Wegovy's Dosage: What to Know

Wegovy is a brand-name prescription medication that contains the active drug semaglutide. It belongs to a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. Wegovy is not available in a generic form.

This medication has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss and management. It is approved for use in adults who meet certain criteria. Wegovy is prescribed along with exercise and a reduced-calorie diet.

In this article, you’ll find information about Wegovy’s dosage and details on how to administer the drug. For a comprehensive overview of Wegovy, view this article.

If you’re interested in using Wegovy, search here to find a doctor who might prescribe it.

Below is the commonly recommended dosage for weight loss and management with Wegovy.

You should follow the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. They’ll recommend the dosage that’s best for your condition.

Wegovy comes as a solution inside a prefilled single-dose pen. You’ll administer it by subcutaneous injection. The pens are available in the following strengths:

• 0.25 milligrams per 0.5 milliliters (mg/mL)
• 0.5 mg/0.5 mL
• 1 mg/0.5 mL
• 1.7 mg/0.75 mL
• 2.4 mg/0.75 mL

Usually, doctors prescribe a low starting dose of Wegovy at the beginning of treatment. Then, they’ll adjust the dosage over time if needed. Ultimately, they will prescribe the smallest dosage of Wegovy that gives the desired effect.

Below is the recommended dosage schedule for weight loss and management. Your doctor will prescribe the dosage of Wegovy that’s right for your condition.

• Starting dose: 0.25 mg once per week
• Maintenance dosage: 2.4 mg once per week
• Maximum dosage: 2.4 mg once per week

Doctors may follow a dosing guide (or dosing chart) when starting you on Wegovy treatment. This is to help lower the risk of digestive problems. The dosing guide is as follows:

Doctors typically prescribe Wegovy as a long-term treatment. You’ll likely use it long term if you and your doctor feel it’s safe and effective for your condition.

Below are some common questions related to Wegovy’s dosage.

Yes, doctors typically recommend dose escalations with Wegovy. This lowers the risk of digestive problems, such as nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Digestive problems were the most common side effects noted in clinical studies of Wegovy.

You can refer to the “Wegovy: Dosage” section above for the dosing guide table. Ask your doctor if you have questions pertaining to the dosage prescribed for you.

Yes, the drug’s manufacturer has dosing instructions for Wegovy. To learn how to administer Wegovy, view the instructions near the end of its prescribing information.

In addition, your doctor, pharmacist, or another healthcare professional can give you dosing instructions. They’ll show you the correct way to administer a dose. They also can answer any questions or concerns you may have about using Wegovy.

Whether you should administer a missed dose of Wegovy depends on when your next dose is due.

• Next dose due in more than 48 hours (2 days): Administer the missed dose as soon as you remember.
• Next dose due within 48 hours (2 days): Skip the missed dose. Then, administer your next dose as scheduled.

Do not give yourself more than one dose of Wegovy at a time.

View these medication reminder options to help avoid missing doses. You could also set an alarm or download a reminder app on your phone.

Wegovy comes as a solution inside a prefilled single-dose pen. You’ll administer it by subcutaneous injection under the skin of the following body areas:

• abdomen, at least 2 inches away from your belly button
• thigh
• upper arm

You’ll administer Wegovy injections at home. A healthcare professional, such as your doctor or pharmacist, will show you how to administer injections. You can also view the manufacturer’s instructions near the end of Wegovy’s prescribing information.

ACCESSIBLE DRUG LABELS AND CONTAINERS

If you find it challenging to read the label on your prescription, tell your doctor or pharmacist. Certain pharmacies provide medication labels with large print or braille. They may also offer labels containing a scannable code that your smartphone can convert from text to speech. If your pharmacy doesn’t provide these choices, your doctor or pharmacist may be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.

If it’s difficult for you to open medication bottles, ask your pharmacist if they can dispense Wegovy in an easy-open container. They also may recommend ways to help make it easier to open the bottles.

If you use more than the recommended dosage of Wegovy, serious effects can occur. Do not administer more Wegovy than your doctor prescribes. 

Symptoms that an overdose of Wegovy could cause include:

• severe nausea
• severe vomiting
• severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)

Call your doctor if you think you’ve taken too much of this drug. Also, you can call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. However, if your symptoms are severe, call 911 or a local emergency number. Or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist for additional information about Wegovy’s dosage. Keep in mind that the dosages presented in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Wegovy that’s right for you and your condition. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes for you.

As with any medications you’re taking, do not change your Wegovy dosage without your doctor’s recommendation.

In addition to discussing Wegovy with your doctor, you may find the following articles helpful in learning more.

• Overview of Wegovy. For comprehensive details on Wegovy, see this article.
• Information on side effects. If you’d like to know about possible side effects of Wegovy, view this article.
• Details about weight management and weight loss. To learn more about weight management and weight loss, for which Wegovy is used, see this article.

Disclaimer: Healthgrades has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.