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GLP-1 tool

GLP-1 dose schedule

Every GLP-1 label starts below the dose that does most of the work, so the first month is about tolerance, not results.

Clinician review pending Updated

How to use it

  1. Step 1Pick your medicine.
  2. Step 2Enter the date of your first dose.
  3. Step 3Read the label dose steps with dates, and today's step if every increase happens on schedule.
  4. Step 4Export your dose days to your phone calendar.

Explainer · 0:22

START LOW 2.5 mg weeks 1 to 4 Not a maintenance dose it's there to let your stomach adjust STEP UP SLOWLY 2.557.51012.515 mg each step: 4+ weeks SIDE EFFECTS FOLLOW THE STEPS +2.5 mg+2.5 mg+2.5 mg+2.5 mg flare, then settle how often nausea is reported IT'S OK TO HOLD 7.5 mg · held on-label, common 0:22 · voiced · captions on
GLP-1 doses start low. Zepbound starts at 2.5 mg, a starter dose that gives your gut time to adjust.
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Why GLP-1 doses go up slowly
Read the transcript
  1. GLP-1 doses start low. Zepbound starts at 2.5 mg, a starter dose that gives your gut time to adjust.
  2. After at least 4 weeks, your prescriber may step it up by 2.5 mg, up to a maintenance dose of 5, 10 or 15 mg.
  3. Stomach side effects like nausea often flare for a few days after each increase, then settle on the same dose.
  4. Staying on a dose longer is common and allowed by the label. Never increase faster than your prescription says.

How the dates are worked out

The calendar follows each label's fastest schedule: weekly medicines step up every 4 weeks, Saxenda and Victoza every week, and tablets every 30 days. Your dose day is the weekday of your first dose.

MedicineStartStepsHighest label dose
Zepbound, Mounjaro2.5 mg weekly+2.5 mg every 4+ weeks15 mg
Wegovy0.25 mg weekly0.5, 1, 1.7, then 2.4 mg2.4 mg
Ozempic0.25 mg weekly0.5, then 1 and 2 mg if needed2 mg
Wegovy pill1.5 mg daily4, 9, then 25 mg every 30 days25 mg

Your prescriber may go slower

Labels allow holding a dose longer if side effects are bothersome, and some people stay on a lower maintenance dose. That's common and on-label. Never increase faster than your prescription says. Missed a dose? Check your drug's missed-dose page, such as Zepbound missed dose.

More glp-1 tools

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Side-effect timeline

What the label reports at your dose step and week

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GLP-1 cost and savings

List, self-pay and savings-card prices side by side

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TDEE on a GLP-1

Your calorie needs vs what you actually eat now

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Tirzepatide dose calculator

Where you are on the Zepbound or Mounjaro ladder

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Weigh-in tracker

Log weekly and compare with the trial curve

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Common questions

How long do you stay on each GLP-1 dose?

For weekly medicines, labels set at least 4 weeks per step. Your prescriber may keep you on a step longer.

Can I skip the starter dose?

Labels start everyone on the lowest dose to reduce stomach side effects. Only your prescriber can change that.

Can I change my injection day?

Most weekly labels allow it if enough time has passed since your last dose, usually 2 to 3 days. Check your drug's label.

What does the calendar export include?

A dose-day reminder for each scheduled dose, as an .ics file most phone and email calendars can import.

Sources

  1. DailyMed: FDA prescribing information (search by drug name)

Clinician review pending. Drafted from primary sources and waiting for sign-off by a licensed clinician (MD, DO or PharmD) before launch. Every number is checked against its source. Drug facts are re-checked quarterly, prices monthly and whenever a label changes. How we review · Report an error