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[GLP-1 · Wegovy · FDA label guide]

Wegovy (semaglutide) dose schedule, titration chart and side effects

Novo Nordisk · Once weekly injection · Label reviewed as of

Short answer: Per the FDA label, Wegovy injection starts at 0.25 mg once weekly for weeks 1–4, then steps to 0.5 mg, 1 mg and 1.7 mg every 4 weeks, reaching 2.4 mg maintenance at week 17 (2.2, Table 1). For adult weight reduction, the label allows a maximum of 7.2 mg weekly after at least 4 weeks on 2.4 mg.

Per label section 1, Wegovy injection is used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with established cardiovascular disease and obesity or overweight, to reduce excess body weight and maintain weight reduction long term (adults with obesity or with overweight plus a weight-related condition, and patients 12 and older with obesity), and, under accelerated approval, to treat noncirrhotic MASH with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis (F2–F3) in adults. This page summarizes the current FDA prescribing information (revised 6/2026). It is not personalized medical advice; your prescriber sets your dose.

What is the Wegovy dose schedule?

The label's dosing schedule (label section 2.2, Table 1):

Dosing schedule as written in the FDA label (label section 2.2, Table 1).
PeriodDoseLabel note
Weeks 1–40.25 mg once weeklyStarting dosage
Weeks 5–80.5 mg once weeklyDosage escalation
Weeks 9–121 mg once weeklyDosage escalation
Weeks 13–161.7 mg once weeklyDosage escalation
Week 17 onward2.4 mg once weekly (recommended maintenance) or 1.7 mgMaintenance dosage depends on the indication (2.2)

Maintenance: For weight reduction in adults the label lists a maintenance dosage of 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg (recommended) once weekly; for adults who tolerate 2.4 mg for at least 4 weeks and need additional weight reduction, the dosage may be increased to a maximum of 7.2 mg once weekly (2.2). For cardiovascular risk reduction the maintenance dosage is 2.4 mg (recommended) or 1.7 mg, and for MASH it is 2.4 mg, with 1.7 mg if 2.4 mg is not tolerated (2.2).

  • The label says to follow the Table 1 escalation to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal adverse reactions (2.2).
  • If a dose is not tolerated during escalation, the label says to consider delaying escalation for 4 weeks (2.2).
  • The 7.2 mg maximum applies to weight reduction in adults only; on the label's schedule the earliest point to reach it is after at least 4 weeks on 2.4 mg (2.2). In the 7.2 mg trials (Studies 8 and 9), escalation to 7.2 mg took place over 20 weeks (14.2).
  • The 7.2 mg dose is supplied as a single-dose pen labeled WEGOVY HD (3, 16).
  • Table 1 also applies to pediatric patients aged 12 years and older; their maintenance dosage is 2.4 mg (recommended) or 1.7 mg once weekly, and the 7.2 mg dose has not been established in pediatric patients (2.2, 6.1).

What does the Wegovy titration calendar look like?

Below is the label schedule laid out week by week, using the earliest timing the label allows. The label lets prescribers stay at a step longer, so a real calendar is often slower. The blank columns are for your own record.

Wegovy titration calendar from the label schedule (label section 2.2, Table 1). Not a personalized plan.
WeekLabel doseDateSite / timeWeightNotes
Week 10.25 mg once weekly
Week 20.25 mg once weekly
Week 30.25 mg once weekly
Week 40.25 mg once weekly
Week 50.5 mg once weekly
Week 60.5 mg once weekly
Week 70.5 mg once weekly
Week 80.5 mg once weekly
Week 91 mg once weekly
Week 101 mg once weekly
Week 111 mg once weekly
Week 121 mg once weekly
Week 131.7 mg once weekly
Week 141.7 mg once weekly
Week 151.7 mg once weekly
Week 161.7 mg once weekly
Week 172.4 mg once weekly (recommended maintenance) or 1.7 mg
Week 182.4 mg once weekly (recommended maintenance) or 1.7 mg
Week 192.4 mg once weekly (recommended maintenance) or 1.7 mg
Week 202.4 mg once weekly (recommended maintenance) or 1.7 mg
Week 212.4 mg once weekly (recommended maintenance) or 1.7 mg

Printing this page prints the schedule and calendar without the site navigation.

