How much semaglutide should you start with — and what does it cost?

Step 1: the dose journey begins at 0.25 mg, here's why that matters for cost

Wegovy (the brand name for semaglutide used for weight management in the UK) follows a structured escalation laid out by the prescriber: 0.25 mg for the first four weeks, then 0.5 mg, then 1.0 mg, then 1.7 mg, before reaching the standard 2.4 mg maintenance dose. Each step lasts roughly a month, which means the full journey from first injection to maintenance takes around four to five months. The MHRA has also approved a higher 7.2 mg dose, adding a further option at the top of the schedule for those who need it.

For cost planning, this matters because the price of a Wegovy pen varies by dose. You'll start on the lowest strength and work up, so your first month's outlay is typically lower than what you'll pay later at the maintenance level. Any provider quoting you a flat monthly figure is almost certainly quoting the starting or the maintenance dose, not the blended cost over the whole titration period. Factor that in when you're comparing what different services charge. More detail on what the 0.25 mg starting dose actually involves is worth reading before your first pen arrives.

Step 2: what UK private semaglutide pricing typically looks like

UK private Wegovy prices are not published on a single official register, so they vary across providers. As a broad factual picture: Eli Lilly raised Mounjaro's list price significantly from September 2025, and private market prices for GLP-1 medicines across the board have shifted since then. For semaglutide, private monthly costs typically sit somewhere in the low-to-mid hundreds of pounds depending on dose and provider, but those figures are widely reported estimates, not a guaranteed market rate, so treat them as a rough orientation rather than a shopping list.

What matters more than the headline number is what it includes. A quoted price that covers only the pen is a very different thing from a price that bundles consultation, prescription, delivery and ongoing clinical support. Some services charge separately for each of those components, which can add up meaningfully over the months it takes to reach your maintenance dose. Our Wegovy pricing page sets out what's included in full, without jargon. If you're also curious how much weight you might expect to lose at maintenance, the clinical trial evidence for semaglutide gives an honest picture.

Step 3: what headline prices often leave out, and why that gap matters

This is the part of the conversation that doesn't always happen before someone places their first order. A low headline price on a prescription medicine can mean the consultation fee is charged separately, the prescription itself carries an admin cost, delivery is a recurring add-on, and aftercare (if it exists at all) is billed by the session. None of those are unreasonable charges on their own, but together they can make a seemingly cheap option considerably more expensive than a higher-quoted all-in price.

At nume, one price covers everything: consultation, prescription, treatment, and free next-working-day tracked delivery. There's no subscription, no auto-renewal, and a prescriber reviews your case before every repeat. We're not going to be the cheapest option you find, that's a deliberate choice. The saving on a prescription medicine isn't worth much if the clinical oversight isn't there. For a fuller look at what we include and why, our about page explains the service. The FAQs also cover common questions about how repeat orders work.

Step 4: why the cheapest listing is the wrong test for a prescription medicine

Semaglutide for weight management is a Prescription-Only Medicine. The MHRA has issued clear public warnings about fake and illegally sold weight-loss pens online, including counterfeit products that have caused serious harm. If you see semaglutide offered at prices significantly below the private market rate, with no mention of a prescription or clinical assessment, that's a serious red flag, not a bargain. You can verify any UK online pharmacy on the GPhC pharmacy register; our pharmacy registration number is 9012878 if you want to check us directly.

The right questions to ask any provider aren't about price alone. They're: is a registered prescriber reviewing my case? Is the medicine sourced through the licensed UK supply chain? What happens if I have a side effect between orders? Those questions matter more at any dose, but especially at the start, when your body is adjusting and dose changes are more frequent. If you're unsure how much semaglutide you should be taking at each stage, that's a good place to get clarity before committing to a service. What to expect at each injection and realistic weight-loss expectations by dose are both worth reading before you commit to a service. The NHS also publishes patient guidance on semaglutide that's a useful independent reference. If timing is ever a factor (payday orders, Monday dispatches ahead of a busy week, planning around a holiday) placing before noon on a working day means same-day dispatch once clinically approved, with DPD delivery the following working day.

If you'd like to speak to our prescribers and start a free consultation, the process takes a few minutes and there's no obligation until treatment is confirmed as clinically suitable for you.