Wegovy levels: how the dose schedule works in the UK

You've just been prescribed Wegovy, here's what those five levels mean in practice

Most people starting Wegovy receive a 0.25 mg pen first. It feels modest, and a common reaction is to wonder whether such a low dose could possibly do anything. That uncertainty is understandable, but the 0.25 mg level isn't meant to drive significant weight loss, it's there to acclimatise your digestive system before the dose rises. Semaglutide slows gastric emptying and reduces appetite through the GLP-1 receptor pathway, and starting low gives the body time to adapt. Jumping straight to a higher level would mean most people experience more nausea than they need to.

From 0.25 mg, the levels of Wegovy step upward at roughly four-week intervals: 0.25 mg, then 0.5 mg, then 1.0 mg, then 1.7 mg, and finally 2.4 mg. The semaglutide treatment page explains the GLP-1 mechanism in more detail if the science is useful to you. Each step is a clinical decision, not a fixed calendar obligation, if side effects at a given level are significant, a prescriber may recommend staying there longer before moving up. That flexibility matters. The schedule in the patient information leaflet and the NHS guidance on semaglutide describes the standard progression; your own timeline is set by whoever holds your prescription.

Maintenance sits at 2.4 mg. That's the dose at which the STEP 1 clinical trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found an average body-weight reduction of around 15% over 68 weeks. The journey to get there typically takes about five months of gradual titration.

The 7.2 mg level: what the 2026 MHRA approval means for patients

In January 2026 the MHRA approved a 7.2 mg weekly dose of semaglutide for weight management, initially supplied as three 2.4 mg pens administered across the week. Then, on 14 April 2026, the MHRA approved a dedicated single-dose 7.2 mg pen (one injection per week) making administration considerably more straightforward. The MHRA's announcement of the 7.2 mg pen approval confirmed it is licensed for adults with a BMI of 30 or above, and that the titration schedule still begins at 0.25 mg, the higher ceiling doesn't change the starting point.

Trial data for 7.2 mg showed average weight loss of around 20.7% over 72 weeks, which narrows the gap with tirzepatide's results meaningfully. Whether 7.2 mg is appropriate for a given patient is a prescriber's judgement, not something determined by personal preference or a request alone. It's also worth knowing that specific pen availability varies; a prescriber can confirm what's accessible at the time of your consultation. For questions about how many levels of Wegovy there are and how they compare with other treatment options, the weight-loss treatment overview sets out the landscape clearly.

One point worth settling here: some people assume the higher the dose, the better the outcome for everyone. Clinical experience doesn't support that neatly. Some patients reach their goals at 1.7 mg with fewer side effects than they'd face at 2.4 mg. The right level is the lowest one that achieves the clinical aim with acceptable tolerability, not necessarily the highest available.

Side effects across the dose levels, and what actually changes as you go up

The GI side effects associated with semaglutide (nausea, loose stools, constipation, burping, reflux) tend to be most noticeable in the first week or two after a dose increase, then ease as the body adjusts. This pattern repeats with each upward step, which is exactly why the four-week spacing exists. By the time you reach 1.0 mg or above, many people find the symptoms they noticed at 0.25 mg have largely settled, and the new level brings only a brief recurrence.

Fatigue and headache are also reported, particularly early on. These are listed in the NHS medicines guidance and in the product's patient information leaflet, both of which are worth reading in full before you start. If you want to understand how semaglutide can affect energy more broadly, the page on semaglutide and energy levels covers that specifically.

Some interactions are worth flagging at the prescriber stage rather than discovering mid-treatment. Semaglutide slows digestion, which can affect how other oral medicines are absorbed. Women using oral contraceptives alongside Wegovy should discuss this with their prescriber; tirzepatide carries a clearer advisory on this, but it's a sensible conversation for semaglutide too. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and treatment for someone trying to conceive are circumstances where Wegovy is not recommended, and under-18s are outside the licensed indication entirely. A prescriber will cover all of this during assessment.

For anything that feels urgent, the MHRA Yellow Card scheme allows patients to report suspected side effects directly. Our clinical team at nume is available for aftercare support seven days a week, the contact page has the details.

Starting treatment: what the consultation actually looks at

Wegovy is a prescription-only medicine, which means access starts with a clinical assessment, not a purchase. At nume, that means a consultation reviewed by a GPhC-registered Independent Prescriber on the same day it's submitted, with photo ID and live weight verification as part of the process. The prescriber looks at your full picture: BMI, relevant health conditions, current medications, and any history that bears on suitability.

For private prescribing, the licensed eligibility criteria require a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 to 29.9 alongside at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol. BMI alone isn't the whole picture, the clinical assessment determines whether treatment is appropriate and, if so, which starting level and which medicine fits best. If you're weighing up cost alongside the clinical considerations, the Wegovy pricing page explains what a private prescription typically covers. Everything at nume is one transparent price: consultation, prescription, medicine, and free next-working-day delivery through DPD, with no subscription and no auto-renewal.

If you'd like a prescriber to assess your suitability and talk through which level makes sense for you, start your free consultation and someone from the team will review it the same day.