Wegovy Dosing Chart and Weekly Schedule
Wegovy Dosing Schedule for Weight Loss: Step-by-Step Guide
Updated December 2025
Wegovy® (semaglutide) is designed to be started low and increased slowly. Gradual titration helps your body adjust, which can reduce the likelihood that side effects (especially nausea and other GI symptoms) disrupt treatment.
Wegovy is now available as both a once-weekly injection and a once-daily pill (NPR; NBC News). This guide covers dosing for both forms.
This guide covers:
- The standard Wegovy dosing schedule for weight loss (injection and pill)
- Injection timing tips, storage, and common side effects
- Pill timing rules (the 30-minute empty-stomach requirement)
- Missed-dose rules (including the key 48-hour decision for injections)
Educational only (not medical advice). Always follow your prescriber's instructions and the FDA-approved labeling.
Wegovy dosing schedule at a glance (standard injection escalation)
Wegovy injection is a once-weekly injection. The dose is usually increased every 4 weeks until you reach a maintenance dose.
| Weeks | Wegovy injection dose (mg) | Why this step exists |
|---|---|---|
| 1–4 | 0.25 mg weekly | Starting dose to help your body adjust |
| 5–8 | 0.5 mg weekly | Step-up dose |
| 9–12 | 1.0 mg weekly | Step-up dose |
| 13–16 | 1.7 mg weekly | Step-up dose (some people stay here) |
| 17+ | Maintenance: 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg weekly | Ongoing dose for long-term results |
Source: Wegovy® dosing schedule.
Pairing DEXA with Wegovy
Learn how BodySpec DEXA scans can help if you're starting Wegovy.
Book a BodySpec DEXA scan today and see exactly how your body composition changes over time.
Wegovy pill dosing: what to know
The FDA has approved an oral (pill) version of Wegovy—a once-daily tablet that offers a needle-free option (NPR; NBC News).
Pill timing rules (critical for effectiveness)
The Wegovy pill has strict timing requirements because oral semaglutide needs specific conditions to be absorbed properly:
- Take it in the morning on an empty stomach (NPR; USA Today).
- Swallow with a sip of water (NPR).
- Wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking anything else, or taking other oral medications (NPR; USA Today).
Why does this matter? In clinical trials, people who didn't follow the strict empty-stomach schedule lost less weight (NBC News).
Pill titration
Like the injection, the Wegovy pill uses a dose-escalation (titration) approach—starting low and increasing—because gastrointestinal side effects are common early and during dose jumps (NBC News). Consult your prescriber and official labeling for specific pill titration steps.
For a complete breakdown of the oral option, see: Wegovy pills: 2026 guide to approval, cost & results.
Template: Weekly dosing timeline (injection)
Want a simple "calculator" without an app? Copy this into your notes and fill in your start date.
- Start date (Week 1): __________ (your injection day: __________)
- Weeks 1–4 (0.25 mg): __________ to __________
- Weeks 5–8 (0.5 mg): __________ to __________
- Weeks 9–12 (1.0 mg): __________ to __________
- Weeks 13–16 (1.7 mg): __________ to __________
- Week 17+ (maintenance): __________
Tip: Novo Nordisk promotes the WeGo Together® app for patient support (source: Wegovy.com).
Injection timing and sites
Pick one day of the week (and keep it consistent)
Wegovy injection is taken once weekly on the same day each week, at any time of day, with or without food (Wegovy dosing schedule).
Where do you inject?
Wegovy is injected under the skin (subcutaneously) in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm (Wegovy Quick Start Guide PDF). Rotate sites week to week to reduce irritation.
Can you change your injection day?
Yes—as long as the time between two doses is at least 48 hours (Wegovy dosing schedule).
Missed doses: the 48-hour & 2-week rules (injection)
Missed-dose instructions are one of the most important safety details to get right.
If you missed 1 dose
- If your next dose is more than 48 hours away: take the missed dose as soon as possible.
- If your next dose is within 48 hours: skip the missed dose and take your next dose on your regular day.
Source: Wegovy dosing schedule.
If it's been 2 or more weeks since your last dose
The manufacturer notes that if it has been 2 or more weeks (14 days) since your last dose, you should take your next dose on your regularly scheduled day or talk to your healthcare professional about how to restart treatment (Wegovy dosing schedule).
Practical takeaway: If it's been ~2 weeks since your last injection, contact your prescriber before taking another dose.
Missed doses (pill)
Missed-dose instructions for the pill may differ from the injection. Use the official prescribing information and your clinician's instructions for the oral formulation.
Managing side effects during titration
Common side effects
The Wegovy site lists common side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach pain, headache, and fatigue (Wegovy dosing schedule). These side effects are similar for both the injection and pill forms (NPR).
Practical nausea strategies
The Quick Start Guide includes nausea tips like choosing bland, low-fat foods and eating more slowly (Wegovy Quick Start Guide PDF). Practical strategies include:
- Eat smaller meals, slower.
- Keep meals bland/lower-fat during the first day or two after your injection (or during early pill titration).
- Hydrate steadily—especially if you're having vomiting or diarrhea.
- Increase fiber gradually if constipation shows up.
Important safety warnings (and when to get medical help)
Wegovy has important safety warnings. Get urgent medical help for severe or concerning symptoms.
Examples the manufacturer highlights include:
- Possible thyroid tumors: contact a clinician if you notice a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath (Wegovy dosing schedule).
- Pancreatitis: seek care for severe and persistent stomach-area pain, sometimes with vomiting (Wegovy Quick Start Guide PDF).
- Serious allergic reactions: seek emergency care for swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat; trouble breathing or swallowing; severe rash/itching; fainting; or very rapid heartbeat (Wegovy Quick Start Guide PDF).