What strengths does Wegovy come in, and how many doses are in each pen?

Wegovy pen presentations (label section 3; 16).
ProductWhat it deliversDoses per pen / packContents
Single-dose pen0.25 mg per injection1 dose per pen; carton of 4 pens0.25 mg/0.5 mL
Single-dose pen0.5 mg per injection1 dose per pen; carton of 4 pens0.5 mg/0.5 mL
Single-dose pen1 mg per injection1 dose per pen; carton of 4 pens1 mg/0.5 mL
Single-dose pen1.7 mg per injection1 dose per pen; carton of 4 pens1.7 mg/0.75 mL
Single-dose pen2.4 mg per injection1 dose per pen; carton of 4 pens2.4 mg/0.75 mL
Single-dose pen (WEGOVY HD)7.2 mg per injection1 dose per pen; carton of 4 pens7.2 mg/0.75 mL
WEGOVY FlexTouch single-patient-use pen2.4 mg per injection4 doses per pen; carton of 1 pen9.6 mg/3 mL (3.2 mg/mL)
Single-dose syringe0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg per injection1 dose per syringe; carton of 4 syringes0.25 mg/0.5 mL, 0.5 mg/0.5 mL, 1 mg/0.5 mL, 1.7 mg/0.75 mL or 2.4 mg/0.75 mL
  • Single-dose pens and syringes each hold one weekly dose and are discarded after use (16).
  • WEGOVY FlexTouch is a multi-dose pen that delivers four 2.4 mg/0.75 mL doses; the label says it must never be shared between patients, even if the needle is changed (3, 5.11).
  • Per the label, single-dose pens and syringes are stored refrigerated (2°C to 8°C) and, if needed before the cap is removed, can be kept at 8°C to 30°C for up to 28 days; after first use FlexTouch can be stored for 56 days at 15°C to 30°C or refrigerated (16).

What are the most common Wegovy side effects?

The label reports these rates from placebo-controlled trials (label section 6.1, Table 3). Percentages are the share of trial participants who reported each reaction.

Adverse reactions in ≥2% of Wegovy 2.4 mg injection-treated adults and more often than placebo, 3 placebo-controlled weight-reduction trials of up to 68 weeks (label Table 3).
Adverse reactionPlacebo (N=1,261)Wegovy 2.4 mg once weekly (N=2,116)
Nausea16%44%
Diarrhea16%30%
Vomiting6%24%
Constipation11%24%
Abdominal pain10%20%
Headache10%14%
Fatigue5%11%
Dyspepsia3%9%
Dizziness4%8%
Abdominal distension5%7%
Eructation<1%7%
Hypoglycemia in type 2 diabetes2%6%
Flatulence4%6%
Gastroenteritis4%6%
Gastroesophageal reflux disease3%5%
Gastritis1%4%
Gastroenteritis viral3%4%
Hair loss1%3%
Dysesthesia1%2%

When do they happen? In the adult weight-reduction trials, 73% of Wegovy injection-treated patients and 47% of placebo patients reported gastrointestinal adverse reactions, and the label states these reactions were most frequently reported during dosage escalation (6.1).

The label also carries warnings that are not in this table (for example, a boxed warning or pancreatitis and gallbladder warnings where applicable). Read the full label linked under Sources, and report side effects to your prescriber.

What if you miss a dose of Wegovy?

Per the label, if one dose is missed and the next scheduled dose is more than 2 days away, the missed dose is given as soon as possible; if it is less than 2 days away, the missed dose is skipped and dosing resumes on the regular day. If 2 or more consecutive doses are missed, the label says to reinitiate escalation at a lower dosage. (label section 2.4) The full walk-through is on the Wegovy missed-dose page.

How is Wegovy taken?

The label describes a subcutaneous injection once weekly on the same day each week, at any time of day, with or without meals, in the abdomen, thigh or upper arm. Injection sites are rotated with each dose, and the time of day and site can be changed without a dosage modification. (label section 2.1)

What should you track on Wegovy?

