How dosing works
GLP-1 medications start at a low dose and step up about every 4 weeks. The labels build in this gradual increase for a stated reason: to lower the risk of stomach side effects like nausea, which are dose-related and tend to ease as the body adapts at each step. The starting dose is an initiation dose, below the maintenance range, so no one begins at the full dose. Each schedule below is the standard escalation from that medication's prescribing information.
This page is a general reference, not medical advice. Your prescriber sets your dose. Do not start, change, or make up a dose based on what you see here.
Tirzepatide (Zepbound)
Weekly injection. The label raises the dose every 4 weeks to a maintenance of 5, 10, or 15 mg, with 15 mg the maximum.
Semaglutide (Wegovy)
Weekly injection. The label steps up every 4 weeks to a maintenance of 1.7 or 2.4 mg, with 2.4 mg the recommended dose, reached at week 17 on the label's schedule. If 2.4 mg is tolerated and more weight loss is needed, the label allows increasing to a 7.2 mg maximum (Wegovy HD).
Retatrutide trial only
In the Phase 3 TRIUMPH trials, the dose was raised every 4 weeks over a 16-week period (2 to 4 to 6 to 9 to 12 mg), reaching a trial dose of 4, 9, or 12 mg. Investigational, not FDA-approved and not available by prescription.
Oral semaglutide (Wegovy tablets)
Once-daily tablet, taken on an empty stomach in the morning with a little water, then nothing else by mouth for 30 minutes. The dose steps up about every 30 days to a 25 mg maintenance dose, which is also the maximum.
Oral orforglipron (Foundayo)
Once-daily tablet, taken any time of day with or without food, swallowed whole. The dose steps up about every 30 days, with a maintenance of 5.5, 9, 14.5, or 17.2 mg and 17.2 mg the maximum.
Quick comparison
| Medication | Form | Start | Maintenance | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tirzepatide (Zepbound) | Weekly shot | 2.5 mg | 5 / 10 / 15 mg | 15 mg |
| Semaglutide (Wegovy) | Weekly shot | 0.25 mg | 1.7 / 2.4 mg | 7.2 mg |
| Retatrutide trial only | Weekly shot | 2 mg | 4 / 9 / 12 mg | 12 mg |
| Oral semaglutide (Wegovy tablets) | Daily pill | 1.5 mg | 25 mg | 25 mg |
| Oral orforglipron (Foundayo) | Daily pill | 0.8 mg | 5.5-17.2 mg | 17.2 mg |
Taking your dose
How and when do I take it?
Injection: Shots are once a week, taken any day and any time, with or without food, under the skin of the stomach, thigh, or upper arm, with the spot rotated each week.
Oral: Pills are once a day, each with its own timing on the manufacturer's label.
What if I miss a dose, or want to change my schedule?
Injection: If you miss a shot, you have a short window of a few days to still take it before skipping it and going back to your regular schedule. If you want a new shot day, you can move it, as long as your shots stay a few days apart.
Oral: If you miss a daily pill, the usual approach is to skip it and take your next one at the regular time, rather than taking two in one day to catch up.
The exact numbers vary by medication, so your pharmacist has them for your specific one.
Stepping up the dose
Can I move up faster than every 4 weeks?
No. Dose increases are usually spaced about 4 weeks apart, which gives the side effects from each step time to ease before the next one. If a dose is not sitting well, the usual approach is to hold there longer before stepping up, not to move faster.
Do I have to reach the highest dose?
No. The goal is the dose that keeps your appetite steady and holds your weight, not the biggest number. Lower doses are still effective, so reaching the top is not required for everyone. Where you land is something you and your prescriber decide, based on how well it is working and how well you tolerate it.
Switching medications
Can I switch from one medication to another?
Yes, and it is a common move. The two do not match up dose-for-dose, since they work differently, so switching usually means starting the new medication at its lowest dose and stepping up again from there, even if you were near the top of the old one. Your prescriber sets the timing and the schedule for the change.
Sources: the FDA prescribing information for Zepbound (tirzepatide), Wegovy (semaglutide injection and tablets, including the Wegovy HD 7.2 mg dose), and Foundayo (orforglipron). Retatrutide is investigational, with its schedule from the published Phase 3 TRIUMPH trial design (Giblin et al., Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 2026), not an approved regimen.
The information on this page is general, not medical advice. Your prescriber sets your dose and can adjust the schedule for you.