If a vial of retatrutide (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist) is 12 mg, how many subcutaneous (subcut) injections can be administered from that vial?

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Last updated: December 5, 2025View editorial policy

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Dosing Information for Retatrutide Vials

A 12 mg vial of retatrutide provides exactly one subcutaneous injection, as the medication is administered as a single weekly dose.

Standard Dosing Protocol

The dosing regimen for retatrutide follows a structured escalation schedule 1, 2:

  • Starting dose: 2 mg subcutaneously once weekly
  • Maintenance doses: 4 mg, 8 mg, or 12 mg subcutaneously once weekly
  • Dose escalation: Gradual titration from 2 mg starting dose to higher maintenance doses (4 mg, 8 mg, or 12 mg) based on tolerability and clinical response 1, 2

Vial-to-Injection Conversion

Each dose represents one complete injection 1, 2:

  • A 12 mg vial = 1 injection (12 mg dose)
  • A 8 mg vial = 1 injection (8 mg dose)
  • A 4 mg vial = 1 injection (4 mg dose)
  • A 2 mg vial = 1 injection (2 mg dose)

Therefore, your 12 mg vial provides exactly 1 subcutaneous injection at the 12 mg maintenance dose.

Clinical Context

The 12 mg dose demonstrated the most robust efficacy in clinical trials 1, 2:

  • Type 2 diabetes: HbA1c reduction of -2.02% at 24 weeks 1
  • Obesity: Mean weight reduction of -24.2% at 48 weeks 2
  • Liver fat reduction: -82.4% reduction in hepatic fat content at 24 weeks 3

Administration Considerations

Retatrutide is administered via subcutaneous injection once weekly 1, 2. The medication follows similar administration principles to other GLP-1 receptor agonists, where each vial or pen contains a single predetermined dose 4. Starting with a lower dose (2 mg) and gradually escalating helps mitigate gastrointestinal side effects, which are dose-dependent 1, 2.

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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