Wegovy dosages: Everything you need to know

Wondering what a typical Wegovy® dosage schedule looks like or what happens if you forget to take a dose? We’ve got you covered in this simple guide to Wegovy dosages. 

Whether your health care provider prescribed Wegovy as part of your weight loss treatment or you’re just curious about this prescription weight-loss drug, understanding how it works and what to expect can help inform your treatment plan and set you up for success. As with any prescription drug, it’s important to follow prescribing information and medical advice from your health care professional when taking Wegovy. 

What is Wegovy?

Wegovy (semaglutide) is a weight loss medication manufactured by Novo Nordisk. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Wegovy for chronic weight management in:

• Adults with obesity (a body mass index, or BMI, of 30 or higher) and 
• Adults who are overweight (BMI of 27 or higher) and have at least one weight-related medical issue, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol.

It’s also FDA-approved to reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular events (like heart attack and stroke) in patients with existing cardiovascular disease.

The active ingredient in Wegovy is semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It mimics GLP-1, a gut hormone that your body naturally produces when you eat to slow digestion and help you feel full. It also helps to balance blood sugar, reduce appetite, and regulate insulin. This prescription medication is intended to be used with physical activity and a reduced-calorie diet.

What’s the typical Wegovy dosage for weight loss?

Wegovy is a weekly, single-dose, under-the-skin (subcutaneous) injection. It’s is manufactured in five dose strengths: 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, and 2.4 mg.

Typically, health care providers begin a patient on a starting dose of 0.25 mg (the lowest dose). The dose gradually increases every four weeks, depending on how well a patient tolerates Wegovy injections, until they reach a maintenance dose. This is called a dose escalation schedule. Wegovy’s maintenance dose may be as high as 2.4 mg per week, the maximum dosage, depending on what’s clinically needed for weight loss.

Though the plan your provider prescribes for you may vary, here’s a typical Wegovy dosing schedule for adults.

• Month 1: Start taking a 0.25 mg dose once a week 
• Month 2: Increase the weekly dose to 0.5 mg
• Month 3: Increase the weekly dose to 1 mg
• Month 4: Increase the weekly dose to 1.7 mg
• Month 5: Continue taking 1.7 mg each week or increase to 2.4 mg weekly, depending on your provider’s guidance 

How many doses are in a Wegovy pen?

Each Wegovy injector pen contains one dose. 

The single-use pens come in packs of four, and each disposable pen comes prefilled with a clear, colorless solution. Each dose is injected with a small, thin needle that’s integrated in the pen. 

Pens should be stored in the refrigerator and kept in their original box to limit exposure to light.

How do you take Wegovy?

Take Wegovy as instructed by a qualified health care provider. Before using this medication for the first time, make sure your provider shows you how to inject yourself with the Wegovy injector pen.

Here are some best practices for taking Wegovy:

• Inject under the skin: Novo Nordisk, the drug’s manufacturer, recommends injecting Wegovy into either the skin of your stomach, thigh, or upper arm. Don’t inject Wegovy into a muscle or a vein.
  
  
• Rotate injection sites: Each week, choose a different spot for your injection. If, for example, you inject the medicine into your thigh one week, use a different location the following week.
  
  
• Stay consistent: Pick a day that works with your schedule and take your injection on the same day each week, at any time during the day. You can take Wegovy with or without food—it’s up to you. 

What happens if you miss a dose of Wegovy?

If you miss a dose of Wegovy, note when your next scheduled dose is and how long it has been since you took your last dose. That will help you determine how to proceed:

• If your next scheduled dose is more than two days away, take the missed dose immediately and resume your usual schedule.
• If your next scheduled dose is less than two days away, don’t take the missed dose. Instead, wait and take your next regularly scheduled dose.
• If it has been more than two weeks since your last dose, take your next scheduled dose or ask your health care provider for guidance on how to resume treatment.

What should you do if you take too much Wegovy?

Since Wegovy pens are pre-filled and single-dose by design, it’s unlikely that you’ll accidentally take too much Wegovy when using a single pen on a weekly schedule.

If you take too much Wegovy, you may experience harmful symptoms, like:

• Severe vomiting
• Severe nausea
• Dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)

If you experience any of these symptoms after taking too much Wegovy, immediately seek medical attention. Go to the hospital, consult your doctor, or call the national poison helpline at 1-800-222-1222.

Are there serious risks associated with taking Wegovy or Ozempic?

Although rare, in animal studies, semaglutide increased the risk of thyroid C-cell tumors. Wegovy and Ozempic carry “black box” warnings about the risk of these tumors. If you have trouble swallowing, develop hoarseness, or feel swelling or a lump in your neck while taking these medications, contact your health care provider immediately. 

The FDA also warns you shouldn’t take Wegovy or Ozempic if you have a personal or family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 or medullary thyroid cancer. Wegovy and Ozempic aren’t treatments for those with insulin-dependent diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. So, if that’s you, these aren’t the right fit.

Tell your health care provider if you experience severe stomach problems that won’t go away, including abdominal bloating or pain, acid reflux, a feeling of fullness after eating just a few bites of food, nausea, and vomiting (including vomiting undigested food eaten a few hours earlier). These may be symptoms of gastroparesis (stomach paralysis). 

Find detailed side effect and risk information for specific medications by name on our dedicated medication page. 

While Found’s clinicians work with patients to determine the best treatment option, the ultimate decision as to whether a patient is qualified for a medication rests with the provider.

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About Found

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About GLP-1 prescriptions at Found

GLP-1 prescriptions, filled through your local pharmacy, are now available as part of Found's weight-loss toolkit. While GLP-1s can be effective for weight loss, like all medicines, they are not clinically appropriate for everyone. Eligibility for a GLP-1 is based on a thorough evaluation of your medical history and lab work. If a GLP-1 is not appropriate for you, our providers will work with you to determine an effective medication for your health profile.