Short answer: According to the US prescribing information, Wegovy (semaglutide) starts at 0.25 mg once a week and steps up every 4 weeks: 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.7 and 2.4 mg. The usual maintenance dose is 2.4 mg. Your doctor decides which dose you stay on.

Key takeaways

  • Wegovy's dose steps: 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.7 and 2.4 mg, all once a week.
  • Each step lasts 4 weeks, so 2.4 mg is reached in week 17 at the earliest.
  • If 2.4 mg is not tolerated, your doctor may keep you on 1.7 mg.
  • The US missed-dose rule for Wegovy works on a 2-day (48-hour) window before your next dose.
  • Wegovy and Ozempic contain the same active ingredient (semaglutide), but they are different products with different dose steps.

Wegovy is a prescription medicine containing semaglutide, approved for weight management and injected once a week. As with other GLP-1 medicines, treatment starts low and the dose goes up gradually. The aim of this slow increase is to reduce digestive side effects such as nausea.

This page is for general information only and is not medical advice. Your dose and when it goes up are decisions for your doctor alone.

Wegovy dose schedule

Weeks Weekly dose Role in the prescribing information
1–4 0.25 mg Starting dose
5–8 0.5 mg Step-up dose
9–12 1 mg Step-up dose
13–16 1.7 mg Step-up dose
17 onward 2.4 mg Usual maintenance dose

If a step is hard to tolerate, your doctor may delay the next increase or keep you on a lower dose. What tends to happen after an increase is covered in what happens when your GLP-1 dose goes up.

Wegovy vs Ozempic

Both contain semaglutide. The differences:

  • Approved use: Wegovy is approved for weight management; Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes.
  • Dose steps: Wegovy goes up to 2.4 mg; Ozempic's steps are 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg.

For Ozempic, see how to use the Ozempic pen.

Injection day and missed doses

Wegovy is injected under the skin once a week, on the same day each week, at any time of day. According to the US prescribing information:

  • If you miss a dose and your next scheduled dose is more than 2 days (48 hours) away, take the missed dose as soon as possible.
  • If your next scheduled dose is less than 2 days away, skip the missed dose and take the next one on your usual day.
  • If you miss doses for more than 2 weeks, your doctor decides how to restart.
  • You can change your injection day as long as there are at least 2 days (48 hours) between two doses.

How the pen works depends on your product, so follow the Instructions for Use in the carton. For general tips, see how to use a GLP-1 pen.

Keeping track of your dose

Writing down how many weeks you have been on each step and how you felt after each increase makes it easier to answer your doctor's questions at a check-up. Haftra keeps your dose, injection day and symptoms together and reminds you on your dose day. It does not suggest doses or work out dose steps. It is free.

iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. Free.

Frequently asked questions

What is the starting dose of Wegovy?

According to the prescribing information, 0.25 mg once a week for 4 weeks.

What is the Wegovy maintenance dose?

The usual maintenance dose is 2.4 mg. If 2.4 mg is not tolerated, your doctor may keep you on 1.7 mg.

How often does the Wegovy dose go up?

In the prescribing information schedule, each step lasts 4 weeks. Your doctor decides when to move up and may delay an increase.

Are Wegovy and Ozempic the same?

They contain the same active ingredient (semaglutide), but Wegovy is approved for weight management and has different dose steps.

What happens if I miss a Wegovy dose?

If your next dose is more than 2 days away, take the missed dose as soon as possible. If it is less than 2 days away, skip it and continue on your usual day. If you have missed more than 2 weeks, ask your doctor how to restart.

Sources

  • FDA - Wegovy (semaglutide) prescribing information
  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Last reviewed: September 26, 2026