The standard Wegovy dosage is a 5-step titration schedule that starts low at 0.25 mg once weekly and climbs gradually over about 16 to 20 weeks to a maintenance dose of 2.4 mg once weekly. This article explains that schedule for education only. It is not a prescription, and it is not medical advice. A licensed clinician sets your starting dose, decides how fast you move up, and chooses your final maintenance dose. You should never change, skip, or double a dose on your own.
Wegovy is semaglutide, the same active drug found in Ozempic, but dosed at a higher maintenance level and FDA-approved specifically for chronic weight management. It is a once-weekly subcutaneous injection. Because the medicine acts on the gut and brain to reduce appetite, the body needs time to adjust to it, which is why the dose is raised in careful steps rather than started at full strength.
Understanding the schedule can make the whole treatment feel less confusing, especially in the early weeks when the dose is still ramping up and you may not yet notice a strong effect on appetite. Knowing what comes next also helps you spot when something is off, so you can raise it with your prescriber early rather than guessing. Keep in mind that the numbers here describe a typical labeled path. The plan your clinician writes for you is the one that matters.
The standard Wegovy dosage chart
The Wegovy dosage chart below shows the full 5-step titration exactly as it appears in the FDA prescribing information. Each step lasts about four weeks before the next increase, assuming the person is tolerating the medicine well. This is the standard path, not a guarantee of what your clinician will prescribe for you.
| Weeks | Weekly dose | Step |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1 to 4 | 0.25 mg once weekly | Step 1 (starting dose) |
| Weeks 5 to 8 | 0.5 mg once weekly | Step 2 |
| Weeks 9 to 12 | 1 mg once weekly | Step 3 |
| Weeks 13 to 16 | 1.7 mg once weekly | Step 4 |
| Week 17 onward | 2.4 mg once weekly | Step 5 (maintenance) |
Wegovy comes in five strengths that match these steps: 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, and 2.4 mg. The 0.25 mg starting dose is deliberately below the level that produces strong weight loss. It exists only to let the body get used to the medicine. The real appetite effects build as you move up through the schedule. For a broader look at how results unfold over time, see our guide to the GLP-1 weight loss timeline.
Why the Wegovy dosage climbs so slowly
The slow, stepwise Wegovy titration exists for one main reason: to reduce gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. These effects are most common when the dose first goes up. Starting low and increasing gradually gives the digestive system time to adapt at each level, which makes the medicine far easier to tolerate than jumping straight to a high dose would be.
This is also why you should never try to speed the schedule up. Skipping a step or doubling a dose to lose weight faster does not work that way and greatly increases the risk of severe stomach upset. The pace is the safety feature. If you feel impatient, talk to your prescriber rather than changing anything yourself. You can also read about what to expect in our GLP-1 side effects timeline and our overview of Wegovy side effects.
When the Wegovy dosage schedule is adjusted
The four-week-per-step timeline is the standard, but it is not rigid. Real people tolerate the medicine differently, and a clinician adjusts the plan to fit the person in front of them. If a particular step causes side effects that are hard to manage, your clinician has several options. They may delay the next increase and keep you on the current dose longer. They may move you back down a step. Or they may decide that a lower dose is the right long-term maintenance level for you.
A common example is the 1.7 mg step. Some people do very well at 1.7 mg once weekly and, together with their clinician, choose to stay there rather than go up to 2.4 mg. Not everyone reaches or needs the top dose. The goal is steady, sustainable appetite control with tolerable side effects, not the biggest number on the chart.
It is also true that some people simply cannot tolerate the 2.4 mg maintenance dose. When that happens, a clinician keeps the person on a lower dose that works for them, such as 1.7 mg. There is no penalty for this. The maximum and target maintenance dose is 2.4 mg once weekly, and there is no higher approved dose. If any source tells you to take more than 2.4 mg weekly, that is wrong and potentially dangerous.
What if you miss a scheduled dose? Do not try to make it up by taking two doses close together, and do not decide on your own how to catch up. The prescribing information gives specific guidance for missed doses, and your clinician or pharmacist can tell you exactly what to do based on how many days have passed. This is another situation where the safe move is to ask rather than to self-adjust. The same goes for restarting after any longer break, since a clinician may want to step the dose back up rather than resume at the level you stopped at.
What to do about side effects instead of self-adjusting
If you feel sick on Wegovy, the answer is to contact your prescriber, not to change your own dose. Your clinician can slow the titration, adjust timing, or suggest practical steps. Many people find nausea eases as the body adapts, and there are supportive strategies that help in the meantime. See our guide to managing nausea on GLP-1 medicines for ideas you can discuss with your care team.
Because Wegovy is semaglutide, its dosing logic mirrors the wider semaglutide family. If you want to compare, our semaglutide dosing schedule covers the shared titration principles, and our comparison of Wegovy vs Zepbound looks at how the two leading weight-management injections differ. Wherever you are in the schedule, pairing the medicine with realistic expectations matters, which is why we cover realistic weight loss goals on GLP-1 too.
A reminder on safety
Everything above describes the standard FDA-labeled titration for general understanding. It cannot replace the specific instructions on your own prescription. Only your clinician knows your health history, other medicines, and how you are responding. Use this Wegovy dosage chart to have a better-informed conversation with your prescriber, not to make dosing decisions on your own.
Scientific References
3 sources- 1
Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Calanna S, et al.
Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity (STEP-1)
New England Journal of Medicine · 384(11) · 2021PMID: 33567185
NEJM - 2
Drucker DJ
Mechanisms of Action and Therapeutic Application of Glucagon-like Peptide-1
Cell Metabolism · 27(4) · 2018PMID: 29617641
PubMed - 3
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Prescribing information: Wegovy (semaglutide)
U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2024
References open in a new tab. Content is reviewed against peer-reviewed literature as part of our editorial policy.
About the author
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standard Wegovy dosage schedule?
The standard Wegovy dosage is a 5-step titration over about 16 to 20 weeks: 0.25 mg once weekly for weeks 1 to 4, 0.5 mg for weeks 5 to 8, 1 mg for weeks 9 to 12, 1.7 mg for weeks 13 to 16, and then the 2.4 mg maintenance dose once weekly from week 17 onward. Your clinician sets and adjusts your actual schedule.
What is the maximum Wegovy dose?
The maximum and target maintenance dose is 2.4 mg once weekly. There is no higher approved dose. Any claim of a dose above 2.4 mg weekly is incorrect. Never take more than your prescriber has directed.
Why does the Wegovy dose start so low?
The 0.25 mg starting dose and the slow, stepwise increases exist to reduce gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea and vomiting. Starting low lets the body adapt at each level. Do not try to speed up the schedule on your own.
What if I cannot tolerate 2.4 mg of Wegovy?
Some people cannot tolerate the 2.4 mg maintenance dose. In that case a clinician may delay an increase, keep you at a lower dose longer, or maintain you on a lower dose such as 1.7 mg. This is a normal, individualized decision made by your prescriber, not something you decide alone.
Can I skip or double a Wegovy dose to lose weight faster?
No. Skipping steps or doubling doses does not speed up results and sharply increases the risk of severe side effects. Follow your prescriber's plan exactly and contact them if you have concerns.
Is Wegovy the same as Ozempic?
Both are semaglutide. Wegovy is semaglutide dosed at a higher maintenance level and FDA-approved specifically for chronic weight management, given as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection.
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Where to read next
Not medical advice. This guide is for general education only. GLP-1 medications, dosing, and treatment suitability are decisions for you and a licensed clinician who knows your full medical history.