Whether you’re just starting out or are already using Mounjaro as part of your weight loss journey, you may have heard of a “Mounjaro golden dose”. This refers to the idea of extracting a fifth dose from the injection pen, when it is only designed to administer four.
In this article, we’ll explore the fabled 5th Mounjaro dose to examine where it comes from and whether it’s safe to use. We’ll also answer some frequently asked questions to ensure you have all the information you could possibly need.
START YOUR MOUNJARO CONSULTATION TODAY
The Mounjaro golden dose refers to the liquid remaining in a Mounjaro pen after the four prescribed doses have been administered. Some users extract this residual liquid and inject it to make a fifth ‘golden dose,’ thereby extending the life of the pen.
As Mounjaro prices rise, more people are seeking ways to make weight loss injections more affordable.
The Mounjaro 5th dose is the residual medicine left in a Mounjaro Kwikpen after the four prescribed doses are used. Mounjaro pens are designed to have ‘leftover’ medicine. The excess product accounts for the priming process, as a small amount of medicine is ejected as the user removes air bubbles. It ensures that each of the four prescribed doses is full and accurate, but the remaining liquid does not constitute a usable 5th dose.
Despite this, some people extract and inject the extra fluid in hopes of squeezing an additional dose from their Mounjaro pen. Unfortunately, this practice is unsafe, and several news outlets report that Eli Lilly has pledged to reduce the amount of residual medicine in their pens, therefore removing the ‘golden dose.’
The ‘golden dose’ of Mounjaro is gaining popularity as the price of weight loss injections rises, prompting users to take cost-cutting measures. However, using the 5th Mounjaro dose has significant health risks, and the danger of medical complications outweighs any potential cost-saving benefits.
Medications are only safe when used according to strict guidelines. Mounjaro pens are designed to deliver four complete doses, each containing the precise quantity of tirzepatide required for a full dose. If you extract the remaining liquid after finishing these doses, you risk taking too much or too little medicine. Tampering with the Mounjaro pen by manually extricating the remaining fluid can also contaminate the medicine, increasing the risk of infection.

Using the ‘golden dose’ of Mounjaro carries a significant risk of side effects. This is because the residual solution in a Mounjaro pen is not a measured dose. It’s impossible to determine accurately how much medicine is in this leftover liquid, so people who inject this ‘5th dose’ are at risk of taking too much.
Reports of accidental overdose with weight loss drugs are increasing, with many users requiring medical care as a result. Taking too much Mounjaro can increase gastrointestinal side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. Other side effects associated with accidental Mounjaro overdose include dizziness, abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, and hypoglycemia.
Extracting the 5th Mounjaro dose can also damage the pen and contaminate the medicine with plastic or even glass. Removing the solution can also introduce bacteria, potentially leading to infection and abscesses.
The primary reason why people use the Mounjaro 5th dose is to save money. Using the residual fluid as an extra dose allows people to get an additional week of use from each pen, therefore reducing the overall cost of treatment. This practice is gaining popularity following the increase in Mounjaro prices, but, given the risks, it is not advisable.
If you’re concerned about the cost of weight loss treatment, there are safer alternatives to the ‘golden dose.’ For example, other GLP-1 therapies like Wegovy are available at a lower price point than Mounjaro. Wegovy injections are highly effective for weight loss and may help you achieve your goal at a lower overall cost.
How to get the ‘golden dose’ out of a Mounjaro pen is a recurring question from those attempting to reduce their treatment costs. Unfortunately, there is no safe way to access the residual fluid. The pen is only designed to administer four doses, and the ‘5th dose’ cannot be dialled.
Mounjaro pens are designed with safety features that make it extremely difficult to access the leftover medicine. Doing so would require users to break parts of the pen, potentially contaminating the medicine with plastic or glass fragments.
Like the Mounjaro Kwikpen, the design of the Wegovy FlexTouch includes a small amount of extra medicine. This accounts for fluid lost during priming and ensures that each prescribed dose contains the correct quantity of medication.
The residual medication in a Wegovy pen does not constitute a complete dose and is not safe to extract or inject. As with Mounjaro, this practice carries a significant risk of accidental overdose, contamination and infection.
The rising price of Mounjaro has many people concerned about treatment costs, and has contributed to a surge in questions about the ‘golden dose.’ People want to know if the ‘5th dose’ really works, how much fluid it contains, and the risks of injecting this residual medicine. We’ll discuss these topics and more below.
Mounjaro pens are designed to contain an additional 0.6 ml of solution. However, an unknown quantity of this is lost during the priming process, so it is impossible to accurately determine how many ml are in the ‘golden dose.’
The difficulty of estimating exactly how much medicine the leftover fluid contains is precisely why you shouldn’t inject it. Taking an unknown quantity of tirzepatide can lead to accidental overdose, increasing your risk of side effects and more serious medical problems, like hypoglycemia.
The ‘golden dose’ of Mounjaro is not a full dose. People typically eject a small amount of fluid during the priming process, so they lose unknown quantities of the fluid with normal use of the pen. Therefore, there is no way to accurately determine how much medication is left in the residual solution.

The residual solution in a Mounjaro pen contains an unmeasured amount of tirzepatide, which may be higher or lower than your prescribed dose. An injection containing less medicine will not be as effective and could hinder your weight loss progress. It may also contain too much, which can lead to severe gastrointestinal side effects.
Consistency is key to the success of any medical treatment, and people who adhere to the official dosing schedule achieve better weight loss outcomes. Therefore, you are more likely to reach and sustain your goal weight when you use Mounjaro as your clinician recommends.
The health risks of using the Mounjaro ‘golden dose’ are significant. Deviating from the official Mounjaro dosing schedule can lead to accidental overdose and severe gastrointestinal symptoms. It also puts you at a higher risk of more serious medical conditions like hypoglycemia.
Extracting the leftover medicine is also dangerous, as breaking or damaging the pen can contaminate the solution and increase your risk of infection. The best way to avoid medical complications is to use the medication as instructed by your prescribing clinician.
Medicated weight loss is not a quick fix. There should be no fads or shortcuts, such as the Mounjaro golden dose. It is intended instead as a long-term solution that requires dedication, a balanced diet, and regular exercise. The good news is that you don’t need to go through everything alone, as specialist support is available at every step of the journey.
Since 2013, Prescription Doctor has helped countless individuals achieve their goals, and we’re ready to do the same for you. We offer a holistic weight loss clinic tailored to your unique circumstances, from assessing the suitability of your chosen medication to regularly checking in with you to monitor progress and ensure everything is working as intended.
Our website has a wealth of information about Mounjaro, including how to use the pen, microdosing, and tips and tricks for success. You can also find some reviews from real customers and impressive before-and-after pictures to demonstrate potential results.
If you need your medication in a hurry, we have you covered. Orders approved by 3pm on a weekday are eligible for next-day delivery, so there’s no waiting around. We also send all items in plain packaging for total discretion.
Let us support you with your journey. Begin your consultation with Prescription Doctor today and benefit from our experience.
Sources
© 2013 - 2025 Al Muhsineen Limited. All Rights Reserved. Registered Pharmacy: 34 Halliwell Road, Bolton BL1 8RL. Registered Office: 254 First Floor, Shearbrow, Blackburn, England, BB1 8DS