- Gallbladder problems: contact a clinician for upper stomach pain, fever, yellowing skin/eyes, or clay-colored stools (Wegovy Quick Start Guide PDF).
For full warnings and contraindications, review the Medication Guide and prescribing information referenced on Wegovy.com.
Storage & travel: keeping Wegovy effective
Injection storage
The Quick Start Guide recommends storing Wegovy in the refrigerator in its original box (protect from light), not freezing it, and notes it can be kept at 46°F to 86°F for up to 28 days if needed (with the cap on) (Wegovy Quick Start Guide PDF).
Travel tip: a small cooler pack is fine—just avoid freezing the pen.
Pill storage & travel
The pill may be more convenient for travel since it doesn't require refrigeration or sharps disposal. Consult the official labeling for specific pill storage requirements.
Special considerations if you have type 2 diabetes (or take glucose-lowering medications)
The Quick Start Guide warns that Wegovy may cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), especially in people with type 2 diabetes who also take medicines such as insulin or sulfonylureas, and advises discussing your medicines with your healthcare provider (Wegovy Quick Start Guide PDF).
If you're using glucose-lowering medications, consider asking your prescriber:
- "Do I need to adjust my insulin/sulfonylurea when I increase my Wegovy dose?"
- "What blood sugar numbers should trigger a call?"
Wegovy injection vs pill vs other GLP-1s (quick comparison)
People often search for comparisons because these medications can sound similar—but they're prescribed differently.
| Medication | Ingredient | Form | Dosing frequency | Timing rules | Typical max/maintenance dose |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wegovy (injection) | semaglutide | Weekly injection | Weekly | Any time of day, with or without food | 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg weekly (Wegovy dosing schedule) |
| Wegovy (pill) | semaglutide | Daily tablet | Daily | Empty stomach, 30-min wait before food/drink (NPR) | See prescribing info |
| Ozempic | semaglutide | Weekly injection | Weekly | Any time of day, with or without food | Up to 2 mg weekly (Ozempic Prescribing Information PDF) |
| Saxenda | liraglutide | Daily injection | Daily | Any time of day | 3 mg daily (Saxenda FDA label PDF) |
Clinical decisions are individualized—don't switch, substitute, or copy another person's regimen without a prescriber.
How to track progress on Wegovy (beyond the scale)
Wegovy can reduce body weight, but your long-term "win" usually looks like less fat (especially visceral fat) while preserving as much lean mass as possible.
A bathroom scale can't tell which tissue you lost. A DEXA scan can.
- To understand visceral fat specifically, see: DEXA Scan for Visceral Fat: Accuracy, Cost & Results.
- For a framework on tracking fat vs lean changes, see: Body Composition vs Weight: What Matters for Your Health.
- If you're worried about "muscle loss on GLP-1s," start here: Ozempic Muscle Loss: How to Prevent Lean Mass Reduction.
A simple DEXA-based check-in schedule
- Scan 1 (baseline): within 2 weeks of starting
- Scan 2 (mid-titration): around Weeks 8–12
- Scan 3 (maintenance): after you've been stable at your maintenance dose for ~8–12 weeks
Prep matters for apples-to-apples comparisons—use this checklist: Prepare for your BodySpec scan.
FAQ: Wegovy dosing schedule for weight loss
How long does it take to reach the maintenance injection dose?
Many people reach maintenance after the standard step-up schedule (0.25 → 0.5 → 1.0 → 1.7 → maintenance), with dose changes typically every 4 weeks per the manufacturer's dosing schedule.
Do I have to get to 2.4 mg?
Not always. The manufacturer notes that maintenance can be 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg (Wegovy dosing schedule).
Can I increase the dose faster than every 4 weeks?
The labeled schedule uses 4-week steps. Faster escalation can increase side effects; discuss any change in titration speed with your clinician.
What if I'm not losing weight yet at 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg?
Early doses are primarily for tolerability. If you want a troubleshooting checklist, see Why Am I Not Losing Weight on Wegovy?.
What's the safest way to handle missed injection doses?
Follow the manufacturer's missed-dose rules (based on 48 hours until the next injection day) and contact your prescriber if it's been 2+ weeks since your last dose (Wegovy dosing schedule).
Is there a pill version of Wegovy?
Yes—the FDA has approved a once-daily oral Wegovy tablet (NPR; NBC News). In clinical trials, average weight loss was roughly 13% to 17% of starting body weight over ~64–68 weeks. For full details, see: Wegovy pills: 2026 guide to approval, cost & results.
Should I choose the injection or the pill?
The main trade-offs are:
- Injection: Once weekly, no timing restrictions around food, requires needles
- Pill: Daily, strict timing rules (empty stomach + 30-minute wait), needle-free
If you have trouble with needles, the pill may be appealing. If you have trouble with daily routines or strict timing, the weekly injection may be easier to stick with. Discuss your preferences with your prescriber.
How effective is the Wegovy pill compared to the injection?
Early reporting suggests oral Wegovy's weight loss is in a similar overall range to injectable Wegovy in some studies, but results depend on dose and adherence (NPR; NBC News).
Bottom line
- Wegovy's standard injection dosing schedule steps up from 0.25 mg toward a maintenance dose of 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg to improve tolerability (Wegovy dosing schedule).
- The Wegovy pill is a new once-daily option with strict timing rules: empty stomach, wait 30 minutes before food/drink (NPR).
- The key safety rule for injections is the 48-hour missed-dose decision rule and the "2+ weeks since last dose" guidance (Wegovy dosing schedule).
- For the best outcome, track body composition (fat vs lean) instead of relying only on the scale.
Ready to make your progress measurable? You can book a BodySpec DEXA scan and track fat, lean mass, and visceral fat over time.
