Wegovy plans: what treatment looks like from first dose to maintenance

What does the Wegovy dose plan actually look like?

The treatment schedule for Wegovy is set out in the medicine's prescribing information and follows a predictable ladder. You begin on 0.25 mg once a week. That first pen is not there to produce dramatic results — it is a settling-in period, giving your body time to adjust to the way semaglutide slows gastric emptying and acts on appetite-regulating pathways in the brain. After roughly four weeks at each level, your prescriber steps the dose up: 0.5 mg, then 1.0 mg, then 1.7 mg, and finally 2.4 mg as the standard maintenance dose.

In 2026 the MHRA approved a higher maintenance option. From January 2026, 7.2 mg became available (initially delivered as three 2.4 mg pens per week) and on 14 April 2026, a dedicated single-dose 7.2 mg pen was approved for adults with a BMI of 30 or above. Trials at this higher dose reported average weight loss of around 20.7% over 72 weeks, narrowing the gap with tirzepatide at its top strength. Whether that dose is right for you depends entirely on how your body responds and what your prescriber concludes. You can read more about the semaglutide treatment journey in our overview, including what the titration process involves at each stage.

One thing people often ask is how long the plan runs. Under NICE's recommendation for semaglutide (TA875), use within NHS specialist services is capped at two years, with a review at six months: if less than 5% of body weight has been lost by that point on the maintenance dose, continuing treatment needs to be reconsidered. Private prescribing timelines are guided by clinical need and the same underlying evidence, not an arbitrary endpoint.

Who fits the eligibility criteria for a Wegovy plan?

The licensed criteria in the UK are adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or a BMI of 27–29.9 alongside at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol or obstructive sleep apnoea. BMI thresholds are adjusted downward by 2.5 kg/m² for South Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Black African and African-Caribbean backgrounds under UK guidance, reflecting different cardiometabolic risk profiles at lower body weights.

BMI is a starting point, not the whole picture. A prescriber also looks at your medical history, current medicines, and any contraindications, for instance, Wegovy is not recommended during pregnancy, while breastfeeding, or for people trying to conceive, and it is not licensed for anyone under 18. History of certain conditions, including medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2, requires careful discussion before any semaglutide plan starts.

If you are unsure where you sit, the NHS BMI calculator is a straightforward place to begin. A consultation with a prescriber then fills in the gaps that a number alone cannot answer. For a fuller picture of what private treatment involves, the Wegovy weight-loss plan page covers the clinical and lifestyle components together.

What does the evidence say about results on a semaglutide plan?

The landmark STEP 1 trial (68 weeks, semaglutide 2.4 mg, published in the New England Journal of Medicine) found average body weight reduction of around 15% compared with placebo, alongside lifestyle support. That is a meaningful figure, though it represents an average across a broad population; individual results range widely.

Results were achieved alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased activity. That combination matters. Semaglutide reduces appetite and slows how quickly the stomach empties, which makes eating less feel more manageable, but the medicine works best as part of a sustained plan, not as a standalone fix. Most people find nausea is the main thing to navigate in the early weeks, particularly around dose increases. Eating smaller portions, avoiding very fatty or rich food, and staying well hydrated all help.

If you are weighing up whether a Wegovy plan or a tirzepatide plan might suit you better, our full Wegovy guide covers the evidence in more detail. The SURMOUNT-5 head-to-head trial (2025) found tirzepatide produced greater average weight reduction than semaglutide 2.4 mg over 72 weeks, though the right choice is a clinical one, not simply a headline figure.

How does accessing a Wegovy plan through a private pharmacy work?

On the NHS, Wegovy is available through specialist weight management services under NICE TA875, but waiting lists are commonly long and the criteria are strict. Many people who meet the licensed eligibility for a private prescription do not meet the NHS specialist threshold, or simply cannot wait. A regulated online pharmacy is the private alternative.

The process at a GPhC-registered pharmacy like nume runs like this: you complete a free consultation, a GPhC-registered Independent Prescriber reads your answers the same day, and if you are clinically suitable, your treatment is dispatched. Order before noon on a weekday and, once approved, your pen goes out the same day, tracked DPD delivery in plain packaging, arriving the next working day. That includes the prescription and aftercare support; there are no hidden fees and no subscription.

Before committing to any provider, it is worth checking that the pharmacy appears on the GPhC register. Medicines sold without a valid prescription, via social media or at prices well below the market, are a serious red flag, the MHRA has warned repeatedly about counterfeit weight-loss pens circulating online. For guidance on what to look for in a reputable source, the Wegovy sourcing guide walks through the checks worth making. If cost is a factor in your decision, our page on semaglutide payment plans sets out what a transparent, all-inclusive price actually covers, and if you want to compare pricing across providers before you decide, our guide to finding the best value Wegovy in the UK explains what to look for beyond the headline number.

Ready to find out whether a Wegovy plan suits you? Check your eligibility with a free consultation, a real prescriber, not an algorithm, reviews your answers the same day.