Short answer: 1 mg of semaglutide is 100 units on a U-100 syringe at 1 mg/mL, 50 units at 2 mg/mL, 40 units at 2.5 mg/mL and 20 units at 5 mg/mL. In volume that is 1 mL at 1 mg/mL, 0.5 mL at 2 mg/mL, 0.4 mL at 2.5 mg/mL and 0.2 mL at 5 mg/mL. Compounded products are not FDA approved; check the strength on your vial label, because the units are only right for that strength.
Each row converts 1 mg at one compounded semaglutide strength for a U-100 insulin syringe (1 mL = 100 units). Not personalized advice; confirm your dose, in mg and in units, with your prescriber or the dispensing pharmacy.
| Vial strength | Volume | U-100 units | Smallest syringe that holds it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mg/mL | 1 mL | 100 units | 1 mL (100 units) |
| 2 mg/mL | 0.5 mL | 50 units | 0.5 mL (50 units) |
| 2.5 mg/mL | 0.4 mL | 40 units | 0.5 mL (50 units) |
| 5 mg/mL | 0.2 mL | 20 units | 0.3 mL (30 units) |
"Between marks" means the volume does not land on a printed line, even on a 0.3 mL syringe with half-unit markings. See U-40 vs U-100 syringes and how to read the marks.
Divide the dose by the strength to get mL, then multiply by 100 for U-100 units. To check, run it backwards: units ÷ 100 × mg/mL should give back 1 mg.
1 mg ÷ 1 mg/mL = 1 mL × 100 = 100 units; check: 100 ÷ 100 × 1 = 1 mg1 mg ÷ 2 mg/mL = 0.5 mL × 100 = 50 units; check: 50 ÷ 100 × 2 = 1 mg1 mg ÷ 2.5 mg/mL = 0.4 mL × 100 = 40 units; check: 40 ÷ 100 × 2.5 = 1 mg1 mg ÷ 5 mg/mL = 0.2 mL × 100 = 20 units; check: 20 ÷ 100 × 5 = 1 mgIf the units on your instructions do not match this math for the strength on your vial, ask the prescriber or pharmacy before injecting.
In the Ozempic label, 1 mg is dose step 3 of 4. The label schedule lists it as After at least 4 more weeks, if needed: 1 mg once weekly. (Ozempic label)
In the Wegovy label, 1 mg is dose step 3 of 6. The label schedule lists it as Weeks 9 to 12: 1 mg once weekly. (Wegovy label)
Compounded semaglutide has no FDA label of its own. For reference, these are the schedules in the FDA labels that name 1 mg, with its rows highlighted.
| When | Label dose |
|---|---|
| Weeks 1 to 4 | 0.25 mg once weekly |
| Weeks 5 to 8 | 0.5 mg once weekly |
| Weeks 9 to 12 | 1 mg once weekly |
| Weeks 13 to 16 | 1.7 mg once weekly |
| Week 17 onward | Maintenance: 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg once weekly (2.4 mg recommended for adult weight reduction) |
For adult weight reduction, the label allows patients who have tolerated 2.4 mg for at least 4 weeks to increase to a maximum of 7.2 mg once weekly. If a dose is not tolerated during escalation, the label says to consider delaying escalation for 4 weeks.
| When | Label dose |
|---|---|
| First 4 weeks | 0.25 mg once weekly |
| After 4 weeks | 0.5 mg once weekly |
| After at least 4 more weeks, if needed | 1 mg once weekly |
| After at least 4 more weeks, if needed | 2 mg once weekly (maximum) |
The label describes 0.25 mg as a starting dose. Increases past 0.5 mg are for additional glycemic control.
Full schedules: Ozempic dosing schedule · Wegovy dosing schedule
Previous step: 0.5 mg · Next step: 1.7 mg
0.25 mg · 0.5 mg · 1.7 mg · 2 mg · 2.4 mg · 7.2 mg · All semaglutide doses and strengths in one grid
Mixing a powder vial instead? The semaglutide reconstitution guide and the free reconstitution calculator handle vials you add water to.