The New Wegovy Dose Explained: 7.2mg, What It Is and What It Isn't

The biggest misconception: a new dose does not mean a higher starting point

When people hear that Wegovy now has a 7.2mg option, the assumption is often that treatment begins at that level, or that existing patients simply move up to it. Neither is true. The titration schedule for Wegovy runs from 0.25mg through 0.5mg, 1.0mg, 1.7mg, 2.4mg and now potentially 7.2mg, with a minimum of roughly four weeks at each step. The new maximum exists at the far end of a months-long clinical journey, not at the start of one.

The rationale for that graduated approach is straightforward. Semaglutide's most common side effects are gastrointestinal (nausea, constipation, reflux and similar) and they are most noticeable when the dose increases. Moving slowly gives the body time to adjust. Jumping directly to 7.2mg would produce a very different experience than most people see when they start at 0.25mg and work up steadily. A prescriber decides when, or whether, each increase is appropriate. The full Wegovy dose range covers every step in that progression.

For people already on 2.4mg weekly who are tolerating it well and want to discuss whether 7.2mg is a reasonable next step, that is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a decision to make unilaterally. The Wegovy dose guide goes into more depth on how titration decisions are made in practice.

What the MHRA actually approved (and the specific pen that delivers it

Prior to April 2026, the 7.2mg dose technically existed in regulation) it had been approved in January 2026 as three separate 2.4mg injections per week, but there was no practical single-injection way to take it. The April 2026 decision changed that by approving a dedicated 7.2mg single-dose Wegovy pen, designed to deliver the full amount in one weekly injection. The pen has an auto-dosing mechanism, a built-in covered needle and locks after use.

The MHRA approval is specifically for weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 or above. It does not extend the 7.2mg dose to the cardiovascular indication Wegovy also holds, and it is not appropriate for people with a BMI below that threshold. Understanding what a regulator actually approved, as opposed to how it is sometimes reported, is worth the effort. The full regulatory background is covered in detail on the MHRA 7.2mg approval page.

Novo Nordisk has described this pen format as more convenient for patients already at the highest doses, one injection rather than three separate ones each week. Whether a specific pen format is available at consultation is confirmed at that point; stock and dispensing arrangements develop over time after an approval.

What the trial evidence shows, and where the gap with tirzepatide now stands

The 7.2mg dose was studied in clinical trials that reported roughly 20.7% average weight loss over 72 weeks. That figure is meaningfully higher than the approximately 15% average seen with 2.4mg semaglutide in the STEP 1 trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The gap matters in context: the SURMOUNT-5 head-to-head trial (published in the NEJM, 2025) showed tirzepatide producing greater average weight reduction than semaglutide 2.4mg over 72 weeks. At 7.2mg, semaglutide narrows that difference considerably, approaching tirzepatide's 15mg results in some analyses, though not matching them in direct comparison.

Clinical trial averages describe populations, not individuals. Some people respond more strongly to semaglutide; others find tirzepatide's dual-receptor mechanism a better fit. The Wegovy overview sets out the full evidence picture, and the question of which treatment is right for a given person is precisely what a clinical assessment is designed to answer. For anyone weighing cost alongside results, the Wegovy cost guide puts private pricing in context without obscuring what is actually included in a legitimate service.

Eligibility, safety and what happens next if you are interested

The 7.2mg Wegovy pen is licensed for adults with a BMI of 30 or above, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, the same foundational requirement as all Wegovy doses. For some South Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean backgrounds, NICE guidance applies thresholds 2.5 kg/m² lower, which affects NHS access criteria rather than the licensed population directly.

On safety, the profile at 7.2mg is consistent with what is known about semaglutide more broadly. Gastrointestinal effects are the most common. Symptoms that warrant urgent medical attention include severe persistent abdominal pain that radiates to the back, a potential sign of pancreatitis, highlighted in the MHRA's Drug Safety Update programme for GLP-1 medicines. Suspected side effects can be reported at the MHRA's Yellow Card scheme. Wegovy is not recommended during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or when trying to conceive, and it is not licensed for use under 18.

If you want to understand whether Wegovy at any dose (including the new maximum) could be suitable for you, the right starting point is a clinical consultation. At nume, a GPhC-registered prescriber reads every consultation personally on the day it is submitted. If treatment is clinically suitable and your order is placed before noon, dispatch happens the same day. Your pen arrives via DPD the next working day in plain, unbranded packaging. Check your eligibility by starting a free consultation.