Wegovy Tablets Dosage Schedule: 1.5mg to 25mg Explained

Wegovy tablets (the Wegovy pill) come in four strengths, 1.5mg, 4mg, 9mg and 25mg, taken as one tablet once a day. The licence starts on 1.5mg for one month, then steps up to 4mg and 9mg with at least a month at each, so the earliest you reach the 25mg maintenance dose is the start of your fourth month. If a step is hard to tolerate, the dose can stay at the previous level for longer, which your pharmacist decides with you.

What are the Wegovy pill doses?

Each strength is its own tablet, and you take one tablet a day. Never take two tablets to make a higher dose, and never combine strengths.

How long does it take to reach the 25mg dose?

There are three one-month steps before 25mg: 1.5mg, 4mg and 9mg. So the earliest you start 25mg is the beginning of your fourth month. Some people take longer because a step is held for an extra month. That is normal and expected.

Why does the dose go up slowly?

Semaglutide slows how quickly food leaves the stomach. Stomach side effects such as nausea are reported most often while the dose is being increased, so the dose is built up a month at a time, which gives your body time to get used to each level before the next one.

What side effects happen as the dose goes up?

Very common (more than 1 in 10): headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, indigestion, stomach pain, feeling weak or tired. These are most noticeable while your dose is increasing and usually settle. Eat smaller meals, avoid very fatty food, and keep well hydrated.

In the OASIS 4 trial (NEJM, 2025), adults with overweight or obesity took oral semaglutide 25mg or a placebo once a day for 64 weeks. Stomach or bowel side effects were reported by 74% of people on the tablets at some point, against 42% on placebo, most often while the dose was being increased. Nausea was reported by 46.6% (18.6% on placebo), vomiting by 30.9% (5.9%), diarrhoea by 17.6% (8.8%) and constipation by 20.1% (9.8%). Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea were mostly mild to moderate and short-lived; constipation was mild to moderate but tended to last longer. Individual results vary.

How do you take each dose?

• On an empty stomach, after at least 8 hours without food. For most people that is first thing in the morning.
• Swallow the tablet whole with a sip of plain water, up to 120ml. Don't split, crush or chew it.
• Wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking anything else, or taking other medicines by mouth.

The routine is the same at 1.5mg and at 25mg. Waiting less than 30 minutes reduces how much semaglutide your body absorbs. If you're new to the routine, read how to take the Wegovy pill correctly. Wondering about the monthly cost as you step up? See Wegovy tablet prices per dose in the UK.

Can you stay on a lower dose of the Wegovy pill?

The licence says the dose should be stepped up to 25mg, and that if needed it can stay at the previous level. So don't push through if a step is hard. Reasons to ask about staying at your current dose an extra month:

• Nausea or vomiting still frequent towards the end of the month.
• Constipation your usual fluid and fibre strategies aren't fixing.
• Signs of dehydration, such as dizziness, dark urine or passing less urine.

Message your pharmacist. Staying an extra month at a dose is a normal clinical decision. Severe stomach pain or a sudden change in your vision is different: don't wait, and follow the safety advice at the end of this guide. For more on managing each side effect, see oral semaglutide side effects and how to manage them.

What happens once you reach 25mg?

25mg is the maintenance dose, and you stay on it while it is working and well tolerated. If side effects come back at 25mg, your pharmacist can talk through whether staying at 9mg would suit you better. Long-term treatment is something your pharmacist reviews with you. For what people saw over time in the trial, see Wegovy pill results week by week.

Can you switch from the Wegovy injection to tablets?

The licence allows someone on the 2.4mg Wegovy injection once a week to move to 25mg tablets once a day, starting one week after their last injection. It also notes that the effect of switching cannot easily be predicted, because the tablet's absorption varies more from person to person than the injection's. Your pharmacist decides with you whether a switch suits you. The two forms are compared in Wegovy pill vs injection, and the injection's own steps are in the Wegovy injection dose schedule.