Wegovy dose compared to Mounjaro: how the two schedules stack up

Step 1 — understanding what you're actually comparing

A common misconception is that the milligram figures are interchangeable: that 5mg of one is roughly equivalent to 5mg of the other. They aren't, and it's worth letting that idea go. Wegovy contains semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist; Mounjaro contains tirzepatide, which activates both GLP-1 and GIP receptors simultaneously. Different molecules, different target doses, different titration timelines, the numbers don't map across.

Wegovy's standard maintenance dose is 2.4mg weekly, reached by moving through 0.25mg, 0.5mg (a step where Wegovy and Mounjaro are often directly questioned against each other), 1.0mg (another point in the titration where the two medicines are frequently compared) and 1.7mg over roughly four months. The newer 7.2mg format, approved by the MHRA on 14 April 2026, is now the highest licensed maintenance dose for Wegovy; it's available as a dedicated single-dose pen for adults with a BMI of 30 or above. Mounjaro begins at 2.5mg (a tolerability phase rather than a treatment target) and works up through 5mg, 7.5mg, 10mg, 12.5mg, to a maximum of 15mg. If you want a closer look at how specific steps compare, you can read how 1mg Wegovy compares to Mounjaro as one example of how the two medicines sit alongside each other at a shared titration point, and the full Wegovy dose versus Mounjaro breakdown covers each rung in detail. Your prescriber decides the pace, titration isn't something to self-manage.

Both medicines are injected once weekly under the skin. Both carry a Black Triangle (▼) symbol, meaning the MHRA actively monitors new safety reports. NHS guidance on tirzepatide and NHS guidance on semaglutide cover each in detail and are worth reading alongside your Patient Information Leaflet.

Step 2, comparing the evidence on weight loss at full dose

The most useful data point is what each medicine achieved in large clinical trials at its highest dose, in adults without diabetes. SURMOUNT-1 (tirzepatide, 72 weeks) found an average body-weight reduction of around 20–21% at 15mg. STEP 1 (semaglutide 2.4mg, 68 weeks) found around 15% average reduction. Those figures come from separately designed trials, so they're not a controlled head-to-head comparison, but the SURMOUNT-5 trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2025, did directly compare the two: over 72 weeks, tirzepatide produced greater average weight reduction than semaglutide 2.4mg in adults with obesity and no diabetes. NICE's appraisal of tirzepatide (TA1026) noted the same direction in its committee discussion.

Where Wegovy 7.2mg sits in that picture is still emerging. Trials at 7.2mg reported average weight loss of around 20.7% over 72 weeks (closer to tirzepatide 15mg territory) though direct head-to-head evidence at that dose doesn't exist yet. For a side-by-side look at results and eligibility, the Wegovy vs Mounjaro comparison page pulls together the broader picture. And if cost is part of the decision, the price comparison is a sensible next stop.

Both medicines are approved by the MHRA for adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 or above alongside a weight-related condition. Lower thresholds apply for some ethnic backgrounds under UK clinical guidance. A BMI figure alone doesn't determine suitability; the prescriber looks at your full health history.

Step 3, side-effect profiles and what they mean in practice

The side-effect landscape for both medicines is dominated by gastrointestinal symptoms: nausea, loose stools, constipation, reflux and reduced appetite. These tend to be most noticeable in the first days after a new or increased dose and often settle as the body adjusts. Neither medicine's GI profile is dramatically different from the other, though individual responses vary considerably, some people tolerate one far better than the other. That's one reason switching isn't automatic, and why our clinical team reviews each case individually.

Pancreatitis is a known but uncommon serious risk with GLP-1 medicines. In January 2026 the MHRA issued a Drug Safety Update for this class, advising patients to seek urgent medical attention for severe, persistent abdominal pain that spreads to the back, with or without vomiting. That warning covers both semaglutide and tirzepatide. Anyone who suspects a side effect from either medicine can file a report through the Yellow Card scheme.

One practical difference worth knowing: women using oral contraceptive pills starting Mounjaro (or after each dose increase) are advised to add a non-oral method of contraception for four weeks, because tirzepatide's effect on gastric emptying may reduce pill absorption. NHS guidance doesn't flag the same concern for semaglutide. If that matters to your situation, our FAQs have more detail.

The comparison table: Wegovy vs Mounjaro at a glance

Numbers from NICE TA1026, SURMOUNT-1 (NEJM), STEP 1 (NEJM), and MHRA approval announcements. Which treatment suits you is a clinical decision our prescribers make with you, start your free consultation to begin that conversation.