Wegovy strengths: the complete UK dose schedule

What the MHRA-approved schedule actually looks like

The Wegovy dose strengths UK prescribers follow are set out in the medicine's licensed schedule: 0.25 mg for the first four weeks, then 0.5 mg, then 1.0 mg, then 1.7 mg, reaching the standard 2.4 mg maintenance dose at around week 17. The MHRA's approval of the 7.2 mg single-dose pen in April 2026 added a higher maintenance option for adults who tolerate 2.4 mg well and meet specific clinical criteria, a BMI of 30 or above is required for this strength specifically.

That stepwise structure is not arbitrary. Clinical evidence from the STEP 1 trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, enrolled nearly 2,000 adults with obesity and reported an average body-weight reduction of around 15% over 68 weeks at the 2.4 mg maintenance dose alongside lifestyle changes. The gradual ramp allows the body to adapt and keeps the gastrointestinal side effects, which are most noticeable early on, at a manageable level.

A question our prescribers hear most weeks is whether it is possible to start at a higher strength to get faster results. The short answer is no, and the reason matters: the early doses are a tolerability measure, not a holding pattern. Jumping ahead tends to produce more nausea and vomiting without meaningfully accelerating the therapeutic effect. The schedule exists because that is what the clinical evidence supports.

What changed when the 7.2 mg pen arrived

For a long time, 2.4 mg was the ceiling. The MHRA's January 2026 approval first made 7.2 mg available as three 2.4 mg injections per week, then on 14 April 2026 a dedicated single-dose 7.2 mg pen was approved, one pre-set injection each week with an auto-dosing mechanism and a covered needle that locks after use.

Trial data on the higher dose reported average weight loss of around 20.7% over 72 weeks, which narrows the gap considerably with tirzepatide's highest-dose results. This is meaningfully different from 2.4 mg, though the BMI eligibility rule is stricter: the 7.2 mg pen is licensed only for adults with a BMI of 30 or above, not for lower-BMI weight-related comorbidity pathways. Titration still begins at 0.25 mg, nobody starts at 7.2 mg.

If you are trying to understand how the different strengths of Wegovy compare in terms of what each one is meant to achieve, the practical answer is that 0.25 mg to 1.0 mg are titration doses, 1.7 mg is a mid-maintenance step, and 2.4 mg or 7.2 mg represent sustained treatment. Which you reach, and when, depends entirely on your prescriber's assessment.

Side effects across the strength schedule

Side effects with Wegovy tend to be most noticeable in the first weeks after starting or stepping up. Nausea is the most common; diarrhoea, constipation, indigestion and burping are also reported, as is fatigue. For most people these settle within a week or two as the body adjusts. At higher doses the same effects can return temporarily after each step up, which is exactly why the schedule moves slowly.

The MHRA has highlighted acute pancreatitis as an infrequent but potentially serious side effect across GLP-1 medicines. Severe stomach pain that radiates to the back, with or without vomiting, warrants prompt medical attention rather than waiting to see whether it passes. Any suspected side effects from treatment can be reported directly through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.

Wegovy is not recommended during pregnancy, whilst breastfeeding or if trying to conceive. It is not licensed for anyone under 18. A full list of contraindications and interactions is in the Patient Information Leaflet supplied with every pen, and your prescriber reviews these before treatment starts.

Accessing Wegovy through a clinician-led private service

On the NHS, Wegovy is available through specialist weight management services under NICE guidance, and waiting lists can be long. For people who do not qualify for the NHS route or prefer not to wait, a regulated private pharmacy offers an alternative, provided every prescription follows a genuine clinical assessment.

If you are researching where to buy Wegovy in the UK, the first check should be the GPhC register: any online pharmacy dispensing prescription medicines must be registered, and you can verify any provider at pharmacyregulation.org. Prices for private treatment vary; an overview of what to expect and what a legitimate price should include is on our weight-loss treatment overview.

At nume, every consultation is read by a GPhC-registered Independent Prescriber, a real clinician, not an automated system. They assess which Wegovy strength is appropriate at the start and at every repeat, and the clinical review happens before each order is dispensed. There is no subscription and no auto-renewal: each stage of treatment is looked at individually. Patients who want a fuller picture of what the Wegovy strengths are and how they differ can find a plain-language breakdown on that page, including guidance on how many strengths of Wegovy there are across the licensed schedule, as well as a broader look at semaglutide strengths for anyone comparing options before speaking to a prescriber. If you would like to understand how the Wegovy dose progression works in more detail before going further, that page covers the step-up timeline and what to expect at each point. When you are ready to find out whether treatment is suitable for you, you can start your free consultation with our clinical team.