Five GLP-1 medications now ship five different dosage charts, and mixing them up is the fastest way to misjudge your own timeline. This guide ranks the dosage charts for Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, and Retatrutide side by side, using FDA labeling and published trial data.
Best overall for maximum projected weight loss: the Zepbound (tirzepatide) dosage chart, built on SURMOUNT-1 trial data. Best for FDA-approved weight-loss-specific titration: the Wegovy (semaglutide) chart. Best for diabetes-plus-weight-loss overlap: the Mounjaro dosing ladder. Best for established real-world titration data: the Ozempic chart. Best for tracking next-generation dosing: the Retatrutide chart, still investigational in 2026.
- This glp 1 dosage chart comparison ranks Zepbound, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Ozempic, and Retatrutide by titration steps and trial-reported weight loss.
- Zepbound's 15mg maintenance dose produced 20.9% average weight loss in SURMOUNT-1 at 72 weeks.
- Wegovy's 2.4mg maintenance dose produced 14.9% average weight loss in STEP-1 at 68 weeks.
- Retatrutide has no FDA-approved dosage chart in 2026 — it remains investigational.
- Mounjaro and Zepbound share the same 2.5mg-to-15mg titration ladder across four-week steps.
Why this matters
GLP-1 medications don't share one dosage chart — each brand runs its own titration ladder, even when two products use the identical molecule. Ozempic and Wegovy are both semaglutide, but Wegovy climbs to a 2.4mg maintenance dose while Ozempic caps at 2mg. Mounjaro and Zepbound share tirzepatide's exact ladder, yet only Zepbound carries the weight-management indication.
A GLP-1 weight loss calculator projects your own week-by-week trajectory once you know which chart applies to your prescription, but that projection is only as good as the titration data behind it. Mixing up Ozempic's dosing with Wegovy's, or assuming Mounjaro and Zepbound behave identically outside their approved indications, distorts what to expect by week 12 or week 24.
What makes the best GLP-1 dosage chart
- Matches the exact titration steps from the FDA label or trial protocol, not a rounded approximation
- States the non-therapeutic starting dose separately from the maintenance dose
- Shows the interval between dose increases — 4 weeks is standard across all five medications covered here
- Cites the trial behind any weight-loss percentage (STEP-1, SURMOUNT-1, or Phase 2 data for Retatrutide)
- Flags whether the FDA has approved the medication for weight management or only for type 2 diabetes
- Notes the injection route and frequency — once-weekly subcutaneous for every chart on this list
Every chart here follows the same basic shape: a low starting dose held for four weeks to limit nausea, one or more step-ups at four-week intervals, and a maintenance dose that continues indefinitely under a provider's guidance. What differs is how many steps it takes to get there and how high the maintenance dose climbs.
GLP-1 dosage chart comparison at a glance
| Medication chart | Best for | Standout feature | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zepbound (tirzepatide) | Maximum projected weight loss | 20.9% average weight loss in SURMOUNT-1 at 72 weeks | Up to six dose steps before reaching maintenance |
| Wegovy (semaglutide) | FDA-approved weight-loss-specific dosing | 2.4mg maintenance dose validated in STEP-1 | 16-week titration before reaching maintenance |
| Mounjaro (tirzepatide) | Diabetes-plus-weight-loss overlap | Same dose ladder as Zepbound, diabetes-labeled | Not FDA-approved for a weight-loss indication |
| Ozempic (semaglutide) | Established real-world titration data | Longest track record, approved since 2017 | Maximum dose (2mg) sits below Wegovy's 2.4mg |
| Retatrutide | Tracking next-generation dosing | 24.2% average weight loss in Phase 2 data at 48 weeks | No FDA-approved chart exists in 2026 |
The ranked dosage charts
1. Zepbound (tirzepatide): best GLP-1 dosage chart for maximum projected weight loss
Zepbound is Eli Lilly's FDA-approved tirzepatide formulation for chronic weight management, dosed by once-weekly subcutaneous injection. The chart climbs from a 2.5mg starting dose through 5mg, 7.5mg, 10mg, and 12.5mg, up to a 15mg maintenance dose, each step held for 4 weeks. In the SURMOUNT-1 trial, participants on the 15mg dose lost an average of 20.9% of body weight at 72 weeks.
