0.25 mL, which is 25 units on a U-100 syringe.

Why units alone are risky: the same 25 units from a vial labeled 20 mg/mL is 0.25 mL × 20 = 5 mg, twice the dose. Concentration varies by pharmacy and can change between shipments.

These are arithmetic examples, not dosing instructions. Use only the dose, concentration and syringe on your own prescription and pharmacy vial label. If any number does not match, ask your provider or pharmacy before injecting.

For syringe sizes, supplies and the 28-day rule for opened vials, see compounded GLP-1 vials vs pens. For injection steps, see how to inject a GLP-1.

Missed dose and changing your injection day

The Zepbound label says to take a missed dose as soon as possible within 4 days (96 hours). If more than 4 days have passed, skip it and take the next dose on your regular day. You can change your injection day if the two doses are at least 3 days (72 hours) apart. Check with your provider if your compounded prescription gives different instructions.

Does a higher dose cost more?

For brand-name Zepbound bought through LillyDirect, yes: the KwikPen costs $299 a month at 2.5 mg, $399 at 5 mg, $499 at 7.5 mg and $699 at 10 mg, 12.5 mg and 15 mg, or $449 for 7.5 mg to 15 mg if each refill is bought within 45 days (checked on 2026-11-11).

At Gala, no. Compounded tirzepatide online starts at $99 a month on the annual plan, billed once a year, and the plan costs the same at 2.5 mg, 10 mg or 15 mg, with no membership fee. Your exact price depends on your state, dose and plan, and you see it before you pay. See does the GLP-1 price go up with the dose.

Getting started with Gala

Gala offers compounded tirzepatide, compounded semaglutide and brand-name Ozempic®. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. A licensed provider reviews your online assessment and prescribes only if it is appropriate for you. If prescribed, your vial ships with a home injection kit, and you can message your care team with dosing questions and log every shot in the Gala GLP-1 app.

To see which options may fit, start your online GLP-1 assessment, or compare compounded tirzepatide vs Zepbound.

This article is for information only and is not medical advice. Do not change your dose without talking to your prescriber.

Frequently asked questions

What is the starting dose of tirzepatide?

On the Zepbound label, the starting dose is 2.5 mg once weekly for 4 weeks. It is for starting treatment only and is not approved as a maintenance dose.

How often does the tirzepatide dose go up?

On the Zepbound label, the dose goes to 5 mg after 4 weeks and can then rise in 2.5 mg steps after at least 4 weeks on the current dose, up to a maximum of 15 mg once weekly. Your prescriber decides whether and when to increase.

What is the maintenance dose of tirzepatide?

For weight management, the Zepbound label lists 5 mg, 10 mg or 15 mg once weekly, chosen based on response and tolerability. For obstructive sleep apnea it lists 10 mg or 15 mg.

How many units is 2.5 mg of compounded tirzepatide?

It depends on your vial's concentration. Volume in mL equals the dose in mg divided by the concentration in mg/mL, and on a U-100 syringe 1 mL is 100 units. For example, 2.5 mg from a 10 mg/mL vial is 0.25 mL, or 25 units, but the same 25 units from a 20 mg/mL vial is 5 mg. Follow your prescription and vial label.

Does a 10 mg dose of tirzepatide cost more?

For brand-name Zepbound, yes: LillyDirect lists $699 a month for 10 mg, or $449 with on-time refills, checked on 2026-11-11. At Gala, compounded tirzepatide costs the same at every dose level, from $99 a month on the annual plan.

Ready to talk to a provider?

Your answers go to a licensed provider, who decides whether treatment is right for you. Learn more about Weight Loss.

Start your GLP-1 assessment

Sources

This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Talk to a licensed provider about your own health.

Compounded Tirzepatide Dosage Chart: mg, Units and Titration