The Wegovy doses chart: what the titration schedule actually means for you

The biggest myth: that a higher dose means faster results from day one

Most people who search for a Wegovy dose chart arrive expecting a simple ladder, climb as quickly as possible, reach the top, lose the most weight. That framing is understandable, and it is also the thing most likely to lead someone to push their prescriber for a faster increase than is sensible.

The schedule exists because GLP-1 medicines work partly by slowing gastric emptying, and the gastrointestinal side effects (nausea, loose stools, indigestion) are dose-dependent. Starting at 0.25 mg for four weeks is not a bureaucratic delay. It is the period when your digestive system learns to tolerate the mechanism. Going straight to a higher dose does not produce better outcomes; it produces more side effects, which often leads people to stop treatment altogether.

STEP 1, the pivotal phase-3 trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that participants using semaglutide 2.4 mg lost an average of around 15% of body weight over 68 weeks. Those results were achieved through the standard titration, not by rushing it. The NHS semaglutide medicines page confirms this step-by-step approach and is worth bookmarking for patient-level detail.

Reading the chart: what each dose step on the Wegovy schedule represents

If you want a clear breakdown of each stage before reading on, our Wegovy dose chart lays out every step in one place and is a useful reference to keep open alongside this guide. The standard UK Wegovy titration runs as follows. Weeks one to four: 0.25 mg. Weeks five to eight: 0.5 mg. Weeks nine to twelve: 1.0 mg. Weeks thirteen to sixteen: 1.7 mg. From week seventeen onwards: 2.4 mg as the standard maintenance dose. Each transition happens roughly every four weeks, though your prescriber may recommend staying at a step longer if tolerance warrants it, that is a clinical judgement, not a setback.

The 7.2 mg dose, approved by the MHRA in April 2026, represents a separate maintenance tier rather than a new rung in the standard schedule. It is reached from 2.4 mg through the same four-weekly progression, and it is licensed only for adults with a BMI of 30 or above. Trial data showed average weight loss of around 20.7% over 72 weeks at 7.2 mg, which narrows the gap with tirzepatide 15 mg results considerably. A dedicated single-dose pen is now available, though whether a particular format is in stock is confirmed at consultation. You can explore the full dose options in more detail if you want to understand where 7.2 mg fits in practice.

The Wegovy dosage chart guide on this site maps those steps visually if a table format helps you retain the sequence.

What the chart does not tell you: individual variation and when titration slows

A chart is a population-level guide. Your prescriber works with you as an individual. Some people move through the steps with barely a queasy morning; others need six or eight weeks at 0.5 mg before their system settles. Both are normal. There is no clinical prize for reaching 2.4 mg in exactly 16 weeks.

It is worth knowing that the side-effect profile tends to peak in the first few days after each dose increase, then settle. Nausea, a feeling of fullness arriving quickly, and occasionally loose stools are the most common complaints at step-up points. Persistent or severe symptoms (especially intense stomach pain that radiates toward the back) should be reported to a prescriber promptly rather than managed privately. The MHRA flagged acute pancreatitis as a serious but infrequent risk in its January 2026 Drug Safety Update for GLP-1 medicines; the Yellow Card scheme is where any suspected side effects should be reported.

If you are wondering whether your current dose is right, that conversation belongs with your prescriber. Dose decisions on Wegovy depend on tolerability, response, and your overall clinical picture, details that no chart can substitute for. If you are new to Wegovy or considering it, the free consultation at nume is the starting point; a GPhC-registered prescriber reads your answers the same day.

For a side-by-side look at how Wegovy's schedule compares with tirzepatide's titration, the semaglutide dose chart sets the two out together. And if cost is a factor in your thinking, the Wegovy price guide covers what private treatment typically involves.