Mounjaro Dosing: 7.5mg/Week Availability
Yes, there is a 7.5mg/week dose of Mounjaro (tirzepatide), and it is an FDA-approved intermediate dose in the standard titration schedule.
FDA-Approved Dosing Schedule
The FDA-approved tirzepatide formulations include a 7.5mg/0.5mL strength, which is part of the standard dose escalation protocol. 1
The complete FDA-approved dosing schedule is:
- Start at 2.5mg once weekly for 4 weeks (initiation dose, not intended for glycemic control) 1
- Increase to 5mg once weekly after 4 weeks 1
- If additional glycemic control is needed, increase in 2.5mg increments after at least 4 weeks on the current dose 1
- Available doses: 2.5mg, 5mg, 7.5mg, 10mg, 12.5mg, and 15mg (maximum dose) 1
Clinical Context for 7.5mg Dose
The 7.5mg dose serves as an intermediate step in the titration schedule when:
- A patient has been on 5mg for at least 4 weeks and requires additional glycemic control 1
- The patient tolerates 5mg well but needs further HbA1c reduction 2
- Gradual dose escalation is preferred to minimize gastrointestinal adverse effects (nausea, diarrhea, vomiting) 2, 3
Practical Administration
- Administer subcutaneously once weekly in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm 1
- Can be given any time of day, with or without meals 1
- Rotate injection sites with each dose 1
- Available as pre-filled single-dose pens or single-dose vials 1
Expected Efficacy at 7.5mg
While specific data for the 7.5mg dose alone is limited, tirzepatide demonstrates dose-dependent efficacy:
- HbA1c reductions range from 1.87-2.59% across the dose range 2
- Weight loss is dose-dependent, with higher doses producing greater weight reduction 4, 3
- The 7.5mg dose falls between 5mg and 10mg, which showed HbA1c reductions of -2.11% and -2.40% respectively in SURPASS-5 5
Common Pitfall to Avoid
Do not skip the 7.5mg dose and jump directly from 5mg to 10mg unless the patient has exceptional tolerance, as this increases the risk of gastrointestinal adverse effects that may lead to treatment discontinuation 2, 1, 3