Last medically reviewed: 2026-06-08 by GLP3 Planner editorial. References inline as available.
Key Takeaways
- Popular concentration: 30mg tirzepatide + 3mL BAC water = 10mg/mL (easy math for dosing)
- Injection technique: Add water slowly down the vial wall, never directly onto powder
- Mixing method: Gently swirl (never shake) until fully dissolved (1-5 minutes)
- Storage: Refrigerate at 36-46°F (2-8°C), stable for 28-60 days
- Use our free calculator to get exact insulin units for any concentration, or the tirzepatide dose-to-units calculator to convert a specific mg dose to syringe units
- Switching from a Mounjaro or Zepbound pen? The pen-to-vial calculator converts your weekly pen dose into the units to draw from your vial, with switch-week timing
💡 Compounded vs. Brand: FDA-approved Mounjaro and Zepbound come in pre-filled pens that don't require reconstitution. This guide is for compounded tirzepatide, which comes as lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder and must be mixed with bacteriostatic water before use.
What is Tirzepatide Reconstitution?
Reconstitution means adding bacteriostatic water (BAC water) to freeze-dried tirzepatide powder to create an injectable solution. Many people use compounded tirzepatide because it costs less and is easier to get than brand-name Mounjaro or Zepbound.
To use compounded tirzepatide, you need to:
- Determine the right BAC water volume for your desired concentration
- Properly mix the solution without damaging the peptide
- Calculate insulin units for accurate dosing
- Store correctly to maintain potency
Our free tirzepatide reconstitution calculator handles all the math. Enter your vial size, BAC water amount, and desired dose to get exact insulin units.
Tirzepatide Reconstitution Calculator
Use our free calculator to determine BAC water volume and insulin units for any tirzepatide concentration.
Free Reconstitution Calculator
Works for any vial size: 5mg, 10mg, 15mg, 30mg, 45mg, 60mg
30mg Tirzepatide Reconstitution Chart
30mg vials are the most popular compounded tirzepatide size. Here are common reconstitution options:
| BAC Water | Concentration | 2.5mg Dose | 5mg Dose | 7.5mg Dose | 10mg Dose |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2mL | 15mg/mL | 16.7 IU | 33.3 IU | 50 IU | 66.7 IU |
| 3mL ⭐ | 10mg/mL | 25 IU | 50 IU | 75 IU | 100 IU |
| 6mL | 5mg/mL | 50 IU | 100 IU | 150 IU | 200 IU |
⭐ Recommended: 3mL gives 10mg/mL, easy math for all standard doses. Use our calculator for other vial sizes.
Other Common Tirzepatide Vial Sizes
| Vial Size | Recommended BAC | Concentration | 5mg = IU | Doses per Vial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5mg | 1mL | 5mg/mL | 100 IU | 1 dose |
| 10mg | 2mL | 5mg/mL | 100 IU | 2 doses |
| 15mg | 3mL | 5mg/mL | 100 IU | 3 doses |
| 30mg | 3mL | 10mg/mL | 50 IU | 6 doses |
| 45mg | 3mL | 15mg/mL | 33.3 IU | 9 doses |
| 60mg | 3mL | 20mg/mL | 25 IU | 12 doses |
How Much BAC Water for 30mg and 60mg Tirzepatide
The two questions we see most often are how much BAC water to mix with a 30mg vial and how much to mix with a 60mg vial. Both come down to the concentration you want. The easiest math, and the one most people pick, is 10mg/mL: it makes every standard dose land on a round insulin-unit number.
How much BAC water do you mix with 30 mg of tirzepatide? Add 3mL of bacteriostatic water to a 30mg vial. That gives 10mg/mL, so 5mg = 50 IU and 10mg = 100 IU on a U-100 insulin syringe.