A simple log makes each titration step easier to talk through with your prescriber. These are the things worth writing down, and how Dose Track handles them:

  • Dose and date. Each injection with its amount, so the titration steps above line up with what you actually took. Dose Track keeps the full history of every dose change.
  • Injection site. The label lists the abdomen, thigh and upper arm. Dose Track records the site with each shot so rotation is easy to follow.
  • Weight. Logged by hand or synced from Apple Health or Android Health Connect, and charted alongside your dose changes.
  • Side effects. A note of what you felt and when, so you can see whether it settles after a dose step and bring the record to your prescriber.
  • Reminders. A notification on your injection day.

Your log stays on your phone. See GLP-1 tracking in Dose Track for the full feature list.

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Wegovy questions people ask

What's the highest dose of Wegovy?+
The label's maximum dosage is 7.2 mg once weekly, for weight reduction in adults who have tolerated 2.4 mg for at least 4 weeks and need additional weight reduction (2.2). It comes as a single-dose pen labeled WEGOVY HD (3). For cardiovascular risk reduction, MASH and pediatric patients, the label's top maintenance dose is 2.4 mg once weekly (2.2). Dose decisions belong to the prescriber.
How long does it take for Wegovy to work?+
The label reports results at trial endpoints rather than a time of onset. In Study 2, adults on 2.4 mg lost a mean 14.9% of body weight at week 68 versus 2.4% on placebo, after a 16-week escalation (14.2, Table 8). In Study 8, the 7.2 mg dose produced an 18.8% mean loss at week 72 versus 3.9% on placebo (14.2, Table 12). The label plots weight change over time in Figures 7–10.
Can you skip the 0.25 mg starter dose of Wegovy?+
The label's schedule starts every patient at 0.25 mg once weekly for weeks 1–4 and says to follow the Table 1 escalation to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal adverse reactions (2.2). The label does not describe starting at a higher dose, except for patients switching from Wegovy 25 mg tablets, who may start 2.4 mg injection the day after stopping the tablets (2.5). This is not personalized advice; dosing changes are for the prescriber.
What time of day should you take Wegovy?+
The label says Wegovy injection can be given at any time of day, on the same day each week, and that the time of day can be changed without a dosage modification (2.1). The label does not favor morning or evening.
Do you take Wegovy with food?+
Per the label, the once-weekly injection can be given with or without meals (2.1). The food and water rules in the label (empty stomach, up to 4 ounces of water, 30-minute wait) apply only to Wegovy tablets, not to the injection (2.1).
How many doses are in a Wegovy pen?+
It depends on the pen. Each Wegovy single-dose pen, including the 7.2 mg WEGOVY HD pen, holds one weekly dose and comes in cartons of 4 pens (3, 16). The WEGOVY FlexTouch single-patient-use pen holds 9.6 mg in 3 mL and delivers four 2.4 mg doses (3). Single-dose syringes in 0.25 mg to 2.4 mg strengths are also listed (3, 16).
Are side effects worse on Wegovy 7.2 mg?+
In Studies 8 and 9 (label Table 4), nausea was reported by 39% on 7.2 mg, 35% on 2.4 mg and 13% on placebo; vomiting by 22%, 16% and 6%; and dysesthesia (altered skin sensation) by 22%, 6% and 0% (6.1). Treatment was stopped for adverse reactions by 5% on 7.2 mg, 5% on 2.4 mg and 2% on placebo (6.1).
What happens if you miss a Wegovy dose?+
The label says a missed dose is given as soon as possible if the next scheduled dose is more than 2 days away; if it is less than 2 days away, the missed dose is skipped and the regular weekly day resumes (2.4). After 2 or more consecutive missed doses, the label says to reinitiate escalation at a lower dosage to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal adverse reactions (2.4).

Sources

Reviewed as of . Section numbers above refer to the FDA prescribing information.

  1. Wegovy (semaglutide) injection and tablets — FDA label, DailyMed (revised 6/2026)
  2. Drugs@FDA application record for NDA 215256 (Wegovy injection), via openFDA

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