Dosis de Wegovy: cómo funciona la escala de semaglutida en el Reino Unido

What the STEP 1 trial showed about reaching the maintenance dose

The STEP 1 trial enrolled 1,961 adults with obesity or overweight alongside at least one weight-related health condition. Participants who reached and stayed on the 2.4 mg dose lost, on average, around 15% of their body weight over 68 weeks, roughly three times the loss seen with a placebo. That figure is the anchor behind Wegovy's UK licence for weight management, and it reflects what happens across a properly managed escalation, not a cold start at the highest dose.

Rushing the schedule tends to backfire. Nausea, vomiting and digestive discomfort are most common in the first weeks after a dose increase, and they ease as the body adapts. The four-week intervals between steps reflect that biology. Our dosing guide explains each stage in plain detail, including what to expect between steps and when a prescriber might slow the pace down.

Worth knowing: NICE's appraisal of semaglutide for weight management recommends considering whether to continue treatment if less than 5% weight loss has been achieved after six months at the maintenance dose. That isn't a reason to panic at 0.25 mg, it applies to the full maintenance phase, not the early ramp.

The 7.2 mg pen and what it changes about Wegovy's ceiling

For much of Wegovy's early history in the UK, 2.4 mg was the end of the road. That changed in January 2026, when the MHRA approved 7.2 mg as a higher maintenance dose, initially supplied as three 2.4 mg pens used in the same week. Then, on 14 April 2026, the MHRA went a step further and approved a dedicated single-dose 7.2 mg Wegovy pen, one pre-set weekly injection with a built-in covered needle that locks after use.

Trials at 7.2 mg reported average weight losses of around 20.7% over 72 weeks. That narrows the gap with tirzepatide considerably. The 7.2 mg licence applies only to adults with a BMI of 30 or above; it is not approved for BMI below that threshold or for the cardiovascular risk indication. The starting dose remains 0.25 mg regardless, nobody begins at 7.2 mg. If you are already established on treatment and wondering whether the higher ceiling is relevant to you, that is a question for a prescriber who knows your full picture, not a decision to make from a dosing chart alone.

For a side-by-side look at how the Wegovy and Mounjaro dose schedules compare, the semaglutide dosing page covers the mechanics in detail.

Dose storage and the practicalities of a weekly injection

Each Wegovy pen is kept refrigerated between 2°C and 8°C, the fridge door shelf where the milk sits is a natural home for it, which helps make the weekly routine feel less clinical. The Patient Information Leaflet specifies the exact room-temperature window if you're travelling; always check the leaflet rather than relying on a round number you've read online, because the guidance is product-specific and matters more than convenience.

Injection sites are the abdomen, thigh or upper arm, rotated each week. The dose is the same whichever site you use. Missed doses and what to do if a pen is accidentally left unrefrigerated for longer than allowed are questions the leaflet and your prescriber handle directly, the Wegovy overview page points to the official prescribing information where those specifics live.

From a practical standpoint, most people find that booking a loose weekly slot (Sunday evening, for instance) turns what sounds like a medical routine into something closer to a habit. The pen is small, and the injection itself takes seconds once you're familiar with the device.

Who can access Wegovy and through which route

Wegovy is licensed in the UK for adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 to 29.9 alongside at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or obstructive sleep apnoea. Lower BMI thresholds apply for some ethnic backgrounds under UK clinical guidance. BMI alone never guarantees suitability; a prescriber weighs up the full clinical picture.

On the NHS, Wegovy is available through specialist weight management services under NICE's technology appraisal TA875, which limits NHS use to a maximum of two years within a multidisciplinary programme. Waiting times through those services can be long. Private access through a GPhC-registered online pharmacy like nume removes the referral barrier for people who meet the clinical criteria, and every consultation is reviewed personally by a GPhC-registered prescriber the same day, never handed to an automated system.

If you are unsure whether your current BMI and health background make Wegovy the more suitable option compared with other licensed treatments, the Wegovy eligibility page sets out the criteria clearly. And if cost is part of your thinking, our Wegovy prices page explains what a legitimate private prescription includes and why the headline number rarely tells the whole story. If you would also like to understand how Wegovy is dispensed and supplied, our wegovy de page covers the details of that process.

Ready to find out whether Wegovy is clinically suitable for you? Check your eligibility with a free consultation, reviewed the same day by one of our prescribers.