Zepbound KwikPen Dose Chart

Zepbound KwikPen at a glance

Strengths and contents from the label, section 3 [1]. *The $449 price is Lilly's Self Pay Journey Program rate and holds only when each refill is completed within 45 days of the last delivery. Otherwise the regular price applies: $499 for 7.5 mg and $699 for 10, 12.5 and 15 mg [5]. The single-dose vial carries the same self-pay prices [3]. Prices read September 2026; pen needles are extra.

When the KwikPen was approved

Lilly announced on February 23, 2026 that the FDA had approved a Zepbound label expansion adding the four-dose, single-patient-use KwikPen, which delivers a month of treatment in one device [4]. The $449 Journey Program rate for 7.5 mg and above took effect on purchases from that date [5].

How to dial and prime the KwikPen

The KwikPen differs from the single-dose autoinjector in three ways that matter every week [2]:

• You attach a new pen needle each time. Needles are not included. Leave the outer needle shield for later; it goes back on before you unscrew the needle.
• You prime before every injection. Turn the dose knob slowly until you hear 2 clicks and the extended line shows in the dose window. Point the needle up, tap the cartridge, then push the knob in and hold it while you count slowly to 5. If a drop appears at the tip, the pen is primed. If not, repeat up to 2 more times; if there is still no drop, put on a new needle for one last try, then call Lilly.
• You dial the whole dose, not a number of clicks. Turn the knob all the way until it stops and the dose icon is in the window. Inject, push the knob in until it stops, and count slowly to 5 before removing the needle. If the icon is not showing afterward, put the needle back in and finish; do not redial.

After the fourth dose the pen will not let you dial a full dose. Throw it away with the leftover medicine in it; the Instructions for Use say not to inject leftover medicine or draw it into a syringe [2]. The label does not recommend the KwikPen for self-injection by people with visual impairment unless someone trained to use it helps [1].

How the Zepbound titration schedule works

The prescribing information [1] starts everyone at 2.5 mg once a week for 4 weeks. That dose is for starting treatment and is not approved as a maintenance dose. Then 5 mg weekly. From there a prescriber may increase in 2.5 mg steps, at least 4 weeks apart, based on response and tolerability. The maintenance doses for weight reduction are 5, 10 or 15 mg; for obstructive sleep apnea, 10 or 15 mg. Nothing above 15 mg a week.

All six strengths exist in every Zepbound presentation, so 7.5 and 12.5 mg are available as steps between the 5, 10 and 15 mg maintenance doses [1].

Storage

The KwikPen and multi-dose vial follow a 30-day rule: unopened, they keep until the expiration date in a refrigerator at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C), or 30 days at room temperature up to 86°F (30°C). Once opened, keep them in the carton in the fridge or at room temperature up to 86°F, and discard after 4 doses or 30 days after first use [1]. Single-dose pens and vials follow a 21-day room-temperature limit instead. Never freeze any Zepbound, and do not use it if it has been frozen. Do not store the KwikPen with a needle attached [2].

Single-dose pens and vials

The single-dose autoinjector delivers one 0.5 mL dose with a built-in needle; you place it, unlock it with the lock ring, and press and hold the purple button for up to 10 seconds [2]. Single-dose vials hold one 0.5 mL dose and need a syringe and needle; any unused portion is discarded. The label also lists a multi-dose vial with four 0.6 mL doses [1].

Insurance, savings card and Medicare

• Commercial plan that covers the single-dose pen: the Zepbound savings card can bring a 1- to 3-month fill down to $25, with savings capped at $100 a month and $1,300 a calendar year. The card ends December 31, 2026 [5].
• Commercial plan that does not cover the KwikPen: the card prices the KwikPen at the self-pay levels above ($299 to $449) [5].
• Medicare Part D: the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program covers the Zepbound KwikPen for weight management at $50 a month after prior authorization, for people who meet its BMI and clinical criteria. The single-dose pen and single-dose vial are not covered by it, and use for sleep apnea is not eligible [6].

For every manufacturer program side by side, see GLP-1 manufacturer coupons and savings cards.

Important disclaimer

Educational reference only, and not medical advice. Changing dose is your prescriber's decision to direct, not one to take from a chart. Go by the Instructions for Use that came with the pen or vial in your hand. If you are not certain which strength you should be on, ask your prescriber or pharmacist.

Related tools and research

• Where to inject tirzepatide: the approved injection sites and how to rotate them
• Mounjaro KwikPen click & dose chart: the same molecule, approved for type 2 diabetes
• How much Zepbound costs: list price, self-pay and seller prices
• GLP-1 dose plotter: how tirzepatide levels build up week to week
• GLP-1 missed dose guide: what to do if you miss a Zepbound injection
• GLP-1 washout calculator: how long tirzepatide stays in your system
• Brand names vs molecules: which brands share tirzepatide, and what switching between them means