Mazdutide dosing & administration
Dual GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonist delivering up to 20% weight loss with superior glycemic control in clinical trials.
Written by Michael Carroll — Owner, Director of Research · Reviewed by the Peptide Initiative Research Team · Editorial standards
Dosing
How much do I take?
Subcutaneous: A small injection into the fatty layer just under the skin — the same way insulin is given.
Bioavailability High — most of the dose reaches your bloodstream, just more gradually than an IV.
Titration schedule
1.5 mg
Frequency
Once weekly
Duration
Initial titration weeks
GLORY-1 Phase 3 starting dose; mazdutide was initiated at 1.5 mg once weekly and titrated stepwise toward the target maintenance dose to limit GI effects [6].
4 mg
Frequency
Once weekly
Duration
Maintenance (32-48 weeks in trial)
GLORY-1 Phase 3 maintenance dose; produced about 11-12% mean body-weight reduction. Approved in China at this strength for weight management [6].
6 mg
Frequency
Once weekly
Duration
Maintenance (32-48 weeks in trial)
GLORY-1 Phase 3 higher maintenance dose; produced about 13-15% mean body-weight reduction. Approved in China at this strength alongside the 4 mg dose [6].
Timing
Best time to take
Administer Mazdutide at the same time each day (or on the same day each week for weekly injections). Many users prefer morning or evening administration. Pick a time you'll remember consistently.
With food?
Mazdutide injections can be given regardless of meal timing. However, if GI effects occur, administering on an empty stomach or with a light meal may help reduce discomfort.
If stacking
Mazdutide should be used as directed by your healthcare provider. If combining with other medications or supplements, discuss potential interactions with your provider. Avoid combining with compounds that have overlapping mechanisms unless specifically guided by a medical professional.
Adjusting your dose
Increase if
- You've tolerated the current dose for the recommended period without significant side effects
- Therapeutic goals haven't been met at the current dose level
- Your healthcare provider recommends dose escalation based on your response
- Lab work or clinical assessments support a higher dose
Decrease if
- Side effects are bothersome or impacting daily life despite management strategies
- You experience any signs of an adverse reaction
- Lab results indicate the need for dose reduction
- Your healthcare provider recommends a lower dose based on your response
Signs of right dose
- Therapeutic goals being met with minimal side effects
- Stable and consistent response to treatment
- Lab values or clinical markers trending in the right direction
- Good tolerance with manageable or absent side effects
Administration
How do I use it?
Reconstitution
What you need
Injection
Route
Subcutaneous injection (into the fatty tissue just under the skin)—allows for consistent absorption and can be self-administered at home after proper training
Best sites
Storage
Before reconstitution
Store Mazdutide in the refrigerator at 36-46°F (2-8°C) in its original packaging. Protect from light and moisture. Do not freeze. Check the expiration date before use. Some formulations may be stored at room temperature for limited periods—check your specific product labeling.
After reconstitution
Once reconstituted, Mazdutide should be kept refrigerated at 36-46°F (2-8°C) and used within the timeframe specified on your product labeling (typically 14-28 days). Label the vial with the reconstitution date. Do not use if the solution appears cloudy, discolored, or contains particles.
Signs of degradation — discard the vial
Sample daily schedule
As prescribed (once daily)
As prescribed by your healthcare provider injection
Site: Subcutaneous injection—rotate sites if applicable
Maintain a consistent schedule for optimal results with Mazdutide. Set reminders if needed. If you miss a dose, follow your healthcare provider's instructions—do not double up on doses to compensate.
Safety
Is it safe?
Side effects
Commonly reported: Nausea, Diarrhea, Decreased Appetite
Less common: Vomiting, Injection Site Reactions
Stop and seek help if
- Severe or worsening side effects that don't improve with dose adjustment or supportive care
- Signs of an allergic reaction—rash, hives, swelling, or difficulty breathing
- Your healthcare provider recommends discontinuation based on your clinical response
- Development of any new medical condition that may be contraindicated with Mazdutide
- Pregnancy or planning to become pregnant (unless specifically approved for use during pregnancy)
- Abnormal lab results or clinical markers that suggest adverse effects
Mazdutide should only be started, adjusted, or discontinued under medical supervision. This information is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Never stop a prescribed treatment without consulting your healthcare provider first, as abrupt discontinuation may have consequences.
