Wegovy 5 mg: the dose that doesn't exist — and what that tells you

The biggest misconception: Wegovy doesn't run to 5 mg

Most people searching for "5 mg Wegovy" have either read something inaccurate online, or they've been researching both Wegovy and Mounjaro side by side and the numbers blurred. It's an understandable slip. Both medicines treat obesity in adults, both are once-weekly injections, and both have a stepped titration schedule. But the numbers belong to different compounds. Mounjaro's UK strengths run from 2.5 mg up through 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5 and 15 mg. Wegovy's run from 0.25 mg to 2.4 mg, a completely separate scale, reflecting semaglutide's different potency profile.

The distinction isn't trivial. If someone told you they were "on 5 mg" and you assumed they meant Wegovy, you'd be misreading their treatment entirely. You can read a fuller breakdown of how Wegovy's dose schedule works to see the full titration pathway in context. The short version: the lowest starting strength is 0.25 mg, and most adults spend at least sixteen weeks moving through the lower rungs before reaching 2.4 mg. No rung is optional, and none is skipped without a prescriber making that call.

The NHS patient information page for semaglutide sets this out plainly and is worth bookmarking if you're in treatment or considering it.

What 0.5 mg and 1 mg Wegovy are actually doing, and why the number isn't the goal

A common frustration among people starting Wegovy is the sense that the early doses are too small to do much. The 0.25 mg starting dose and the 0.5 mg step aren't therapeutic targets in the conventional sense, they exist to give your digestive system time to adjust. Nausea, constipation and loose stools are the most frequently reported side effects in the early weeks, and keeping the dose low while your body adapts reduces how sharp those effects are. It's a clinical design choice, not a timid one.

The 1 mg dose begins to show more meaningful appetite suppression for many people, though individual response varies considerably. By the time someone reaches 1.7 mg, most of the GI adjustment is behind them. The 2.4 mg maintenance dose is where the published trial evidence sits: the STEP 1 trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found an average weight reduction of around 15% over 68 weeks at 2.4 mg alongside lifestyle changes. That headline figure comes from a controlled trial population, real-world results vary, and a prescriber will assess whether 2.4 mg is the right endpoint for you individually.

A newer 7.2 mg maintenance dose was approved by the MHRA in April 2026, initially as three 2.4 mg pens per week and then as a dedicated single-dose pen. It's licensed for adults with a BMI of 30 or above only, and reaching it still requires titrating through the full lower schedule. Specific dose availability is always confirmed at consultation.

How Mounjaro's 5 mg fits in, and when that comparison matters

For anyone who arrived here because they're weighing up Wegovy against Mounjaro, the 5 mg question has a real answer in that context. Tirzepatide's 5 mg strength is the second step in Mounjaro's titration schedule, following the 2.5 mg starter dose, and if you're curious about the semaglutide side of things, our page on Wegovy o 5 mg explains how that particular presentation fits into the broader dose schedule. You can also explore the full Wegovy overview for a grounded comparison of how semaglutide works alongside other options.

The two medicines differ in mechanism: Wegovy activates one gut-hormone receptor (GLP-1); Mounjaro activates two (GLP-1 and GIP). Head-to-head evidence from the SURMOUNT-5 trial (2025) showed greater average weight loss with tirzepatide than with semaglutide 2.4 mg. Whether one is more suitable than the other for a specific person is a clinical judgement, not something a dose number resolves on its own. A prescriber will look at your health history, any medicines you already take, and your starting BMI before recommending either.

For context on what private treatment involves financially, the Wegovy price comparison page gives an honest picture of what's included in legitimate private pricing, and what low headline prices often leave out. There's also a broader look at weight-loss treatment options if you're still deciding which route suits you.

What a prescriber looks at before any dose is issued

Every prescription for Wegovy (at any strength) requires a clinical assessment first. The medicine is licensed for adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 or above with at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidaemia or obstructive sleep apnoea. BMI alone isn't the whole picture; a prescriber also checks for conditions that would make GLP-1 treatment unsuitable, reviews any other medicines you take, and confirms identity. The NICE guidance on semaglutide (TA875) applies specifically to NHS commissioning, but the licensed eligibility criteria apply across both NHS and private routes.

At nume, a GPhC-registered Independent Prescriber reads every consultation personally the same day. You won't interact with a decision algorithm. If treatment is clinically appropriate, your prescription is issued and your pen dispatched the same day for next working day delivery by DPD, tracked, in plain unbranded packaging. The pen itself arrives as a discreet pre-filled injector, nothing on the outside to identify the contents.

If you have questions before starting or want to check your eligibility, our frequently asked questions cover the most common ones, and you can reach the team directly through our contact page. When you're ready to move forward, start your free consultation and a prescriber will review your case the same day.