Medication reference
Zepbound dosing schedule in Canada
The strengths, starting dose, dose steps, maintenance and maximum doses and missed dose rule of Zepbound, as the Canadian product monograph states them.
Key facts
- The recommended starting dosage of Zepbound is 2.5 mg, injected under the skin once weekly.
- After 4 weeks, the dosage increases to 5 mg once weekly.
- The recommended maintenance dosages for chronic weight management in adults are 5 mg, 10 mg or 15 mg once weekly.
- The maximum dosage of Zepbound is 15 mg once weekly.
- A missed dose can be taken as soon as possible within 4 days (96 hours) after the missed dose.
Strengths and form
Zepbound is a solution in a multi-dose prefilled pen (KwikPen) for injection under the skin. Each KwikPen contains 4 doses.
The strengths are 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg and 15 mg. Each dose is 0.6 mL.
The patient information says that each month you use 1 KwikPen. One dose is taken each week.
After the 4th dose, you see leftover medicine in the KwikPen. The instructions for use say: do not inject the leftover medication.
Starting dose and dose steps
The recommended starting dosage is 2.5 mg once weekly. The monograph says that the 2.5 mg dosage is for treatment initiation.
After 4 weeks, the dosage increases to 5 mg once weekly. The dosage may then increase in steps of 2.5 mg, after at least 4 weeks on the current dose.
The patient information says that your healthcare professional decides the dose that is right for you. It says not to change your dose or stop Zepbound without talking to your healthcare professional.
Maintenance dose and maximum dose
For chronic weight management, the recommended maintenance dosages in adults are 5 mg, 10 mg or 15 mg once weekly.
For obstructive sleep apnea, the recommended maintenance dosages in adults are 10 mg or 15 mg once weekly.
The maximum dosage of Zepbound is 15 mg once weekly.
The monograph requires no dose adjustment for patients with renal impairment or for patients over 65 years of age. It recommends no dose adjustment for patients with hepatic insufficiency.
Zepbound is not indicated for pediatric use.
How and when to inject
The monograph says to administer Zepbound once weekly, at any time of day, with or without meals. Zepbound should not be administered daily. The patient information says to always inject on the same day each week.
The patient information names the stomach area (abdomen) and the upper leg (thigh) as the best places for a self-injection. Another person should give an injection in the back of the upper arm.
The instructions for use say to inject in the stomach at least 5 centimeters from the belly button. They say to change the injection site each week.
The patient information says: do not inject Zepbound into a vein or muscle.
If necessary, the day of the weekly injection can change. The time between the two doses must be at least 3 days (72 hours).
The patient information says that you should eat about 500 calories less than you normally do while you use Zepbound. It says that you should also do at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week.
It says not to use Zepbound without training from a healthcare professional on how to inject it.
Missed dose
The patient information gives two cases for a missed dose. In both cases, inject your next dose on your usual day.
- It has been 4 days (96 hours) or less since you should have used Zepbound: use it as soon as you remember.
- It has been more than 4 days (96 hours) since you should have used Zepbound: skip the missed dose.
Ask a health professional
This page repeats what the Canadian product monograph says. It is not medical advice. Ask your pharmacist or your prescriber what applies to you.