Flagged pairings
- Other GLP-1 Receptor Agonists — Use with caution—discuss with your healthcare provider.
- Sulfonylureas — Use with caution—discuss with your healthcare provider.
- Insulin (without dose reduction) — Use with caution—discuss with your healthcare provider.
Published research
What the studies show
Guo L, et al. · 2026
In Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes, mazdutide 6 mg achieved superior HbA1c reduction (-2.15%) and weight loss (-7.81%) compared to dulaglutide 1.5 mg. More participants reached HbA1c targets while maintaining safety.
Zhu D, et al. · 2026
Mazdutide monotherapy significantly reduced HbA1c by 2.15% and body weight by 7.81% versus placebo in diabetic patients after 24 weeks. More than 70% achieved both glycemic control and clinically meaningful weight loss.
Luo Y, et al. · 2026
The DREAMS-3 trial directly compared mazdutide versus semaglutide in Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes and obesity. This first head-to-head trial targets HbA1c <7.0% with ≥10% weight reduction by week 32.
Shirley M, et al. · 2025
This review summarizes mazdutide's development and first regulatory approval. Mazdutide, a glucagon/GLP-1 receptor dual agonist, received first approval in China in June 2025 for weight management in adults with obesity or overweight, and its use was subsequently expanded to type 2 diabetes treatment.
Elmendorf AJ, et al. · 2026
This IUPHAR review examines the therapeutic repurposing of glucagon agonism for metabolic disease, providing mechanistic context for glucagon/GLP-1 dual agonists such as mazdutide in the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Ji L, et al. (New England Journal of Medicine) · 2025
Phase 3 trial: once-weekly SC mazdutide titrated from 1.5 mg to maintenance 4 mg or 6 mg produced ~11-12% and ~13-15% mean body-weight reduction respectively over 32-48 weeks.
Gao L, et al. (JAMA) · 2026
Phase 3, 461 Chinese adults with obesity randomised 2:1 to once-weekly subcutaneous mazdutide 9 mg or placebo for 60 weeks. Mean body-weight change at week 60 was -16.65% with mazdutide versus -1.50% with placebo; 84.3% versus 33.1% lost at least 5%. Most common adverse events were vomiting (53.1% vs 1.3%), nausea (46.9% vs 3.2%) and diarrhoea (39.4% vs 6.5%), mostly mild to moderate; 2.9% discontinued for adverse events.
Innovent Biologics · 2025
GLORY-2 topline: at week 60 the efficacy estimand showed mean weight reduction of 18.55% with mazdutide 9 mg versus 3.02% with placebo, and 20.08% in participants without type 2 diabetes versus 2.81% with placebo. 44.0% of the mazdutide group lost 20% or more of body weight (48.7% among those without diabetes). Gastrointestinal adverse events were mostly mild to moderate and transient.
Ji L, et al. (Nature Communications) · 2023
248 Chinese overweight adults or adults with obesity randomised to once-weekly mazdutide 3 mg, 4.5 mg, 6 mg or placebo for 24 weeks. Mean body-weight change was -6.7%, -10.4% and -11.3% respectively versus +1.0% with placebo. Most common adverse events were diarrhoea, nausea and upper respiratory tract infection; lipase and amylase and calcitonin were monitored, with transient lipase elevations above three times the upper limit of normal in two participants and no calcitonin of 20 ng/L or higher.
Zhang B, et al. (Diabetes Care) · 2024
Adults with type 2 diabetes randomised to mazdutide 3 mg, 4.5 mg or 6 mg, open-label dulaglutide 1.5 mg, or placebo for 20 weeks. HbA1c fell 1.41% to 1.67% with mazdutide versus 1.35% with dulaglutide and +0.03% with placebo; body weight fell up to 7.1%. Most common adverse events with mazdutide were diarrhoea (36%), decreased appetite (29%), nausea (23%), vomiting (14%) and hypoglycaemia (10%); lipase, amylase and calcitonin were monitored.
