Short answer: 10 mL of bacteriostatic water in a 50 mg tirzepatide vial makes 5 mg/mL. On a U-100 insulin syringe (1 mL = 100 units), every 10 units then holds 500 mcg. More water gives a weaker solution and a bigger draw for the same amount; the amount in the vial stays 50 mg.
| Water added | Concentration | Per 10 units | Per 1 unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 mL | 25 mg/mL | 2.5 mg | 250 mcg |
| 3 mL | 16.67 mg/mL | 1.667 mg | 166.667 mcg |
| 5 mL | 10 mg/mL | 1 mg | 100 mcg |
| 10 mL | 5 mg/mL | 500 mcg | 50 mcg |
The amounts below are examples to show the conversion, not doses. How much to take is a decision for you and your prescriber.
| Water added | 1.25 mg | 2.5 mg | 5 mg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 mL | 5 units | 10 units | 20 units |
| 3 mL | 7.5 units | 15 units | 30 units |
| 5 mL | 12.5 units | 25 units | 50 units |
| 10 mL | 25 units | 50 units | 100 units |
A 50 mg vial holds 40 draws of 1.25 mg, 20 draws of 2.5 mg, 10 draws of 5 mg, no matter how much water you add.
Draws per vial depend only on the amount per draw, not on the water. The volume and units columns use 10 mL of water (5 mg/mL). Example amounts only, not doses.
| Amount per draw | Draws per vial | Volume per draw | Units per draw |
|---|---|---|---|
| 625 mcg | 80 | 0.125 mL | 12.5 units |
| 1.25 mg | 40 | 0.25 mL | 25 units |
| 2.5 mg | 20 | 0.5 mL | 50 units |
| 5 mg | 10 | 1 mL | 100 units |
| 10 mg | 5 | 2 mL | over 1 mL |
Real counts run a little lower: some liquid stays in the syringe and at the bottom of the vial.
To get the same 5 mg/mL from another vial size, scale the water with the vial. Same strength means the same units for the same amount, whichever vial it comes from.
| Vial | Water for 5 mg/mL | 2.5 mg draws per vial |
|---|---|---|
| 5 mg | 1 mL | 2 |
| 10 mg | 2 mL | 4 |
| 15 mg | 3 mL | 6 |
| 20 mg | 4 mL | 8 |
| 30 mg | 6 mL | 12 |
| 40 mg | 8 mL | 16 |
| 50 mg (this page) | 10 mL | 20 |
| 60 mg | 12 mL (over 10 mL) | 24 |
50 mg ÷ 10 mL = 5 mg/mLamount ÷ 5 mg/mL = mLmL × 100 = unitsFor a different water volume or amount, the free peptide reconstitution calculator works backwards from the amount you want and suggests a water volume that lands on a clean syringe mark.
Other tirzepatide vial sizes: Tirzepatide 5 mg · Tirzepatide 10 mg · Tirzepatide 15 mg · Tirzepatide 20 mg · Tirzepatide 30 mg · Tirzepatide 40 mg · Tirzepatide 60 mg
Half-life, time to peak and sources are on the main Tirzepatide guide.