GLP-1 and dual GIP/GLP-1 medications are started at a low "starter" dose and increased in steps, usually about every four weeks, until reaching a maintenance dose or a level that works for the individual. Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) follow well-documented multi-step schedules; liraglutide (Victoza, Saxenda) and dulaglutide (Trulicity) also titrate upward but on their own label-specific pattern. If you miss a dose, the rule depends on the specific drug and how long ago the dose was due, never double up, and never adjust your own schedule without your prescriber.
Key takeaways
- Nearly every GLP-1 starts at a low, sub-therapeutic dose and steps up over time to improve tolerability.
- Semaglutide and tirzepatide products increase roughly every four weeks on a label-defined ladder.
- Missed-dose windows are drug-specific, generally around 5 days for semaglutide and 4 days for tirzepatide, after which you skip rather than double the dose.
- Only your prescriber should change your titration pace or dose, this is not a do-it-yourself decision.
Why GLP-1s are titrated instead of dosed at full strength
GLP-1 receptor agonists and dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists slow gastric emptying and reduce appetite, both of which are also the mechanisms behind common early side effects like nausea, reflux and constipation. Starting at a low "starter" dose that isn't intended to be an effective long-term dose gives the digestive system time to adjust before the medication reaches a dose meant to work. Each step up is held for a set number of weeks before the next increase, and a clinician can extend that window if side effects need more time to settle. Our dosing guide covers this titration logic in more depth, and our nausea guide has practical tips for the roughest days.
The chart below reflects the general shape of each product's official titration schedule. It is not a substitute for the specific prescribing information for the product you've been prescribed, doses, step timing and maximum doses can be updated by the manufacturer and the FDA, so always confirm current details with your pharmacist or the package insert.
GLP-1 dosing chart by medication
| Medication | Starting dose | Titration pattern | Missed-dose window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ozempic (semaglutide, type 2 diabetes) | 0.25 mg once weekly (starter dose, not for blood-sugar control) | Steps up roughly every 4 weeks toward an effective and, if needed, maximum dose | Take within about 5 days of the missed dose; beyond that, skip and resume the normal schedule |
| Wegovy (semaglutide, weight management) | 0.25 mg once weekly (starter dose, not for weight-loss effect) | Multi-step increase roughly every 4 weeks to a maintenance dose | Take within about 5 days of the missed dose; beyond that, skip and resume the normal schedule |
| Mounjaro (tirzepatide, type 2 diabetes) | 2.5 mg once weekly (starter dose, not for blood-sugar control) | Multi-step increase roughly every 4 weeks toward a maintenance dose | Take within about 4 days of the missed dose; beyond that, skip and resume the normal schedule |
| Zepbound (tirzepatide, weight management / OSA) | 2.5 mg once weekly (starter dose, not an effective maintenance dose) | Multi-step increase roughly every 4 weeks to a maintenance dose | Take within about 4 days of the missed dose; beyond that, skip and resume the normal schedule |
| Victoza / Saxenda (liraglutide) | Low starting dose, increased in the manufacturer's defined steps | Label-specific step-up pattern, different cadence from the weekly drugs above | Follow the specific product's patient guide; ask your pharmacist for the exact window |
| Trulicity (dulaglutide) | Low starting weekly dose | May increase to a higher weekly dose if needed for glycemic control, per label | Follow the specific product's patient guide; ask your pharmacist for the exact window |
Exact milligram amounts for every step, and any newer dose options, can change as labels are updated. This chart shows the general pattern; always confirm current numbers against the product's official prescribing information or with your pharmacist before making any assumptions.
Notice that the starter dose for each drug is explicitly not meant to be an effective long-term dose, it exists purely to ease the digestive system into the medication. That's a common point of confusion: someone who feels little effect in the first month is often still on the starter dose, not yet at a dose expected to produce the drug's full benefit. Patience during this early stretch, and consistent communication with your prescriber about side effects, matters more than trying to speed through the schedule.
What to do about a missed dose
The core rule across GLP-1 products is the same in spirit even when the exact day-count differs: if you catch the missed dose within the label's allowed window, take it and continue on your regular schedule. If too much time has passed, you skip the missed dose entirely and simply take your next dose on the normal day, you do not take two doses close together to "catch up." Our missed-dose guide walks through the semaglutide and tirzepatide rules drug by drug in more detail.
If you're switching between GLP-1 products, for example moving from a semaglutide medication to a tirzepatide one, the titration effectively restarts under your clinician's guidance rather than picking up where the old drug's dose left off. See our guide to switching between GLP-1 drugs for what that transition typically looks like.
Can you change your own dose?
No. Even though the titration schedule looks like a simple calendar, the decision to hold, advance, reduce, or switch a dose is a clinical one. Your prescriber is weighing your side effects, your response so far, other medications you take, and the specific product label, information a schedule on its own can't capture. If an increase feels unmanageable, or you want to slow down, the right move is to contact your prescriber rather than adjust the injection yourself. Where you inject can also affect comfort day to day; see our injection site guide for rotation tips that have nothing to do with dose.
Frequently asked questions
What is the GLP-1 dosing chart?
It's a summary of the official starting dose and titration steps for common GLP-1 and dual GIP/GLP-1 medications, drawn from FDA-approved prescribing information, so you can see the general pattern each drug follows on the way to a maintenance dose.
How often do GLP-1 doses increase?
For semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound), the label schedule increases the dose about every four weeks, and a clinician can hold a dose longer if side effects need more time to settle. Other GLP-1 products follow their own label-specific schedule.
What happens if I miss a GLP-1 dose?
For once-weekly semaglutide, the label allows taking a missed dose within about 5 days and then resuming the normal schedule; for once-weekly tirzepatide, the window is about 4 days. Beyond that, the missed dose is skipped rather than doubled. Other products have their own missed-dose windows, so check the specific label.
Can I change my GLP-1 dose myself?
No. Titration schedules are set by the prescriber based on the label, your response, and side effects. Never start, stop, skip, split, or increase a dose on your own; call your clinician if a step feels too hard to tolerate.
Are all GLP-1 medications titrated the same way?
No. Semaglutide and tirzepatide both use a multi-step, roughly monthly titration to a maintenance dose, but liraglutide and dulaglutide products have their own label-specific starting doses and schedules that can differ in frequency and step size.
Sources & further reading
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration, prescribing information for semaglutide, tirzepatide, liraglutide, and dulaglutide products.
- Manufacturer patient titration schedules and medication guides (Novo Nordisk; Eli Lilly).