Foundayo Dosage: The Complete UK Titration Schedule
The six tablet strengths, the 30-day step-up schedule from 0.8 mg to 17.2 mg, what to do about missed doses, and when the maximum dose is lower than you expect.
Part of the Overweight and Obesity condition guide.
The headline: Foundayo is taken as one tablet once daily, at any time, with or without food. Treatment starts at 0.8 mg and increases in steps with a minimum of 30 days at each strength—so reaching the 17.2 mg maximum takes at least five months.
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Order Foundayo →The six tablet strengths
Foundayo is taken as one tablet, once a day. Treatment doesn't start at the dose you stay on: it begins low and increases in steps, with at least a month at each level, so the body has time to adjust.
Foundayo is supplied in six strengths:
Your prescriber decides your dose and when it changes. Never adjust the dose yourself, and never take more than one tablet a day. This page explains the standard schedule so you know what to expect, not so you can self-manage it.
The standard titration schedule
| Step | Dose | Minimum time at this dose |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.8 mg once daily | 30 days |
| 2 | 2.5 mg once daily | 30 days |
| 3 | 5.5 mg once daily | 30 days |
| 4 | 9 mg once daily | 30 days |
| 5 | 14.5 mg once daily | 30 days |
| 6 | 17.2 mg once daily | Maintenance |
The schedule is a minimum, not a target. Steps 4 to 6 are taken only if a higher dose is needed and the current one is being tolerated. Someone who's losing weight steadily and feeling well on 5.5 mg may have no reason to go further; someone struggling with nausea may stay at a dose for longer than 30 days, or step back down.
Maintenance doses range from 5.5 mg up to a maximum of 17.2 mg once daily. Reaching 17.2 mg isn't the goal of treatment. The goal is the lowest dose that gives you a good result with side effects you can live with.
Why the increases are so gradual
Almost all the common side effects of Foundayo are gastrointestinal—nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting, indigestion—and almost all of them are worst in the days after a dose increase, then settle.
Escalating slowly gives the gut time to adapt. Going too fast is the single most common reason people abandon GLP-1 treatment altogether.
35%
Nausea on the 17.2 mg dose in ATTAIN-1, versus 10% on placebo
~10%
Stopped treatment because of side effects on the highest dose
<3%
Stopped because of side effects on placebo
If a step up isn't tolerated, the answer is usually to go back to the previous dose and try again later rather than to stop entirely. Speak to your prescriber rather than making that decision alone. Full detail on what to expect is in the Foundayo side effects and safety guide.
Taking Foundayo day to day
- Once a day, at any time of day.
- With or without food. There are no food or water restrictions, unlike some other oral GLP-1 medicines.
- Swallow the tablet whole. Don't break, crush or chew it.
- Try to take it at roughly the same time each day. This is for habit rather than pharmacology, but consistency makes missed doses less likely.
- Never take two tablets in one day to make up for a missed one.
This is a meaningful practical difference from Wegovy tablets, which must be taken fasted each morning with no more than 120 ml of water and a 30-minute wait before eating, drinking or taking other oral medicines. The two schedules are compared in Foundayo vs the Wegovy pill.
Missed doses and treatment breaks
1
You remember the same day
Take the missed tablet as soon as you remember and carry on as normal the next day.
2
It's nearly time for the next dose
Skip the missed dose entirely and take the next one at the usual time. Don't double up.
3
You've missed around a week or more
Contact your prescriber before restarting. Tolerance to GLP-1 medicines fades during a break, and restarting at your previous dose can bring back the nausea and vomiting you'd originally worked past. You may need to restart lower and titrate up again.
When the maximum dose is lower
The 17.2 mg maximum doesn't apply to everyone.
| Situation | Effect on orforglipron | What it means for dosing |
|---|---|---|
| Strong CYP3A4 inhibitor — e.g. ketoconazole, itraconazole, clarithromycin, HIV protease inhibitors | Slows the breakdown of orforglipron, raising blood levels | Maximum Foundayo dose reduced to 9 mg once daily |
| Strong CYP3A4 inducer — e.g. rifampicin, carbamazepine, phenytoin, St John's wort | Speeds up breakdown, lowering blood levels | Avoid. Foundayo may not work properly |
| Moderate CYP3A4 inducer | Lowers levels to a smaller degree | Monitoring for reduced effect; the dose may need escalating |
| Simvastatin | Active metabolite exposure roughly doubles | Limit simvastatin to 20 mg daily |
Give your prescriber a complete list of everything you take, including herbal remedies and supplements bought without a prescription. St John's wort in particular is easy to forget to mention and is a strong CYP3A4 inducer.
