Not medical advice. Talk to your provider before using any peptide.
Full disclaimerTirzepatide Titration Protocol (Mounjaro/Zepbound)
FDA-standard weekly titration from 2.5mg to 15mg. Many maintain at 7.5-10mg without reaching max dose.
Peptide Schedule Research TeamReviewed Apr 20261 Citation
For aggressive weight loss using dual GLP-1/GIP receptor activation.
What This Protocol Does
Tirzepatide targets both GLP-1 and GIP receptors, producing stronger appetite suppression and better glucose control than single-agonist drugs. The SURMOUNT-1 trial (n=2,539) showed up to 22.5% body weight loss at 72 weeks on the 15mg dose. Participants also saw improvements in waist circumference, blood pressure, and lipid markers.
Who Should Use This
For adults with BMI 30+ (or 27+ with a weight-related comorbidity) seeking physician-supervised weight loss. Best for people who want dual-receptor activation or found semaglutide insufficient. Requires regular metabolic monitoring. Avoid if you have a history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, MEN2 syndrome, or severe GI disease. Do not combine with other GLP-1 or GIP agonists.
What the Research Says
Tirzepatide: SURMOUNT-1 trial (Jastreboff et al., NEJM 2022, PMID 35658024) enrolled 2,539 adults with obesity. The 15mg arm achieved 22.5% mean weight loss at 72 weeks. The 10mg arm achieved 21.4%, and the 5mg arm hit 15.0%. FDA-approved for chronic weight management (Zepbound) and type 2 diabetes (Mounjaro). GI side effects were dose-dependent, with nausea in 24-33% of participants.
Important Notices
- Do not use with other GLP-1 or GIP receptor agonists
- Risk of thyroid C-cell tumors — same class warning as semaglutide
- GI side effects common during titration (nausea, diarrhea)
Protocol Overview
Dosing Details
| Peptide | Dose | Frequency | Route | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,500mcg | Weekly | subcutaneous (abdomen) | Weeks 1-4 | |
| 5mg | Weekly | subcutaneous (abdomen) | Weeks 5-8 | |
| 7,500mcg | Weekly | subcutaneous (abdomen) | Weeks 9-12 | |
| 10mg | Weekly | subcutaneous (abdomen) | Weeks 13-16 | |
| 12,500mcg | Weekly | subcutaneous (abdomen) | Weeks 17-20 | |
TirzepatideMaint. | 15mg | Weekly | subcutaneous (abdomen) | Week 21+ |
Tirzepatide: Goal isn't always max dose — many maintain at 7.5-10mg
Metrics Tracked
Schedule This Protocol
Set your start date and track every dose in your calendar.
Sources & Citations
Peptide Profiles & Calculators
Related Weight Loss Protocols
Semaglutide Titration Protocol (Ozempic/Wegovy)
Semaglutide
FDA-standard weekly titration from 0.25mg to 2.4mg over 16+ weeks. Hold current dose for an extra 4 weeks if GI side effects are severe.
Retatrutide Titration Protocol (Triple G)
Retatrutide
Phase 3 trial protocol: weekly titration from 1mg to 12mg. Triple GLP-1/GIP/Glucagon agonist with up to 24% weight loss in clinical trials.
Semaglutide Microdose
Semaglutide
Semaglutide at 0.025-0.05mg weekly, roughly 1/10th the standard starting dose. Dr. Tyna Moore's philosophy: "Dose up to appetite control, not suppression." Exact microgram dose is not publicly verified; the approach and philosophy come from multiple interviews including Ben Greenfield Life. She treats GLP-1 as scaffolding for building metabolic habits, not a permanent prescription.
Peter Attia's GLP-1 Clinical Perspective
Semaglutide + Tirzepatide
Peter Attia prescribes GLP-1 agonists clinically and flagged the lean mass loss problem early: 39% of weight lost in the STEP 1 trial was lean tissue. His protocol follows standard FDA titration (0.25mg to 1mg+ weekly) but pairs it with resistance training and 1g protein per pound of bodyweight. This is a prescriber's perspective, not personal biohacking. DEXA scans and metabolic panels required.
Bryan Johnson's Tirzepatide Microdose (DISCONTINUED)
Tirzepatide
Three weeks, then done. Johnson tried tirzepatide at 0.5mg weekly (1/5th the standard starting dose) and halted when his data turned negative: resting heart rate up 3bpm, HRV down 7 points, sleep quality down 10%. He already had optimal metabolic markers, so the risk outweighed any benefit. This is some of the best-documented peptide discontinuation data available, with exact biomarker numbers attached.