30mg Tirzepatide: BAC Water Options
| BAC Water | Concentration | 5mg = IU | 7.5mg = IU | 10mg = IU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3mL ⭐ | 10mg/mL | 50 IU | 75 IU | 100 IU |
| 2mL | 15mg/mL | 33.3 IU | 50 IU | 66.7 IU |
| 6mL | 5mg/mL | 100 IU | 150 IU | 200 IU |
How much BAC water do you mix with 60 mg of tirzepatide? Add 6mL of bacteriostatic water to a 60mg vial for the same easy 10mg/mL concentration (5mg = 50 IU, 10mg = 100 IU). If you prefer a smaller injection volume, 3mL gives a concentrated 20mg/mL (5mg = 25 IU, 10mg = 50 IU).
60mg Tirzepatide: BAC Water Options
| BAC Water | Concentration | 5mg = IU | 10mg = IU | 15mg = IU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6mL ⭐ | 10mg/mL | 50 IU | 100 IU | 150 IU |
| 3mL | 20mg/mL | 25 IU | 50 IU | 75 IU |
| 4mL | 15mg/mL | 33.3 IU | 66.7 IU | 100 IU |
⭐ Recommended: 6mL on a 60mg vial keeps you at 10mg/mL, the same round-number math as the popular 30mg setup. Want a different concentration? Our calculator works it out for any vial size.
Supplies for Tirzepatide Reconstitution
Required
- ✓ Tirzepatide vial (lyophilized powder)
- ✓ Bacteriostatic water (with 0.9% benzyl alcohol)
- ✓ Insulin syringes (U-100, 0.5mL or 1mL)
- ✓ Alcohol swabs
Recommended
- ○ 3mL syringe with needle for adding BAC water
- ○ Sharps container
- ○ Vial labels (date, concentration)
How to Reconstitute Tirzepatide: Step-by-Step
Clean Both Vial Tops
Wash hands thoroughly. Wipe the rubber stoppers of both the tirzepatide vial and BAC water vial with alcohol swabs. Let dry completely (~15 seconds).
Draw the BAC Water
Using a syringe, draw your calculated amount of BAC water. For a 30mg vial, 3mL is recommended (gives 10mg/mL concentration).
⚠️ Inject SLOWLY Down the Vial Wall
Critical: Angle the needle so it touches the inside glass wall. Inject BAC water very slowly, letting it trickle down, never spray directly onto the powder. This protects the peptide structure.
Gently Swirl Until Dissolved
Never shake. Gently swirl the vial in a circular motion. The powder should dissolve within 1-5 minutes, resulting in a clear solution.
If cloudiness persists after 10 minutes of gentle swirling, contact your supplier. Don't use.
Label and Refrigerate
Write the date, concentration (e.g., "10mg/mL"), and a discard date (28-60 days) on the vial. Store immediately in the refrigerator at 36-46°F (2-8°C).
Video Tutorial
Watch this step-by-step demonstration of peptide reconstitution and injection technique by Dr. Jason Emer:
Video covers: supplies needed, sterile technique, BAC water injection, mixing, and subcutaneous injection demonstration.
Tirzepatide Storage After Reconstitution
✓ Proper Storage
- • Refrigerate at 36-46°F (2-8°C)
- • Keep away from light
- • Use within 28-60 days
- • Inspect before each use
- • Swab stopper each time
✗ Avoid
- • Never freeze reconstituted tirzepatide
- • Don't leave at room temp
- • Don't use if cloudy/particles
- • Don't use past expiration
- • Never share needles
Common Tirzepatide Reconstitution Mistakes
❌ Injecting water directly onto powder
High-pressure streams can damage the peptide. Always aim for the vial wall.
❌ Shaking the vial vigorously
Creates foam and degrades the peptide. Gentle swirling only.
❌ Using sterile water without preservative
BAC water's benzyl alcohol prevents bacteria. Sterile water is for single-use only.
❌ Miscalculating insulin units
Wrong concentration assumptions lead to incorrect doses. Use our calculator to double-check.
Calculate Your Tirzepatide Dose
Get exact insulin units for any vial size and concentration.
Medical Disclaimer
This guide is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Compounded tirzepatide is not FDA-approved and may vary in quality. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any medication. Self-administration of injectable medications carries risks including infection, incorrect dosing, and adverse reactions.
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