Wegovy vs Mounjaro: how the dosage schedules compare

How does the Mounjaro dosing ladder work, and what makes it different from Wegovy's?

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist, the only weight-loss medicine licensed in the UK that activates both pathways simultaneously. It is supplied as a pre-filled KwikPen, with each pen containing four weekly doses. The licensed UK strengths are 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5 and 15 mg. Treatment begins at 2.5 mg, a dose whose job is to let your body adjust rather than to produce significant weight loss, and the prescriber typically moves the dose up in 4-week steps.

Wegovy (semaglutide) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist alone. Its original titration runs 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, 1.7 mg and then 2.4 mg as the standard maintenance dose. Since January 2026, a higher 7.2 mg maintenance dose has been authorised by the MHRA, and a dedicated single-dose 7.2 mg pen was approved on 14 April 2026, initially for adults with a BMI of 30 or above. The titration to 7.2 mg still begins at 0.25 mg and steps up in roughly 4-week intervals under prescriber guidance.

The practical difference that catches people out is the scale. Mounjaro's doses look numerically larger, but the two medicines are not the same molecule and their numbers are not comparable. If you want to understand how Wegovy's dosage compares to Mounjaro's in more detail, that page sets out the differences clearly. You can also read more about how the clinical picture looks side by side on our Wegovy vs Mounjaro overview.

What does the trial evidence say about results at each medicine's maintenance dose?

Evidence matters here, because the dosage schedules exist to get patients to a maintenance level where meaningful weight loss occurs. In the SURMOUNT-1 trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, tirzepatide at 15 mg produced an average body-weight reduction of around 20 to 21 per cent over 72 weeks in adults with obesity and without diabetes, a result that drew considerable attention from clinicians and formed part of NICE's recommendation of tirzepatide (TA1026). In STEP 1, also published in the NEJM, semaglutide 2.4 mg produced an average reduction of around 15 per cent over 68 weeks. The SURMOUNT-5 head-to-head trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2025, directly compared tirzepatide with semaglutide 2.4 mg in adults with obesity and found greater average weight reduction with tirzepatide over 72 weeks.

The picture shifts somewhat at Wegovy's newer 7.2 mg dose. Trial data reported around 20.7 per cent average weight loss at that level over 72 weeks, which narrows the gap with tirzepatide's highest dose considerably. Whether 7.2 mg Wegovy is available and appropriate for a given patient is a prescriber conversation, not something a dosage chart can settle. A fuller breakdown of the cost differences between the two medicines is also worth reviewing alongside the clinical comparison.

How do the two schedules compare side by side?

The table below sets out the factual structure of each medicine's licensed UK dosing schedule. Numbers in the results column are drawn from the SURMOUNT-1 and STEP 1 trials and the MHRA's 2026 approvals for Wegovy 7.2 mg.

If you want to explore how dosage maps onto individual eligibility criteria, our dose comparison page goes into further detail, and you can see a structured dosage chart to sit alongside this summary. For those already on one treatment and thinking about switching, the dose conversion guide explains what that process involves clinically.

Which dosage schedule is right for you, and how does that decision get made?

If you have reached this page feeling genuinely unsure which medicine to ask about, that is understandable. The information online can make it seem like a puzzle you should solve before speaking to anyone, but the dosage schedule is not something you choose from a table. A prescriber weighs your BMI, any existing conditions, your medication history, your tolerance for injection-based treatment versus a daily tablet, and a range of other clinical factors before recommending either medicine or any particular dose within it.

At nume, a GPhC-registered Independent Prescriber reviews your consultation (every question you submit) before any treatment is confirmed. That review happens the same day. There is no algorithm making the call. The clinical oversight behind our service reflects that commitment to proper prescribing, not just fast processing. You can also read through our frequently asked questions if you have specific concerns before starting.

Which treatment suits you is a clinical decision our prescribers make with you, not something a dosage comparison can determine alone. If you are ready to take that step, check your eligibility and start your free consultation.