Wegovy dosages: how the titration schedule works in the UK

Step 1, 0.25 mg: your system adjusts, not your weight

The first four weeks are not about weight loss. That sounds counterintuitive, but the 0.25 mg dose exists entirely to let your body acclimatise to semaglutide. GLP-1 medicines slow how quickly your stomach empties, and if that shift happens too fast, nausea, bloating and disrupted digestion can follow. Starting low keeps those effects manageable for most people.

A question our prescribers hear regularly: "why do I feel so little at this dose?" Because that is by design. The appetite signal builds gradually. You may notice a mild reduction in hunger by week three or four, but measurable weight change typically comes later.

Injections are given once a week, on the same day if possible, into the abdomen, thigh or upper arm. Rotating sites reduces skin irritation. Storage is in the fridge at 2–8°C; the Patient Information Leaflet gives the precise room-temperature window, so check that rather than relying on a general figure. For more on how the full dose journey is structured, our page on Wegovy dose stages maps it from start to maintenance.

The short version: think of 0.25 mg as the foundation rather than the treatment.

Step 2, 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg and 1.7 mg: the climb toward maintenance

Each increment step is held for a minimum of four weeks. Your prescriber reviews how you are tolerating the current dose before moving you up. If nausea or other gastrointestinal effects are still pronounced at 0.5 mg, they may recommend staying there a little longer. There is no clinical benefit to rushing the titration, and real discomfort from going too fast.

By 1.0 mg most people are seeing meaningful appetite suppression. Energy intake typically falls not because you are forcing yourself to eat less, but because hunger feels different, less insistent, easier to pause. At 1.7 mg, that effect is usually more pronounced still.

Side effects across these steps are mostly gastrointestinal: nausea, loose stools, constipation, reflux. They tend to peak in the first week after each increase, then settle. Protein intake, hydration and eating smaller meals all help. If anything feels serious or persistent, speak to your prescriber rather than waiting for the next scheduled check-in. The detail on the 0.25 mg starting period covers the early experience more fully, and our Wegovy doses overview compares what patients typically notice at each level.

The cost of treatment across these steps is one practical consideration worth understanding early. Our weight-loss treatment page explains the pricing structure clearly.

Step 3 (2.4 mg maintenance and beyond

The 2.4 mg weekly dose is the standard maintenance level for Wegovy, and it is where the STEP 1 trial was run) reporting an average body-weight reduction of around 15% over 68 weeks in adults with obesity, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased activity. That figure comes from the published STEP 1 results in the New England Journal of Medicine and is often cited in coverage of Wegovy; the real-world range varies considerably between individuals.

From January 2026, a 7.2 mg dose became available for eligible patients following MHRA approval, reaching the dedicated single-dose pen format in April 2026. This higher dose is licensed for adults with a BMI of 30 or above only, it is not suitable for the cardiovascular indication and is not interchangeable with the standard 2.4 mg pathway without clinical review. If you want to understand what dosages Wegovy comes in, including where this newer strength sits alongside the existing range, our dedicated page covers each option in full. Trials for 7.2 mg reported average weight loss approaching 20.7% over 72 weeks. Whether it is appropriate for you is a clinical call, not a personal preference.

NICE's recommendation for semaglutide (Wegovy) on the NHS applies within specialist weight management services for a maximum of two years. Private prescribing through a regulated online pharmacy operates under different eligibility criteria, assessed individually at consultation. If treatment is going well but <5% weight loss has occurred after six months at the maintenance dose, continuing is reviewed. Our Wegovy dosage guide goes into the maintenance phase in more detail, including what the dosages for Wegovy are and how each step relates to the overall treatment plan, and our clinical team is available for questions seven days a week.

Starting your free consultation with nume is straightforward. Order by 12pm Monday to Friday and, once clinically approved, treatment is dispatched the same day. If you are ready to go through your eligibility, start your free consultation here.