Wegovy doses: what strengths does Wegovy come in?

Wegovy comes in six different strengths, from 0.25mg (the starting dose) to 7.2mg (the highest dose available).

Doses are increased over time to allow your body to adjust to your treatment and minimise any side effects.

Different doses are designed for the different stages of your weight loss journey: adjustment, weight loss and maintenance.

Let’s break down what purpose each dose fulfils, what to expect in terms of side effects, and what doses are best for each stage of your journey. 

Key points

• Wegovy doses increase gradually to give your body the chance to adjust to the medication.
• Not everyone responds to doses in the same way, whether that’s weight loss or side effects.
• Increasing doses can trigger or worsen the side effects of Wegovy for some people, but they tend to be mild and go away on their own without need for treatment.

What are the Wegovy doses?  

Wegovy comes in six different dose strengths, all of which are designed for a specific stage of your weight loss journey.

Wegovy 0.25mg

This is the ‘starter’ dose. Prescribers give you this low dose at the beginning of your treatment to give your body time to gently ease into it and adjust to the medication.

Wegovy 0.5mg

This is known as the ‘step’ dose, because it’s the first time your dose will be increased. At this dose, you’ll be feeling appetite suppression and likely start seeing weight loss results.

Wegovy 1mg

This ‘step-up’ dose helps you move up to a strength where weight loss increases, and results start becoming more noticeable.

Wegovy 1.7mg

Wegovy 1.7mg is the next step-up dose if 1mg hasn’t produced the results you want. Like with any dose, if you reach your weight loss goals on 1.7mg, you can remain on this dose to maintain the weight they’ve lost and stop their appetite returning.

Wegovy 2.4mg

If you’ve not lost the weight you wanted to lose with the 1.7mg dose and you’ve had no issues with side effects, you may want to increase up to 2.4mg to keep on losing weight, or stay at this dose for your weight loss maintenance phase.

Wegovy 7.2mg

This is the highest dose, designed for people who have not seen the desired results at lower doses or who find weight loss and maintenance more manageable at higher doses without experiencing side effects. 

Due to regulatations, Wegovy 7.2mg is currently only available in the UK through private prescribers like myBMI.

How many doses are in a Wegovy pen? 

"Each Wegovy pen contains four doses of the same strength. Four weeks is the minimum period between increasing doses, because you need at least this long for your body to adjust to the medication.

"You should inject Wegovy once a week on the same day, ideally at the same time, so each pen has enough medication for one month. It’s very important to use a new needle for each dose, as reusing needles can be dangerous.

"After you’ve used up your pen, your prescriber can help you decide if you’re ready to increase to the next dose or if you should stay at the same dose until side effects improve."

Ayesha Bashir, weight loss expert at MyBMI

Wegovy 0.25mg 

What does the 0.25mg dose of Wegovy do? 

Wegovy 0.25mg is the starter dose: it gives your body time to get used to the medication.

During this first phase is when many people commonly experience side effects like:

• nausea
• diarrhoea
• vomiting
• indigestion
• heartburn

The reason digestive side effects are so common (affecting around 1 in 10 people) is because Wegovy acts on your digestive system, by mimicking a hormone that reduces your appetite and helps to control your blood sugar.

How effective is 0.25mg for weight loss?  

Wegovy 0.25mg is designed to gently introduce your body to your new medication in a way that makes side effects minimal and comfortable to manage.

Don’t think of 0.25mg as a weight loss phase, think of it as healthily and safely preparing your body for weight loss.

If you were to take too strong a dose too soon, the side effects could be so strong you might be put off treatment completely.

The most significant side effect you’re likely to notice at this stage is appetite reduction, although it will take time for the results to become visible as you build the habit of eating a calorie-controlled diet focused on whole foods.

Wegovy 0.5mg 

What does the 0.5mg dose of Wegovy do? 

As the very first (and smallest) step up in dose strength from your starting dose, Wegovy 0.5mg helps you build up your tolerance to the medication and continue to adjust to side effects. 

Many people start to feel appetite reduction at this stage, and some see their first weight loss results. 

This is something of a transitional stage, as your adjustment phase shifts into the real weight loss phase.

You’ll likely feel a motivation boost as you feel and see early treatment results and solidify your new healthy habits.

How effective is 0.5mg for weight loss? 

0.5mg is the dose at which most people typically start to see weight loss results. 

In clinical trials people on 0.5mg during weeks 5-8 of their Wegovy treatment lost an average of 4% of their starting weight.

However, everyone’s weight loss journey on Wegovy looks different. Because this is an average, it’s important to note that individual participants in these trials will have lost more or less weight based on their body’s response to treatment. 

Can I start Wegovy at 0.5mg? 

You can't start Wegovy at 0.5mg. This is for safety and tolerability reasons.

