All the Doses of Wegovy, and What Each One Actually Does

The myth worth clearing up: Wegovy is not a single-strength medicine

A lot of people search for "the Wegovy dose" as though there is one. It's an easy assumption, the box has a number on it, so that must be the dose you take. In reality, semaglutide for weight management works through a titration schedule: you start on a low, introductory dose, let your body settle, then move up in stages. The number on your first pen is not your treatment dose; it's the starting point.

This matters for two reasons. First, people who expect to start at the full 2.4mg are sometimes disappointed when a prescriber keeps them lower for longer, but that pacing is protective, not restrictive. Second, people who read trial results quoting average weight loss of around 15% over 68 weeks (the figure from the STEP 1 trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine) should know those outcomes were achieved at 2.4mg maintenance, after the full titration. The journey through the lower doses is part of how you get there. You can read more about how each dose fits the broader picture on our Wegovy treatment overview.

The NHS semaglutide medicines page confirms the titration approach and is worth bookmarking alongside whatever information your prescriber gives you.

The injection doses, step by step

The standard Wegovy injection pathway in the UK runs across five pens. Each pen delivers four weekly doses, so each step covers roughly one month. If you want a clear breakdown of what doses of Wegovy there are and how they sit in sequence, we cover the full picture on a dedicated page. The sequence is: 0.25mg, then 0.5mg, then 1.0mg, then 1.7mg, then 2.4mg. That last figure (2.4mg weekly) is the established maintenance dose, and most people who tolerate the medicine well reach it around week 16.

The 0.25mg dose is not intended to produce significant weight loss on its own. Its job is to introduce the medicine gently so the digestive system has time to adjust. Nausea, the most commonly reported side effect, tends to be worst in the early weeks and eases as the body adapts. Holding the titration for an extra month is a normal and legitimate clinical choice, some people need more time at 1.0mg or 1.7mg before moving up.

A newer option sits above 2.4mg: the MHRA approved a 7.2mg weekly dose of semaglutide (Wegovy) in January 2026, initially supplied as three 2.4mg pens per week, and then via a dedicated single-dose 7.2mg pen confirmed on 14 April 2026. This higher dose is licensed for adults with a BMI of 30 or above only, not for lower BMI thresholds. Trial data at 7.2mg showed an average weight loss of around 20.7% over 72 weeks. Whether it becomes part of your plan is a decision made with your prescribing team. Those curious about what are the doses of Wegovy and how the titration schedule is structured from the very first pen through to maintenance can explore our dedicated page, which walks through each stage and what to expect from it.

The Wegovy tablet doses, a different medicine, a different ladder

On 11 June 2026 the MHRA approved Wegovy tablets, making the UK the first country in Europe to license an oral GLP-1 medicine for weight management. It is still semaglutide, but the tablet uses a special absorption technology so the medicine can be taken by mouth rather than by injection. The active ingredient is the same; the delivery is different.

The tablet schedule does not mirror the injection schedule. It follows its own four-step ladder: you start at 1.5mg daily, move to 4mg, then to 9mg, spending at least one month at each level before stepping up, with 25mg daily as the maintenance dose. For a complete reference covering both injection and tablet strengths, our all Wegovy doses page sets out every licensed dose in one place. People already stable on the 2.4mg weekly injection may be able to move straight to 25mg tablets, but only after a clinical assessment confirms that switch is appropriate.

Storage is one of the practical differences worth knowing: unlike the injection pens, which need refrigeration, Wegovy tablets are stored at room temperature, which makes travel and daily routine simpler. The tablet must be taken first thing in the morning on an empty stomach with a small amount of plain water, and no food, drink or other oral medicines for at least 30 minutes afterwards. A question our prescribers hear often is whether the tablet and injection produce the same results, trial data for the tablet showed roughly 13.6% average weight loss over 64 weeks, rising to around 17% among participants who adhered fully throughout. Those figures come from the OASIS 4 phase 3 trial and apply to people without type 2 diabetes, on a reduced-calorie diet and increased activity.

If cost is part of your thinking as you weigh up the options, our Wegovy price comparison page sets out what to look for beyond the headline number.

One thing the dose schedule cannot tell you

The schedule above describes what is licensed and how titration works generally. What it cannot tell you is which dose you'll tolerate best, how quickly your prescriber will move you up, or whether the injection or the tablet suits your lifestyle. That is the conversation a consultation exists for.

Wegovy is a prescription-only medicine. In the UK the only legal route to it is a prescription following proper clinical assessment, a prescriber reviews your health history, current medicines, BMI and any relevant conditions before issuing one. At nume, that review is done the same day by a GPhC-registered Independent Prescriber, a named clinician, not a piece of software. You can explore what that process looks like on the treatment options page, or take a broader look at approaches to weight loss if you are still at the research stage.

There is no version of this medicine that comes without that clinical layer. Sellers offering semaglutide without requiring a prescription are operating outside the law, and the MHRA has issued repeated warnings about counterfeit pens, some containing insulin rather than semaglutide. You can verify any online pharmacy on the GPhC register before you buy. If you have questions about the process or want to check something specific, the FAQs page covers the most common ones, and our team is available seven days a week.