Mounjaro®
Starting from £179.99/mo
Start journey Learn moreHow the two dosing schedules compare, step by step, and what that means clinically
Step 1: trace each titration ladder from first injection to maintenance
Mounjaro's schedule has six rungs: 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg. Treatment opens at 2.5 mg for roughly four weeks (that dose exists to let your body adjust, not to produce weight loss) then moves upward in 2.5 mg steps, each held for at least four weeks, until the highest dose your body tolerates comfortably. The prescriber controls every move.
Wegovy's standard schedule runs 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, then 2.4 mg as the original maintenance dose. On 14 April 2026, the MHRA approved a dedicated single-dose 7.2 mg pen as a higher maintenance option for adults with a BMI of 30 or above. Starting dose remains 0.25 mg regardless; the 7.2 mg pen is the ceiling, not the entry point. The MHRA's announcement on the 7.2 mg pen confirms it is intended for obesity management only, not the cardiovascular indication.
A quick check worth doing: count how many steps separate your current dose from the top of each ladder. Mounjaro has six positions; Wegovy now has six standard positions too. The intervals and the molecules are what differ. If you want to understand how the 0.5 mg Wegovy dose in particular lines up against Mounjaro options, our comparison of 0.5 mg Wegovy to Mounjaro covers that specific point in the titration ladder. If you want to understand how a specific Wegovy dose lines up against Mounjaro, our dose-conversion guide covers the clinical reasoning behind those comparisons.
Step 2: understand what makes direct dose comparison misleading
A common question our prescribers hear is whether 2.4 mg of Wegovy is "equivalent" to a particular Mounjaro dose. It is not a straightforward translation. Semaglutide activates GLP-1 receptors only; tirzepatide activates both GLP-1 and GIP receptors simultaneously. Because the receptor mechanisms differ, milligrams cannot be converted like currency.
What clinical trials can show is comparative effectiveness at each medicine's maximum licensed dose. In the SURMOUNT-5 trial (a 72-week head-to-head published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2025) tirzepatide produced greater average weight reduction than semaglutide 2.4 mg in adults with obesity and without diabetes. The NICE appraisal of tirzepatide (TA1026) references this indirect comparison favourably. Trials of Wegovy at 7.2 mg reported around 20.7% average weight loss over 72 weeks, narrowing the gap with tirzepatide 15 mg results.
The full Wegovy versus Mounjaro comparison on this site covers effectiveness, side-effect profiles and eligibility side by side. For a closer look at how the 2.4 mg dose specifically sits relative to mid-range Mounjaro options, the Wegovy 2.4 mg compared to Mounjaro page goes into more detail.
Step 3: read the comparison table before your consultation
| Feature | Mounjaro (tirzepatide) | Wegovy (semaglutide) |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanism | Dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist | GLP-1 receptor agonist |
| Titration steps | 6 (2.5 → 5 → 7.5 → 10 → 12.5 → 15 mg) | 5–6 (0.25 → 0.5 → 1 → 1.7 → 2.4 → 7.2 mg) |
| Maximum dose | 15 mg weekly | 7.2 mg weekly (approved April 2026) |
| Typical step interval | ~4 weeks per step (prescriber-guided) | ~4 weeks per step (prescriber-guided) |
| Average weight loss at max dose (clinical trials) | ~20–21% body weight at 15 mg (SURMOUNT-1, NEJM) | ~20.7% at 7.2 mg; ~15% at 2.4 mg (STEP 1, NEJM) |
| UK licence for weight management | Yes (BMI ≥30 or ≥27 with a weight-related condition | Yes) BMI ≥30 or ≥27 with a weight-related condition |
Both medicines carry a Black Triangle (▼) designation, meaning the MHRA requires additional monitoring while longer-term data accumulates. The NHS medicines page for tirzepatide and the equivalent page for semaglutide give patient-level detail on side effects and how each injection works in practice.
Step 4: take the comparison to a prescriber, not the internet
Knowing the titration schedules is useful context. It does not settle which medicine belongs in your fridge. The prescriber's assessment considers your medical history, current medicines, BMI, weight-related conditions and how your body has responded to treatment before. Someone who has already tried one of these medicines and wants to understand a potential switch needs clinical review, not a dose calculator.
Costs differ between the two as well, and that sometimes shapes the conversation. The reasons Wegovy typically costs less than Mounjaro are explained separately; it is worth understanding what drives that gap before it drives your decision. The Wegovy equivalent to Mounjaro 12.5 mg page addresses one of the more specific questions people bring to us.
At nume, a real clinician reviews your consultation before any prescription is issued. That review happens the same day. Which of these two schedules fits you (and at which starting point) is the conversation our prescribers are there to have. Start your free consultation and get a clinical answer rather than an approximate one.
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