What happens when you reach the full dose of Wegovy?

What does the titration schedule actually look like?

Wegovy does not start at 2.4 mg. The prescribing schedule is a step-by-step climb: 0.25 mg for the first four weeks, then 0.5 mg, then 1.0 mg, then 1.7 mg, before finally arriving at 2.4 mg. Each rung lasts roughly a month, so most people reach the full maintenance dose somewhere around week 17 to 20. If nausea or other gastrointestinal symptoms make a particular step difficult, the schedule can be extended, staying at the current dose for another four weeks before moving up. That flexibility is deliberate, and it is why you should think of the timeline as a guide rather than a fixed timetable.

A question our prescribers hear most weeks is whether staying at a lower dose for longer will reduce the effectiveness of the medicine. The honest answer is that the 2.4 mg figure is the licensed maintenance dose studied in the trials, so the evidence base sits there. Lower doses do produce some effect, but the clinical programme was designed around reaching and sustaining 2.4 mg. If you are curious about how each dose step is delivered via the Wegovy pen and how they compare in practice, the Wegovy doses overview covers the schedule in more detail.

Why is 2.4 mg specifically the full dose, and not a higher number?

The 2.4 mg figure is not arbitrary. It is the dose the STEP 1 trial tested over 68 weeks, producing an average body-weight reduction of around 15% in participants without type 2 diabetes. That trial involved over 1,900 adults and used 2.4 mg as the target maintenance dose throughout. The MHRA licensed Wegovy on the basis of that evidence, and NICE's appraisal under TA875 reflects the same 2.4 mg endpoint. So when people ask what the full dose of Wegovy is, 2.4 mg is the evidence-backed, MHRA-licensed answer for the standard pen.

It is worth knowing that the picture shifted in 2026. The MHRA approved a higher maintenance dose of 7.2 mg semaglutide in a dedicated single-dose pen on 14 April 2026, for adults with a BMI of 30 or above. Trials of this higher dose reported average weight loss of around 20.7% over 72 weeks, narrowing the gap with tirzepatide. The 7.2 mg pen has its own titration pathway starting at 0.25 mg, it is not simply an extension bolt-on to the 2.4 mg pen. If you want more detail on the higher-dose pen, the high-dose Wegovy page sets out what is known so far.

What side effects tend to appear around or after reaching the full dose?

Side effects on Wegovy are predominantly gastrointestinal: nausea, loose stools, constipation, indigestion and belching are the most commonly reported, particularly in the days following a dose increase. Reaching 2.4 mg is another step up from 1.7 mg, so some people notice a temporary return of symptoms they thought had settled. This usually calms within one to two weeks as the body acclimatises. Fatigue and headache are also reported by some people during the adjustment period.

There are symptoms that need prompt medical attention rather than watchful waiting. Severe stomach pain that spreads to your back, with or without vomiting, should be assessed urgently because acute pancreatitis, while infrequent, is a recognised risk with GLP-1 medicines, the MHRA Drug Safety Update from January 2026 highlighted this specifically. Signs of a serious allergic reaction (facial swelling, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat) also require emergency care. Any side effect you are unsure about is worth raising with your prescriber rather than managing alone. You can also report suspected side effects directly at yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk.

Can your prescriber decide to stay below the full dose?

Yes, and this is more common than people expect. The full 2.4 mg dose is the maintenance target, but if a person is losing weight well and tolerating an intermediate dose, a prescriber may judge it clinically appropriate to continue at that level for a period rather than push upward. The goal is effective, tolerable treatment, not hitting a number for its own sake. The reverse is also true: if side effects at 1.7 mg are persistent and significant, a prescriber can hold that dose for longer, or in some cases step back down temporarily.

This is one of the reasons clinical review before every repeat order matters. Adjustments to your Wegovy dose plan belong to the conversation with your prescriber, not to a self-directed schedule. If you are thinking about where you are in the dose journey, the Wegovy dose guide gives a clear picture of the full pathway, and the starting dose page explains what those early weeks look like. For a broader look at treatment costs alongside the clinical picture, the Wegovy pricing page sets out what a private prescription typically involves. When you are ready to speak to a clinician about your own situation, starting a free consultation with our prescribers is the natural next step.