How Much Retatrutide Do You Take?

Retatrutide is not yet FDA approved, but it’s still generating a lot of interest and questions with patients and healthcare professionals. One question is how much retatrutide do you take? Clinical studies show that retatrutide could be the most powerful drug to be developed for the treatment of obesity. A trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that retatrutide helped patients achieve significant weight loss. Here’s everything you should know regarding dosing of retatrutide ahead of its FDA approval.

📝 What is retatrutide?

Retatrutide is a new weight management drug injected weekly just under the skin (subcutaneous). It is manufactured by Eli Lilly for the treatment of obesity and is showing promise among the popular weight loss medications Wegovy/Ozempic (semaglutide) and Zepbound/Mounjaro (tirzepatide). In addition to obesity, retatrutide is being tested for its effectiveness in type 2 diabetes management.

📝 How does retatrutide work?

Retatrutide works as a powerful triple-agonist, meaning it works on on three key hormone receptors:

• The human glucagon receptor (GCGR)
• The glucose-dependent polypeptide receptor (GIP receptor)
• The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1)

This unique receptor profile allows retatrutide to effectively:

• Regulate appetite, feelings of fullness, and gastric emptying
• Regulate metabolism
• Regulate blood sugar levels

The activation of the GIP, GLP-1, and GCG receptors simultaneously by retatrutide leads to better weight loss and cardiometabolic benefits compared to targeting a single receptor. GIP is involved in glucose and lipid metabolism, GLP-1 regulates insulin secretion and appetite, and GCG plays a role in fat breakdown for energy use. In comparison, weight loss drugs Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro only work on the and GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist.

💉 What is the ideal dose of retatrutide for weight loss?

When it comes to retatrutide dosage, there is no ideal dose. The ideal dose for an individual depends on weight loss goals, underlying health conditions and how your body reacts to the treatment. Typically, people start with a lower dose to see how their body reacts before gradually increasing the amount.

💉 What is the dosing schedule for retatrutide?

Retatrutide starting dose

A low starting dose gives the body a chance to adjust. This helps monitor your reaction to the dose and presence of any side effects, like nausea or dizziness, that can happen when treatment is first started. The typical retatrutide starting dose is around 1-2.5 mg weekly.

Gradual dose increase (titration)

After a few weeks of adjusting on the starting dose, your doctor may recommend increasing your dosage. This is done slowly to ensure your body handles it well. Most people move up to 5 mg and, depending on their progress, might eventually increase to 10 mg or more.

Maintenance dose

Once you’ve reached your goal weight or are seeing the results you want, your dosage will likely be adjusted to a maintenance dose. This helps keep your weight stable and ensures long-term success without needing to keep increasing your dosage.

How long does it take to reach the maintenance dose?

The titration process varies for each individual, but generally takes several weeks to months. The goal is to increase the dose gradually until the highest tolerable dose (a dose that reaches the desired effect without unacceptable side effects) is reached.

📊 Factors that affect retatrutide dosage

Everyone’s body is different, with a number of factors affecting the retatrutide dosage that is needed:

• Body weight: Heavier individuals may start at a slightly higher dose
• Metabolism: If your metabolism is slower, you might need to increase the dose more gradually
• Overall health: Medical conditions like diabetes or other metabolic disorders can affect your dosage
• Response to treatment: Dosage adjustments are common if side effects occur or if progress slows
• Goals: Whether you’re focused on weight loss or better metabolic health and blood sugar control

🥼 What studies say about retatrutide dosage

A trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine enrolled adults with a BMI (body mass index) of 30 or higher, or between 27 and 30 with weight-related conditions (e.g. high blood pressure, high cholesterol). They were given different doses of retatrutide or a placebo once a week for 48 weeks. Here are the results:

Dose-dependent weight loss

The phase 2 trial demonstrated a dose-dependent relationship between retatrutide and weight loss. As the dosage increased, the amount of weight reduction also increased, with the 12 mg highest dose group achieving the most substantial results. This dose-response relationship suggests that healthcare providers can tailor the retatrutide regimen to the individual needs and preferences of their patients, potentially maximising the weight-loss outcomes.

At the 24-week mark, participants receiving the drug experienced reductions in body weight, ranging from -7.2% in the 1 mg group to -17.5% in the 12 mg group, compared to -1.6% in the placebo group.

The weight-loss results continued to the 48-week endpoint, with the 12 mg retatrutide group achieving a mean weight reduction of -24.2%, while the placebo group only saw a -2.1% change. Overall, a substantial proportion of the retatrutide group (64-100%) were able to achieve a significant weight loss of 5% or more, compared to just 27% in the placebo group.

📊 Side effects of retatrutide

Like any treatment, retatrutide can cause side effects, especially when adjusting dosages. Common side effects include nausea, dizziness, or diarrhoea, but these gastrointestinal (GI) side effects usually go away as your body gets used to the treatment.

While retatrutide has generally been well-tolerated, clinical trials have also revealed a dose-dependent pattern with GI side effects. Participants receiving higher doses of the drug were more likely to experience mild-moderate GI issues, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and constipation.

Overall, the trials found that a lower starting dose (2 mg) during the dose increasing phase could help reduce the frequency and severity of GI side effects, compared to a higher initial dose (4 mg). This suggests that healthcare providers can use a dose-titration strategy to achieve the balance between weight-loss efficacy and tolerability for individual patients.

📝 Conclusion

Getting the right dosage of retatrutide for your treatment plan can make all the difference in your weight loss journey. Clinical studies show that patients using retatrutide experience an average 15% reduction in body weight after following a structured dosing schedule. The success of treatment is closely linked to gradual titration and personalised dosing plans.

Sources

• Unleashing the power of retatrutide: A possible triumph over obesity and overweight: A correspondence – PMC
• Triple–Hormone-Receptor Agonist Retatrutide for Obesity — A Phase 2 Trial – New England Journal of Medicine
• Lilly’s phase 2 retatrutide results – Investor