Wegovy injections start at a low dose and step up gradually, once a week throughout. Here is the full schedule, how long you usually spend on each dose, what happens if a step is hard, and what to do if you miss a dose or have a break.
What is the Wegovy dose schedule?
You start at 0.25mg once a week and step up through 0.5mg, 1mg and 1.7mg to the standard 2.4mg maintenance dose, usually spending 4 weeks on each step, so on the usual schedule you reach 2.4mg from week 17. A higher 7.2mg dose is available for eligible patients with obesity (BMI 30+) who need additional weight loss.
- Role
- Starting dose
- Typical minimum duration
- 4 weeks (weeks 1 to 4)
- Typical use
- Getting your body used to the medicine
| Dose | Role · typical minimum duration · typical use |
|---|---|
| 0.25mg | Starting dose · 4 weeks (weeks 1 to 4) Getting your body used to the medicine |
| 0.5mg | Step-up dose · 4 weeks (weeks 5 to 8) Building tolerability |
| 1mg | Step-up dose · 4 weeks (weeks 9 to 12) The weight loss effect builds from 1mg onwards |
| 1.7mg | Step-up dose · 4 weeks (weeks 13 to 16) The last step before maintenance |
| 2.4mg | Standard maintenance · Ongoing, from week 17 The usual maintenance dose |
| 7.2mg | Higher dose, obesity only · From week 21 at the earliest, after at least 4 weeks on 2.4mg For some adults with a BMI of 30 or more who need additional weight loss |
Not everyone needs the highest dose, and your pharmacist reviews you before each increase.
What is Wegovy 0.25mg for?
Wegovy 0.25mg is the starting dose, taken once a week for the first 4 weeks. The starter doses are there to build tolerability, and the weight loss effect builds from 1mg onwards.
When do you move up to Wegovy 0.5mg?
Usually after 4 weeks on 0.25mg, if you are tolerating it. The same pattern repeats at each step: 4 weeks on 0.5mg, then 1mg, then 1.7mg. Your pharmacist reviews you before each increase, so a dose only goes up when it is right for you.
Why does Wegovy start at a low dose?
The dose starts low and goes up gradually to make stomach side effects less likely. In the trials in the UK product information, stomach side effects were reported most often while the dose was being increased. Our guide to Wegovy side effects explains what to expect and what helps.
What if a dose step is hard to tolerate?
Tell your pharmacist before your next increase. The UK product information allows delaying the next step, or going back to the previous dose until symptoms have improved. You do not have to move up every 4 weeks: 4 weeks is how long each step usually lasts, not a deadline.
What is the Wegovy maintenance dose?
For most people it is 2.4mg once a week. The 7.2mg dose is licensed only for adults with obesity, a BMI of 30 or more. People using Wegovy with a BMI of 27 to 30 stay at up to 2.4mg. You would only move to 7.2mg after at least 4 weeks on 2.4mg, and only if your prescriber judges you need additional weight loss.
Wegovy 7.2 mg comes as a pack of four single-dose pens, so your whole weekly dose is one injection. You may still see it described elsewhere as three 2.4 mg injections, which was the earlier presentation. Use one 7.2 mg pen for each weekly dose.
Read more in our guide to Wegovy 7.2mg.
What if you miss a Wegovy dose?
If fewer than 5 days have passed since your usual day, take it as soon as possible. If 5 days or more have passed, skip it and take your next dose on your usual day. Never take two doses in one week.
Our rule for both weekly pens, Mounjaro and Wegovy:
Missed dose. Mounjaro: take it if fewer than 4 days have passed, otherwise skip. Wegovy pens: take it if fewer than 5 days have passed, otherwise skip. After a long gap, contact us before restarting: treatment resumes at the lowest dose.
Can you change your Wegovy injection day?
Inject on the same day each week. If you need to move your injection day, you can, as long as at least 3 days (72 hours) pass between two doses. Then inject on your new day each week.
Wegovy can be injected at any time of day, with or without meals.
How do you restart Wegovy after a break?
After a long gap, contact us before restarting: treatment resumes at the lowest dose.
We review you before you restart. If you are coming from Mounjaro, see switching between Mounjaro and Wegovy.
Can you set a different dose on the pen?
No. Each FlexTouch pen is labelled with one strength and holds four weekly doses of it. Always check the label before you inject, and set your dose with the dose counter, never by counting clicks. Solira does not advise setting any other amount: you could not know how much medicine you had actually received. The 7.2mg pen is a single-dose pen with nothing to set. Step-by-step instructions for both pens are in how to inject Wegovy.