Ozempic vs Mounjaro dose chart: reading the numbers correctly

The myth the chart can't fix: these doses don't convert like currencies

The most common misconception behind this search is that Ozempic doses and Mounjaro doses sit on a single ladder, that 1mg of semaglutide somehow equals a specific milligram of tirzepatide. They don't. Ozempic is a GLP-1 receptor agonist; it binds to one receptor involved in appetite and blood-sugar regulation. Mounjaro binds to two: GIP and GLP-1. Different receptors, different dose scales, different licensed purposes. The MHRA licenses Ozempic for type 2 diabetes at doses up to 1mg weekly (a 2mg dose exists for diabetes in some markets but is not the standard UK weight-loss context). Mounjaro's weight-management schedule runs from 2.5mg to 15mg weekly. The numbers are simply not comparable the way 100 miles and 100 kilometres are not comparable. If you've been on Ozempic under diabetes care and a prescriber is considering moving you to a licensed weight-management medicine, the question of what the equivalent dose looks like when switching involves a clinical conversation, not arithmetic.

What a side-by-side dose comparison actually shows

With that caveat clearly on the table, here is a factual comparison of the licensed UK dose ranges. For weight management specifically, Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4mg, and now up to 7.2mg) is the semaglutide product licensed in this category, not Ozempic. The table below sets out the licensed ranges for reference; numbers are drawn from the respective Summary of Product Characteristics published on the electronic Medicines Compendium.

A few things stand out. Mounjaro's starting dose is numerically higher than Ozempic's, but the 2.5mg figure is explicitly a tolerability dose; its job is to let the body adjust before any meaningful therapeutic effect builds. Ozempic's 0.25mg starting dose serves the same purpose in its licensed context. Raw milligram figures tell you very little about relative potency. If you want to see how each step of the dose ladder maps onto the other, the Wegovy vs Mounjaro dosage chart sets out both schedules side by side in a way that makes the progression easier to follow, and you can also find a detailed Wegovy doses chart comparing the two medicines if you want to explore how the semaglutide schedule stacks up against tirzepatide at each stage.

What the clinical evidence says about results, and why licensing matters

The SURMOUNT-1 trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, reported an average body-weight reduction of around 20–21% at the 15mg tirzepatide dose over 72 weeks in adults with obesity but without diabetes. The STEP 1 trial, also in the New England Journal of Medicine, reported around 15% average reduction with semaglutide 2.4mg (Wegovy) over 68 weeks. In the SURMOUNT-5 head-to-head trial (2025), tirzepatide produced greater average weight loss than semaglutide 2.4mg over 72 weeks. None of these trials compared Ozempic at diabetes doses to Mounjaro at weight-management doses, because that is not a clinically meaningful comparison. Ozempic's weight-related evidence base was gathered at 1mg for glycaemic control, not as a weight-loss intervention. NICE has appraised Mounjaro for weight management under technology appraisal TA1026 and Wegovy under TA875; no equivalent weight-management appraisal exists for Ozempic, because the weight-management indication simply isn't there. If this comparison is landing in your search results, the medicine you're likely thinking about for weight loss is either Mounjaro or Wegovy, and the Wegovy vs Mounjaro comparison addresses those two directly.

Getting from a dose chart to a decision that suits you

A chart can show licensed dose ranges. It cannot assess your blood pressure, your other medicines, your kidney function, or the weight-related conditions that determine whether Mounjaro or Wegovy is the more appropriate route. That's not a reason to stop researching, it's worth understanding how the dose ladders work before your consultation, and you can read more about how a 1mg Ozempic dose relates to Mounjaro doses if you're switching from diabetes management. Our clinical team reviews every case individually; a question our prescribers hear fairly often from people who've been on Ozempic for diabetes is whether they can now access a licensed weight-management medicine. The answer always starts with a proper assessment, not a chart. If you want to see the full picture on costs as well, the tirzepatide vs semaglutide cost comparison covers what to expect. Which medicine suits you is a clinical decision our prescribers make with you, not one a dose chart makes for you. Check your eligibility with a free consultation.