Metabolic research
GLP-1 Weight Management Protocol
Why this combination exists
This is less a 'stack' than a discipline: one compound, run exactly on the clinical titration schedule. The trial programs (STEP for semaglutide, SURMOUNT for tirzepatide) produced their results with slow 4-week escalation steps — the schedule is the protocol.
The choice between compounds is an evidence question: semaglutide has the longest track record; tirzepatide reported larger average reductions via its dual GLP-1/GIP mechanism. They are alternatives, never combined.
Literature-referenced schedule
| Component | Referenced schedule |
|---|---|
| Semaglutide (trial reference) | 0.25 → 0.5 → 1.0 → 1.7 → 2.4 mg weekly, stepping every 4 weeks |
| Tirzepatide (trial reference) | 2.5 → 5 → 7.5 → 10 → 12.5 → 15 mg weekly, stepping every 4 weeks |
Reconstitution notes
Weekly dosing means one vial lasts a long time at starting doses — reconstitute conservatively. Example: 5 mg semaglutide + 2 mL BAC water = 2.5 mg/mL; the 0.25 mg start is 10 units. Both compounds: refrigerate, use within weeks, never freeze the solution.
Build this protocol in the app
The protocol builder turns this schedule into dose reminders, syringe-unit calculations, and a running log — free to start.
Peptides in this protocol
Semaglutide
A GLP-1 receptor agonist studied and prescribed for glycemic control and weight management.
Full research profile →
GLP-1 / MetabolicTirzepatide
A dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist studied and prescribed for glycemic control and weight loss, generally outperforming semaglutide on weight loss in trials.
Full research profile →
Frequently asked questions
Semaglutide or tirzepatide — which appears more in research?
Semaglutide has more years of published data; tirzepatide reported greater average weight change in its own trials (20.9% vs 14.9%, different trials). Both are prescription drugs in Canada; research versions are RUO.
Can the titration steps be skipped?
The trials never did — every 4-week hold exists to let GI tolerance develop at steady-state levels. Skipping steps is where the nausea reports come from.
Are GLP-1s stacked with other peptides?
Trial literature runs them solo. The referenced adjustment for tolerance is slowing the schedule, not adding compounds.