Titration means gradually increasing your GLP-1 dose until you land at the level that works best for you. You always start at the lowest dose. Gradually increasing from there gives your body time to adjust, keeps side effects in check, and lays the foundation for long-term success.

How to adjust your dosage is not as simple as it may seem. On one side, medical protocols advise increasing every 4 weeks. On the other, we know a one-size-fits-all approach doesn't work with GLP-1s.

Each person's response is unique. Some feel results early at low doses, while others need to climb higher before noticing effectiveness. Roughly 1 in 5 people are slow responders who don't experience much at the lower tiers. At the same time, there are cases where dose titration leads to the opposite problem: anhedonia, when the dose is too high for that individual.

Official GLP-1 Dosing Schedules

Current GLP-1 dosing protocols are designed to minimize side effects while your body adjusts to the medication. The therapy begins with a low starting dose that typically lasts for about four weeks. After this initial period, the dose is gradually increased at set intervals of four weeks. 

Here's a look at the standard titration schedules for two common GLP-1 medications:

Start Low and Go Slow Philosophy

Some clinicians and patients emphasize an individualized approach to dose increases instead of following a rigid calendar.

The guiding principle is simple: do not titrate up if the current dose is still effective. 

In some cases, remaining on a lower dose can provide excellent results with fewer side effects and reduced cost. For this reason, many patients prefer to remain long-term at 2.5 mg or 5 mg of tirzepatide, or 0.5 mg of semaglutide, if those doses deliver ongoing benefit.

A common misconception is that higher doses automatically translate into faster or greater weight loss. This is not supported by evidence. Pushing the dose higher than needed often leads to nausea, reflux and constipation.

When should I titrate up to the next dose?

If your appetite suppression fades and weight loss stalls, that’s the signal to discuss a higher dose with your provider.

Here's a simple decision-making framework:

• Are you still losing weight steadily?

• Is your appetite still well-controlled?

• Are you feeling good with minimal side effects?

• Has your weight loss stalled and food thoughts are creeping back?

Find Your Personal "Dosing Sweet Spot"

This concept resonates with me. The “sweet spot dose" is a dosage that controls appetite without completely eliminating hunger or the pleasure of eating, while still promoting steady weight loss. In my view, finding it is a big part of success in weight loss therapy.

Your sweet spot is that perfect balance where:

• Food noise quiets down.

• You feel back in control of your eating.

• Meals still bring pleasure.

• Weight continues to come off steadily.

• Side effects stay manageable.

This ideal dose isn't necessarily static. You may need to re-evaluated it over time. A good obesity specialist will work with you to move beyond a rigid protocol and help you discover your personal sweet spot.

In conclusion, think of GLP-1 dosage less as climbing a staircase and more like shifting gears on a bicycle. In the lower gears, progress may feel slow, and sometimes you'll need to move up to higher gears before you feel real control of it. But for others, those lower gears are more than enough to keep momentum steady.

The key is listening to your body, adjusting with strategy, and riding at the pace that keeps you moving forward without burning out.

Be sure to check out my earlier posts on split dosing and microdosing for more detail on the topic.

Scientific References for this article:

_{Efficacy and Tolerability of Tirzepatide: Three Different Dose-Escalation Regimens in Type 2 Diabetes” — Frias et al., 2020 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7318331/}

_{Real-world Titration, Persistence & Weight Loss of Semaglutide” — Samuels et al., (2025) https://dom-pubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/dom.70004}

_{Gradual Titration of Semaglutide Results in Better Treatment Adherence than Standard Label” — (2025) https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article/48/9/1607/162990/Gradual-Titration-of-Semaglutide-Results-in-Better}

_{Characteristics and Dosing Patterns of Tirzepatide Users” — Mody et al., 2025 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11794899/}