Doses used in the clinical trials
You may see different numbers quoted—6 mg, 12 mg and 36 mg—in press coverage of the ATTAIN-1 trial. The approved prescribing information describes the same trial using the marketed strengths of 5.5 mg, 9 mg and 17.2 mg. If you're comparing sources, the strengths on the packaging and in the prescribing information are the ones that apply to the medicine you'd actually be given.
How the schedule compares with other GLP-1 medicines
| Medicine | Frequency | Dose range | Step interval |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundayo (orforglipron) | Daily tablet | 0.8–17.2 mg | Minimum 30 days |
| Wegovy tablets (oral semaglutide) | Daily tablet, fasted | 1.5–25 mg | Monthly |
| Mounjaro (tirzepatide) | Weekly injection | 2.5–15 mg | Every 4 weeks |
| Saxenda (liraglutide) | Daily injection | 0.6–3 mg | Weekly |
Every one of these uses slow escalation for the same reason: gastrointestinal side effects track with dose. If you're weighing up a tablet against an injection, see Foundayo vs Mounjaro and the Mounjaro dose schedule.
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Order Foundayo →Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to reach the maintenance dose of Foundayo?
At least three months to reach 5.5mg, and at least five months to reach 17.2mg if you go that far. Each step requires a minimum of 30 days at the current dose before moving up. Many people take longer than the minimum because a step is not well tolerated or because they are doing well at a lower dose, and that is normal.
Can I increase my Foundayo dose faster if I am tolerating it well?
No. The 30-day minimum at each dose is part of the licensed schedule and exists to protect against the gastrointestinal side effects that build with dose. Increasing faster is the single most common reason people abandon GLP-1 treatment altogether. Never adjust the dose yourself, and never take more than one tablet a day.
What should I do if I miss a dose of Foundayo?
Take it as soon as you remember. If it is nearly time for your next dose, skip the missed one and carry on as normal. Do not take two tablets in one day to make up for a missed dose. If you miss several days in a row, around a week or more, contact your prescriber before restarting, because tolerance fades during a break and you may need to restart at a lower dose.
What if I am losing weight too quickly on Foundayo?
Tell your prescriber. Rapid weight loss can bring its own problems, including loss of lean muscle, gallstones and nutritional deficiencies. A dose reduction, or staying at your current dose rather than stepping up, may be appropriate. Reaching the maximum dose is not the goal of treatment.
Is the maximum Foundayo dose always 17.2mg?
No. If you take a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor, such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, clarithromycin or an HIV protease inhibitor, the maximum dose of Foundayo is 9mg once daily because these medicines raise orforglipron levels in the blood. Strong CYP3A4 inducers, including rifampicin, carbamazepine, phenytoin and St John's wort, should be avoided because they can make Foundayo less effective.
What time of day should I take Foundayo?
There is no clinically preferred time. Foundayo can be taken at any time of day, with or without food, and there is no fasting period or water restriction. Choose a time you will remember and try to keep it consistent, because habit is what prevents missed doses.
Why do some reports mention 6mg, 12mg and 36mg doses?
Press coverage of the ATTAIN-1 trial sometimes quoted 6mg, 12mg and 36mg. The approved prescribing information describes the same trial using the marketed strengths of 5.5mg, 9mg and 17.2mg. The strengths on the packaging and in the prescribing information are the ones that apply to the medicine you would actually be given.
Dose support from Access Doctor
Access Doctor is a GPhC-registered UK online pharmacy supplying licensed weight management medicines by private prescription. Your consultation is reviewed by a pharmacist independent prescriber who confirms the appropriate starting dose, and each dose increase is reviewed rather than issued automatically. If treatment isn't clinically appropriate for you, we'll say so.
Weight Loss · Rx
Foundayo (Orforglipron)
Once-daily GLP-1 tablet in six strengths, from 0.8 mg to 17.2 mg. No food or water restrictions.
View product →Weight Loss · Rx
Wegovy Tablets
Once-daily oral semaglutide, 1.5 mg to 25 mg, taken fasted each morning.
View product →Compare all of our weight loss treatments before you start.
References
- US Food and Drug Administration. FOUNDAYO (orforglipron) tablets — Prescribing Information. 2026. accessdata.fda.gov
- Eli Lilly and Company. Foundayo dosing schedule and safety information. 2026. foundayo.lilly.com
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. UK first in Europe to authorise orforglipron for weight management and type 2 diabetes. 10 August 2026. gov.uk
- Eli Lilly and Company. Complete ATTAIN-1 results published in the New England Journal of Medicine. 2026. lilly.gcs-web.com
Medical disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment. In a medical emergency, call 999.