Zepbound pros:
- Highest average weight loss of the five charts covered here, based on SURMOUNT-1 data
- Optional intermediate steps (7.5mg, 12.5mg) let a provider slow titration if side effects are severe
- Dual GIP/GLP-1 mechanism distinguishes it from the single-agonist semaglutide products
Zepbound cons:
- Six possible dose steps mean the full titration can run up to 24 weeks before reaching 15mg
- GI side effects (nausea, diarrhea) are common during dose increases
- Individual results vary widely from the trial average — not everyone in SURMOUNT-1 reached 20.9%
Best for: patients targeting the largest average projected weight loss and comfortable with a longer titration window. Verdict: worth discussing with your provider.
2. Wegovy (semaglutide): best GLP-1 dosage chart for FDA-approved weight-loss-specific titration
Wegovy is Novo Nordisk's semaglutide formulation approved specifically for chronic weight management, separate from the diabetes-labeled Ozempic. The chart runs 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, and 1.7mg, each for 4 weeks, before reaching the 2.4mg maintenance dose at week 16. STEP-1 trial data showed an average 14.9% body weight loss at 68 weeks versus 2.4% for placebo.
Wegovy pros:
- Titration schedule and maintenance dose are validated in a weight-loss-specific trial, not extrapolated from a diabetes trial
- Four dose steps is a shorter ladder than Zepbound's optional six-step version
- Established prescribing history since its 2021 approval
Wegovy cons:
- Average weight loss (14.9%) trails Zepbound's SURMOUNT-1 result (20.9%)
- 16-week ramp to maintenance dose is still a multi-month commitment
- Nausea and injection-site reactions are common during the first two dose steps
Best for: patients who want a chart validated in a weight-loss-specific trial rather than a diabetes trial used off-label. Verdict: worth discussing with your provider.
3. Mounjaro (tirzepatide): best GLP-1 dosage chart for diabetes-plus-weight-loss overlap
Mounjaro is Eli Lilly's tirzepatide product approved for type 2 diabetes, sharing the exact same dose ladder as Zepbound: 2.5mg, 5mg, 7.5mg, 10mg, 12.5mg, and 15mg, each held for 4 weeks. It is not FDA-approved for weight loss as a standalone indication, though weight loss is a documented effect of tirzepatide's mechanism.
Mounjaro pros:
- Identical titration ladder to Zepbound, so SURMOUNT-1's weight-loss data applies to the same mechanism
- Established diabetes-management dosing history
- Once-weekly injection matches every other chart on this list
Mounjaro cons:
- Not FDA-approved for weight management, so prescribing pathways differ from Zepbound
- Diabetes-focused prescribing guidance doesn't always address weight-loss-specific questions
- Same GI side-effect profile as Zepbound during early dose steps
Best for: patients already managing type 2 diabetes who want one medication addressing both glucose control and weight. Verdict: worth discussing with your provider.
4. Ozempic (semaglutide): best GLP-1 dosage chart for established real-world titration data
Ozempic is the original semaglutide formulation, approved for type 2 diabetes in 2017, with a shorter dose ladder than Wegovy: 0.25mg (non-therapeutic starting dose), 0.5mg, 1mg, and a 2mg maximum added to the label in 2022. It's prescribed off-label for weight loss in many cases, using the same molecule as Wegovy at a lower ceiling.
Ozempic pros:
- Longest real-world prescribing track record of the five medications
- Lower maximum dose (2mg vs Wegovy's 2.4mg) means a shorter titration ladder
- Familiar to a wider pool of prescribers given its earlier approval
Ozempic cons:
- Maximum approved dose caps below Wegovy's maintenance dose, which may limit weight-loss potential
- Off-label weight-loss use means the chart isn't backed by a weight-loss-specific trial the way Wegovy's is
- Real-world results by month vary more than trial averages suggest
For a month-by-month breakdown of what this titration ladder tends to produce, see how much weight people lose on Ozempic by month.
Best for: patients already on a diabetes-labeled semaglutide who want to understand the chart behind their current prescription. Verdict: worth discussing with your provider.
5. Retatrutide: best GLP-1 dosage chart for tracking next-generation dosing
Retatrutide is Eli Lilly's triple agonist targeting GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon receptors, still in Phase 3 trials as of 2026 with no FDA approval and no official prescribing dosage chart. Published Phase 2 data tested weekly doses up to 12mg, with the 12mg group averaging 24.2% body weight loss at 48 weeks.
