Almost every weight loss injection today is weekly, but a monthly option is moving through trials. The approved injectables, semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro), are all taken once a week. A once-monthly injectable called MariTide is in development and could eventually offer far fewer injections, but it isn’t approved or available yet. Fewer shots sounds appealing, though weekly dosing has its own advantages. Here’s how the two approaches compare and what’s actually available now.<\/p>\n
Weekly injection is the norm because it fits how these drugs behave in the body and keeps their levels steady. A once-weekly rhythm balances convenience with consistent appetite control, and it lets providers adjust the dose gradually, which is how side effects are kept manageable. For most people, a single weekly injection with a small, fine needle becomes a quick routine.<\/p>\n
Weekly dosing also offers flexibility. If side effects appear, a provider can hold or adjust the dose relatively quickly, since the next dose is only days away rather than weeks.<\/p>\n
A once-monthly injection would mean roughly a dozen shots a year instead of about fifty-two, which could help people who dislike needles or struggle with weekly consistency. MariTide, a monthly injectable in development, is the furthest along in this space. In a phase 2 trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine<\/a> in 2025, MariTide produced substantial weight loss (up to around 20% at a year in early data), with the notable feature of monthly dosing.<\/p>\n The tradeoff is control. With a monthly drug, adjusting the dose or responding to side effects takes longer, since each dose lasts weeks. MariTide remains investigational, so its real-world place, including how side effects are managed on a monthly schedule, is still being worked out.<\/p>\n TrimRx prescribes compounded semaglutide and compounded tirzepatide along with the brand weekly injectables, so the established weekly options are available after a provider review. MariTide, the monthly candidate, is investigational and not available, so it isn’t something to plan around today. For now, the practical choice is among weekly options, which have the advantage of proven results and flexible dosing.<\/p>\n Consider a hypothetical patient who dreads injections and is tempted to wait for a monthly drug. Since the monthly option isn’t available and weekly injections use a small needle that most people adjust to quickly, starting a proven weekly option now is usually the more practical path, with the choice guided by a provider.<\/p>\n Not an approved one yet. MariTide, a once-monthly injectable, is in development and has shown strong weight loss in trials, but it remains investigational and isn’t available for prescription.<\/p>\n Each has tradeoffs. Weekly dosing allows quicker dose adjustments and is available now, while a monthly option would mean fewer injections. For today, the effective available options are all weekly.<\/p>\n Both are taken once a week. The injection uses a small, fine needle, and most people find the weekly routine quick and easy once they get used to it.<\/p>\nComparing the Approaches<\/h3>\n
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\n \nFeature<\/th>\n Weekly injections (available)<\/th>\n Monthly injection (investigational)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n Examples<\/td>\n Semaglutide, tirzepatide<\/td>\n MariTide<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Injections per year<\/td>\n About 52<\/td>\n About 12<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Dose adjustment<\/td>\n Quick, flexible<\/td>\n Slower between doses<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Availability<\/td>\n Approved and available now<\/td>\n Not yet approved or available<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Convenience<\/td>\n Simple weekly routine<\/td>\n Fewer shots overall<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n Frequently Asked Questions<\/h3>\n
Is there a monthly weight loss injection?<\/h4>\n
Are weekly weight loss shots better than monthly?<\/h4>\n
How often do I inject semaglutide or tirzepatide?<\/h4>\n