Ji L, et al. (EClinicalMedicine) · 2022
Phase 1b multiple-ascending-dose trial of mazdutide titrated to 9 mg over 12 weeks and to 10 mg over 16 weeks. No serious adverse event was reported and all treatment-emergent adverse events were mild or moderate, most commonly upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhoea, decreased appetite, nausea, urinary tract infection, abdominal distension and vomiting. Mean body-weight change was -11.7% at week 12 in the 9 mg cohort and -9.5% at week 16 in the 10 mg cohort.
Ji L, et al. (Med) · 2026
80 Chinese adults with BMI at least 30 kg/m2 and without diabetes randomised 3:1 to mazdutide 9 mg or placebo for 24 weeks. Mean body-weight change was -12.78% with mazdutide versus +1.80% with placebo; 81.7% lost at least 5%. Most common adverse events were nausea (50.0% vs 0%), diarrhoea (38.3% vs 10.0%) and vomiting (36.7% vs 10.0%), predominantly mild to moderate.
Jiang H, et al. (Nature Communications) · 2022
Phase 1b trial in 43 Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes given once-weekly IBI362 3.0 mg, 4.5 mg or 6.0 mg, placebo or dulaglutide 1.5 mg for 12 weeks. HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose and post-meal glucose fell from baseline in all three IBI362 cohorts. Most common treatment-emergent adverse events were diarrhoea (29.2%), decreased appetite (25.0%) and nausea (16.7%).
Hsia SH, et al. (The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology) · 2026
179 US adults with obesity or overweight without type 2 diabetes randomised to once-weekly mazdutide 3-6 mg, 10 mg, 16 mg or placebo for 48 weeks. At 32 weeks least-squares mean body-weight change was -7.3%, -15.6% and -18.1% respectively versus -0.9% with placebo. Most common adverse events were gastrointestinal and mostly mild to moderate; discontinuation for adverse events was most frequent at 16 mg (20%), primarily gastrointestinal disorders.
Innovent Biologics · 2025
DREAMS-3 topline: 48.0% of mazdutide 6 mg participants versus 21.0% of semaglutide 1 mg participants reached HbA1c below 7.0% with at least 10% weight reduction at week 32 (p<0.0001). Mean HbA1c change was -2.03% with mazdutide versus -1.84% with semaglutide (p<0.05) and mean weight change was -10.29% versus -6.00% (p<0.05).
He L, et al. (JAMA Internal Medicine) · 2022
76 randomised trials and 103,371 patients. GLP-1 receptor agonist treatment was associated with increased risk of gallbladder or biliary disease (RR 1.37), cholelithiasis (RR 1.27), cholecystitis (RR 1.36) and biliary disease (RR 1.55). Risk was higher in weight-loss trials (RR 2.29), at higher doses (RR 1.56) and with longer duration of use (RR 1.40).
Novo Nordisk / US Food and Drug Administration · 2024
Section 5.2: acute pancreatitis, including fatal and non-fatal haemorrhagic or necrotising pancreatitis, has been observed in patients treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists; patients should be observed for persistent severe abdominal pain, sometimes radiating to the back, and treatment discontinued promptly if pancreatitis is suspected and not restarted if confirmed. Section 5.3: acute gallbladder disease has occurred, and substantial or rapid weight loss can increase the risk of gallstones.
Neff GW (Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism) · 2025
Review of glucagon receptor signalling: glucagon stimulates lipolysis and mitochondrial fat oxidation in the liver, reduces caloric intake and increases energy expenditure, and glucagon receptor antagonism raises body weight, hepatic fat and serum lipids. GCGR/GLP-1 multi-agonists including mazdutide combine this with GLP-1 receptor agonism, producing weight loss while improving liver health in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.
Head to head
Mazdutide compared
Want the full picture?
The complete Mazdutide research profile: mechanism of action, clinical studies, effectiveness timeline, and FAQ.