Retatrutide pros:
- Phase 2 average weight loss (24.2%) exceeds every FDA-approved chart on this list
- Triple-receptor mechanism is mechanistically distinct from the dual and single agonists above
- Public trial data gives an early signal of where future dosing may land
Retatrutide cons:
- No FDA-approved dosage chart exists in 2026 — any numbers are trial-stage, not prescribing guidance
- Phase 3 results could change the dosing ladder before approval
- Not available by prescription outside of clinical trials
Best for: readers tracking where GLP-1 dosing is headed next, not patients looking for a chart to follow today. Verdict: track only — not yet available.
How we ranked these charts
Each chart was scored against the criteria above: exact match to the FDA label or trial protocol, a clear split between starting and maintenance dose, a stated interval between increases, a named trial behind any weight-loss figure, and clarity on approval status. Zepbound and Wegovy ranked highest because both carry a weight-management indication and a named trial (SURMOUNT-1, STEP-1). Mounjaro and Ozempic rank below them because their dosing serves a diabetes indication first. Retatrutide ranks last on availability alone — the numbers are real, but there's no chart to follow yet.
“A titration chart that skips straight to the maintenance dose isn't a titration chart — it's a maintenance chart.”
Which GLP-1 dosage chart should you follow?
If your goal is the largest average projected weight loss and your prescription supports it, the Zepbound chart is the one to study, backed by SURMOUNT-1's 20.9% average at 72 weeks. If you're on Wegovy specifically, its own STEP-1-validated ladder (0.25mg through 2.4mg over 16 weeks) is the correct reference, not Ozempic's shorter one. As of 2026, the FDA-approved charts — Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound — are the only ones with a real prescribing pathway; Retatrutide stays a trial-data watch item until Phase 3 finishes.
Individual results vary from every trial average listed here. Talk to your prescribing provider before adjusting any dose step on any chart.
Project your own week-by-week timeline
See where your dose and weeks-on-treatment land against trial data.
FAQ
What is the standard GLP-1 dosage titration schedule?
Most GLP-1 charts hold each dose for 4 weeks before stepping up, starting low to limit nausea and climbing to a maintenance dose taken indefinitely. Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound all follow this four-week-per-step pattern, though the number of steps and final dose differ.
Is Wegovy's dosage chart different from Ozempic's?
Yes. Wegovy climbs to a 2.4mg maintenance dose over 16 weeks and is validated by the STEP-1 trial, while Ozempic caps at a 2mg maximum dose and is approved for type 2 diabetes, not weight management.
How does Zepbound's dosing compare to Mounjaro's?
Zepbound and Mounjaro use the identical tirzepatide ladder — 2.5mg through 15mg in four-week steps. The difference is the indication: Zepbound is FDA-approved for weight management, Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes.
Is there an FDA-approved Retatrutide dosage chart in 2026?
No. Retatrutide remains in Phase 3 trials in 2026 with no FDA approval, so no official prescribing dosage chart exists yet. Published Phase 2 data used weekly doses up to 12mg.
How long does it take to reach the maintenance dose on Wegovy?
Wegovy's titration reaches its 2.4mg maintenance dose at week 16, after four preceding 4-week dose steps starting at 0.25mg.
Which GLP-1 medication has the highest average weight loss in trials?
Among FDA-approved options, Zepbound's SURMOUNT-1 trial reported the highest average at 20.9% body weight loss at 72 weeks on the 15mg dose. Investigational Retatrutide reported 24.2% in Phase 2 data, but it isn't FDA-approved.
Can you skip dose steps on a GLP-1 titration chart?
No. Titration charts exist to limit GI side effects, and skipping steps raises the risk of nausea and vomiting. Any change to the schedule should go through the prescribing provider.
How much does dosage affect projected weight loss?
Trial data shows higher maintenance doses correlate with more average weight loss — Zepbound's 15mg group outperformed lower tirzepatide doses in SURMOUNT-1, and Wegovy's 2.4mg outperformed Ozempic's 2mg ceiling.
One last thing
The detail most people miss: Mounjaro and Zepbound are the same molecule on the same ladder, so a Mounjaro prescription already tells you what a Zepbound chart would show. The chart that matters isn't the brand name — it's the trial behind the maintenance dose, and in 2026 only four of these five medications have one that's FDA-approved.