Understanding Your Vial Label, Units & Dosing
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not medical advice.
Please consult your primary care physician or your doctor through the Member Portal before making any decisions about your treatment. This content is intended as a general guide only.
This guide will help you understand your vial label, syringe units, and how to correctly measure your prescribed dose.
What Is on Your Vial?
Your vial label contains important information about how much medication is inside.
For example, your vial of tirzepatide + glycine might say:
10 mg / 0.5 mg / 1 mL
This means:
- 10 mg of the active medication (tirzepatide) is contained in 1 mL of solution.
- 0.5 mg of the compounded ingredient (glycine) is also contained in 1 mL of solution.
Milligrams (mg) vs. Units
| Term | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Milligrams (mg) | Weight of the medicine |
| Units | Liquid volume you inject |
The Conversion
100 units = 1 mL
This is the standard conversion used with insulin syringes.
What Are "Units"?
Your doctor's instructions may say something like:
"Inject 50 units (5 mg) once weekly for 4 weeks."
Here's how that works:
- An insulin syringe is used to draw up and inject your medication.
- The syringe is marked in units, which measure volume, not strength.
Syringe Units to Liquid Volume
| Syringe Units | Liquid Volume |
|---|---|
| 100 units | 1.0 mL |
| 50 units | 0.5 mL |
| 25 units | 0.25 mL |
What Does "mg" Mean?
mg stands for milligrams, which measures the amount (weight) of medication.
Using the example vial label of 10 mg/0.5 mg/mL, you know that 10 mg of tirzepatide is in every 1 mL of liquid.
So if your provider prescribes 5 mg, that equals:
- 0.5 mL of liquid
- 50 units on the syringe
5 mg = 0.5 mL = 50 units
How to Measure Your Dose (Example)
Let's say your doctor prescribed 5 mg per week from a 10 mg/mL vial.
Step 1: Check Your Prescription
Your doctor prescribed 5 mg per week.
Step 2: Convert to Liquid Volume
5 mg dose = 0.5 mL
Step 3: Find the Mark on Your Syringe
0.5 mL = 50 units — draw the medication to the 50-unit line on your syringe.
Prescription Cycle
Inject 50 units once weekly for 4 consecutive weeks, as prescribed by your provider.
Quick Reference
| Dose (mg) | Volume (mL) | Syringe Units |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 mg | 0.25 mL | 25 units |
| 5 mg | 0.5 mL | 50 units |
| 7.5 mg | 0.75 mL | 75 units |
| 10 mg | 1.0 mL | 100 units |
Important Reminders
- Always follow your provider's instructions for your specific dose.
- If your prescribed dose doesn't match one of the examples above, contact your provider for clarification.
- Read the label on your vial carefully before drawing up your medication.
- Watch the Instruction Videos in your Member Portal for a step-by-step visual guide.