Wegovy dosing for weight loss?
Wegovy (semaglutide) is a once-weekly injection that is used along with lifestyle changes for weight loss and cardiovascular protection in certain adults and children 12 years of age and older. It works by mimicking glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a hormone that regulates your appetite and blood sugar levels. The active ingredient, semaglutide, is also sold under the brand Ozempic and is used to treat type 2 diabetes.
Wegovy is known to cause several stomach-related side effects. Because of this, you will typically start at a lower dose, and your healthcare provider will gradually increase it over time to help your body adjust to the medication. It is important for you to be familiar with Wegovy’s dosage schedule and be aware of the side effects that may occur. Read on to learn this and more important information about this weight loss medication.
What is the dosing schedule of Wegovy?
Your Wegovy dosing schedule will start at a low dose and increase over months to reduce your risk of gastrointestinal (GI) side effects.
The typical starting dose of Wegovy for adults and children ages 12 and older is 0.25 mg once a week for 4 weeks. It will then be increased to a maintenance dosage of 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg once weekly. The maximum weekly dose of Wegovy is 2.4 mg.
An example of a Wegovy dose escalation schedule is as follows:
- Weeks 1–4: 0.25 mg once weekly
- Weeks 5–8: 0.5 mg once weekly
- Weeks 9–12: 1 mg once weekly
- Weeks 13–16: 1.7 mg once weekly
- Weeks 17 and after: 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg once weekly (typical maintenance dose)
Using this dosage schedule for Wegovy can help reduce side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain. However, if you cannot tolerate a dosage increase, your prescriber may delay your next dosage increase by 4 weeks. Your healthcare provider may also have you follow a different dosing schedule, depending on how you respond to Wegovy. Be sure to follow their instructions when taking Wegovy.
How long will my Wegovy pen last?
You will inject Wegovy under your skin (subcutaneously) once a week at any time of day. You can inject it in your stomach, upper thigh, or upper arm. Wegovy comes as a prefilled injection pen. The pens are available in five different doses, ranging from 0.25 mg to 2.4 mg. Each Wegovy dose comes in a color-coded pen, and each pen is prefilled with 4 doses. This means each Wegovy pen will last 4 weeks.
What should you do if you miss a dose of Wegovy?
It is important to always take your medication as prescribed and not miss any doses. However, it is common to sometimes forget to take your Wegovy. If you miss a dosage of Wegovy, your next scheduled dose will determine what to do.
- If your next dose of Wegovy is more than 48 hours away, take the missed dose as soon as you remember.
- If your next dose of Wegovy is less than 48 hours away, skip the missed dose and take Wegovy on the next scheduled day. You should never take 2 doses of Wegovy within 48 hours of each other.
- If you miss your dose of Wegovy for more than 2 weeks, call your provider right away. They may suggest you resume your normal dosing schedule or change you to a lower dose and then increase it back to your usual dose.
If you are constantly missing doses, try setting a reminder on your phone. Or talk to your provider or pharmacist for other tips to help you remember to take your medication.
How much weight should you lose per month on Wegovy?
You will typically begin to lose weight within a few weeks of starting Wegovy. In one clinical study, people saw around a 2% loss in their body weight in the first 4 weeks of Wegovy treatment. For most people, it can take longer to see significant weight loss. Studies have shown that people lose around 4% body weight after 2 months and 6% of their body weight after 3 months. Other research has suggested that on average, you will lose about 11% of body weight after 6 months, and about 16% of body weight after 16 months.
What is Wegovy used for?
The FDA has approved Wegovy for the following:
- Reduce your risk of major heart problems in adults who have cardiovascular disease and are overweight or have obesity (BMI ≥ 30)
- Help lose excess body weight and for long-term weight management in:
- Adults and children aged 12 years and older who have obesity (BMI ≥ 30)
- Adults who are overweight (BMI ≥ 27) and have a weight-related health condition, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes
Wegovy is prescribed as part of a weight loss treatment plan that also includes increased physical activity and a reduced-calorie diet. It is important to stick to this plan to reach your weight loss goals.
What are the side effects of Wegovy?
The most common side effects of Wegovy in clinical trials include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Stomach pain
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Injection site reactions
Rarely, Wegovy can cause more serious side effects such as:
- Increased risk of thyroid cancer or thyroid tumors
- Pancreatitis (inflammation of your pancreas)
- Gallbladder problems like gallstones
- Kidney issues
- Allergic reactions
- Increased heart rate
- Depression or suicidal thoughts
- Changes in vision or diabetic retinopathy
- Increased risk of low blood glucose levels (hypoglycemia), especially if you take medicines for diabetes such as insulin or sulfonylureas
Contact your healthcare professional for medical advice about any possible adverse effects you experience while taking Wegovy. You can report your adverse effects to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Sources
- Blundell, J., et al. (2017). Effects of once-weekly semaglutide on appetite, energy intake, control of eating, food preference and body weight in subjects with obesity. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. Accessed May 3, 2025.
- Ghusn, W., et al. (2022). Weight loss outcomes associated with semaglutide treatment for patients with overweight or obesity. JAMA Network Open. Accessed May 3, 2025.
- Wegovy – semaglutide injection, solution. Novo Nordisk. DailyMed. Last updated 11/2024. Accessed May 3, 2025.