The Foundayo dosage schedule starts with 0.8 mg once a day for at least 30 days, then 2.5 mg for at least 30 days, after which a prescriber can move you to 5.5 mg, the lowest dose tested long term in the weight-loss trials. From there the dose can rise to 9 mg, 14.5 mg and finally 17.2 mg, each at least 30 days after the last, depending on response and side effects. On the fastest timetable the UK label allows, the earliest 17.2 mg can start is day 151. Your prescriber may move more slowly, or stop before the top.
Foundayo (orforglipron) was authorised by the MHRA on 10 August 2026. The schedule below comes from its UK Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) and patient leaflet on the emc. This is information only, not medical advice. Foundayo is a prescription-only medicine: a qualified prescriber decides whether it suits you, which dose you take and when it changes.
The Foundayo dosage schedule, month by month
The table shows the earliest possible timing. Here a "month" means a 30-day step: read it as "no sooner than", not as a date to hit.
| Earliest month | Days | Once-daily dose | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Month 1 | 1 to 30 | 0.8 mg | Starter dose |
| Month 2 | 31 to 60 | 2.5 mg | Second step |
| Month 3 | 61 to 90 | 5.5 mg | Lowest dose tested for weight loss |
| Month 4 | 91 to 120 | 9 mg | Optional step |
| Month 5 | 121 to 150 | 14.5 mg | Optional step |
| Month 6 onwards | 151 onwards | 17.2 mg | Maximum daily dose |
Three points are easy to miss:
- The first rise is expected. The leaflet says that after 30 days on 0.8 mg your doctor should increase the dose to 2.5 mg: the starter dose is not meant to last.
- Beyond 2.5 mg, each rise is a decision. The label says the dose "can" or "may" go up, and the SmPC ties the rises to 9, 14.5 and 17.2 mg to treatment response and tolerability. Someone doing well on 5.5 mg may simply stay there.
- One tablet a day. Each step means one tablet of the new strength. The SmPC says more than one tablet a day should not be taken to make up a higher dose.
Our dosage page describes the six strengths, and how to take Foundayo covers the daily routine, which stays the same at every step.
Why the dose goes up in small steps
The US prescribing information says the gradual start is there to reduce the risk of gut side effects. The UK SmPC reports that nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea were more frequent during the step-up period and decreased over time, and that most were mild to moderate.
So a new step can bring a fresh spell of symptoms. Vomiting and diarrhoea can dehydrate you and strain the kidneys, so the leaflet stresses drinking enough fluids. More serious risks include gallstones (common, up to 1 in 10) and pancreatitis (uncommon, up to 1 in 100); our side effects page and our article on what the UK leaflet and trials report cover them. Foundayo is a black-triangle medicine under additional monitoring, so report any suspected side effect through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
What if a step is hard to tolerate?
The SmPC has no fixed rule for stepping down, but it says a prescriber should consider changing the dose or stopping if gut side effects become severe. Talk to your prescriber rather than changing the dose yourself. If you cannot keep fluids down, or have severe stomach pain that does not go away, get medical help straight away.
What each step means in the trial results
The phase 3 trials used capsules, which the SmPC says are not substitutable milligram for milligram with tablets. It lists the pairs with an equal effect:
| Tablet | Trial capsule | ATTAIN-1 mean weight loss |
|---|---|---|
| 0.8 mg | 1 mg | Step-up only in ATTAIN-1 |
| 2.5 mg | 3 mg | Step-up only in ATTAIN-1 |
| 5.5 mg | 6 mg | 7.8% |
| 9 mg | 12 mg | 9.3% |
| 14.5 mg | 24 mg | Not a trial arm |
| 17.2 mg | 36 mg | 12.4% |
| Placebo | Matching placebo | 0.9% |
ATTAIN-1 enrolled 3,127 adults with obesity, or overweight plus a weight-related condition, and no diabetes. Its trial registration shows everyone on orforglipron started on 1 mg and stepped up every four weeks: to 6 mg by week 8, 12 mg by week 12 or 36 mg by week 20, then stayed there to week 72.
In ATTAIN-1, people assigned to higher doses lost more weight on average, which is one reason a prescriber may suggest going higher. The results were measured at week 72, long after the last step-up. Our article on what ATTAIN and ACHIEVE found has the wider picture.
Contraception, other medicines and pregnancy plans
- Contraception. Foundayo may make the contraceptive pill less reliable for 30 days after starting and for 30 days after each dose increase, so the SmPC advises a non-oral method or an added barrier method for those windows.
- Diabetes medicines. If you take insulin or a sulfonylurea, the SmPC says a lower dose of those may be considered when Foundayo is added, to reduce the risk of low blood sugar, and that you will need to check your blood sugar so those doses can be adjusted.
- Other medicines. Some medicines raise or lower the amount of Foundayo in your blood. With certain antibiotics and antifungals, such as clarithromycin or itraconazole, the SmPC caps the dose at 9 mg. It says to avoid some others, including St John's wort. Tell your prescriber and pharmacist about everything you take, including herbal remedies.
- Planning a pregnancy. Foundayo should not be used in pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Use effective contraception throughout treatment, and if you want to become pregnant, talk to your prescriber: the SmPC says to stop Foundayo at least three weeks before a planned pregnancy.
Missed doses and gaps in the schedule
If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember, and never take more than one tablet in a day. The UK product information does not say how to restart after several missed days, or whether a gap changes when your next step-up is due. Ask your pharmacist or prescriber.
Never fill a gap with Foundayo, or a "compounded" version, bought without a prescription: there is no way to know what such products contain.
Who sets your schedule in the UK
Foundayo is not available on the NHS: NICE is appraising it for overweight and obesity (ID6516), with guidance provisionally expected on 27 January 2027. Until then, a prescriber at a GPhC-registered pharmacy or CQC-regulated clinic sets your schedule, so tell them how you are getting on. Our UK availability page tracks the NICE decision.
Frequently asked questions
What is the earliest day I could start 17.2 mg?
Day 151, counting from your first tablet, if each of the five increases comes at the 30-day minimum. That is the fastest pace the UK label allows, not a target.
Can I stay on one dose for longer than 30 days?
Yes. "At least 30 days" is a floor: the SmPC sets no upper limit on how long you stay on a step, and your prescriber decides when, or whether, to go up.
Do I have to go up to 17.2 mg?
No. The SmPC ties every step above 5.5 mg to treatment response and tolerability, and with some other medicines it caps the dose at 9 mg.
Why does Foundayo start at such a low dose?
The US prescribing information says the gradual start is there to reduce the risk of gut side effects, and the UK SmPC reports that nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea were more frequent while the dose was going up.
When do the contraception windows end?
30 days after your last dose increase. On the fastest timetable that is day 90 if you stay at 5.5 mg, and day 180 if you go all the way to 17.2 mg.
More answers are on our FAQ page.