It’s crucial to take time to monitor your body’s response to the medication so that side effects are minimal and manageable.

You and your clinician can decide together when you’re ready to start increasing your dose.

Wegovy 1mg 

What does the 1mg dose of Wegovy do? 

Once you increase your dose to 1mg, you’ll likely notice a big difference in how much your appetite is reduced.

You’ll also probably start to see some significant weight loss results.

How effective is 1mg for weight loss? 

Based on clinical trials, most people can expect to lose around 6% of their starting weight on average while on Wegovy 1mg.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that the participants in these trials also stuck to a treatment plan focused on physical activity and a balanced diet of nutrient-dense, unprocessed whole foods. 

Wegovy 1.7mg 

What does the 1.7mg dose of Wegovy do?  

The 1.7mg dose of Wegovy is usually where the rate of weight loss increases.

Some people even reach their goal weight at 1.7mg without needing to increase their dose further. This is called the maintenance phase, when your focus shifts from continued weight loss to preserving the success you’ve achieved.

Many people find that appetite is strongly reduced by the time they reach 1.7mg, and that smart eating habits like portion control and prioritising protein are well established.

How effective is 1.7mg for weight loss? 

By the time they reach the 1.7mg dose, many people find that they’ve already lost a good amount of weight, and the rate at which they lose weight may slow down a little and begin to stabilise. 

At this point, they may be considering transitioning to the maintenance phase. In clinical trials, participants lost around 8% of their starting weight on average. 

Wegovy 2.4mg 

What does the 2.4mg dose of Wegovy do?  

Until recently, 2.4mg was the highest available Wegovy dose. It has been shown to be very effective for long-term use in clinical trials, so it’s commonly used as a maintenance dose.

Your prescriber may recommend 2.4mg as a maintenance dose if you decided to increase your weight loss further after not seeing the results you wanted at 1.7mg.

At 2.4mg, you’ll comfortably settle into long-term appetite regulation and healthy eating habits that will enable you to manage your weight sustainably in the future. 

How effective is 2.4mg for weight loss? 

The 2.4mg dose of Wegovy has shown some very encouraging results in long-term clinical trials, which is why it is so popular as a maintenance dose.

Clinicial trials have shown participants taking a 2.4mg dose of Wegovy lost 15-17% of their starting weight on average over a period of 68 weeks.

Wegovy 7.2mg 

Not everyone who chooses Wegovy as part of their weight loss treatment plan will increase up to the 7.2mg dose.

Wegovy 7.2mg has been designed to accelerate weight loss for those who might be experiencing weight loss plateaus on lower doses.

Prescribers typically recommend the 7.2mg dose for people who have yet to reach their goal weight with lower doses and would like to keep losing weight, if it’s safe to do so. 

Because 7.2mg is the highest dose of Wegovy available, you must be monitored by a clinician while taking it, so you will have to have regular check-ins with your prescriber.

How effective is this dose for weight loss?  

Clinical trials have shown 7.2mg to be the most effective Wegovy dose yet. In one 2024 trial, most patients lost up to 21% of their starting weight over 72 weeks. Some patients saw even greater weight loss, with around one-third of participants losing 25% of their starting weight or more in the 72 weeks.

As with other doses, individual responses to the medication aren’t uniform.  Every body is unique, and so will its response be to Wegovy 7.2mg.

How does Wegovy 7.2mg compare to Mounjaro 

Wegovy 7.2mg mimics the effects of a hormone called GLP-1 that slows down digestion to help you feel fuller for longer. It also helps regulate insulin production and blood sugar levels to keep energy levels stable. 

Mounjaro’s active ingredient, tirzepatide, works in the same way, but it also targets another hormone called GIP, making it dual-action. 

GIP is similar to GLP-1 as it helps suppress hunger cues and regulate digestion and blood sugar levels. But because it’s targeting more than one hormone receptor, Mounjaro could be even more effective. 

However, long-term clinical data shows Mounjaro and Wegovy 7.2mg have comparable weight loss results. Wegovy 7.2mg offers average weight loss of 21%, while Mounjaro 15mg produces average weight loss of 21.5%.

What if my Wegovy dose is too strong?  

You may find that you increase through several doses of Wegovy without experiencing any difficulties with side effects, but then a certain dose strength triggers or causes side effects to return.

Common signs a dose may be too strong include severe or persistent:

• stomach pain
• heartburn
• diarrhoea
• indigestion
• nausea
• rapid heart rate
• dehydration
• dizziness
• fainting
• headaches

Can I decrease my dose?  

If you find that increasing your new dose causes side effects, you can pause your schedule and stay on your current dose for as long as you need to. You can even go back down a dose until side effects resolve. You can then increase your dose again when you feel ready.

You can reach out to your prescriber at any time if you’re not sure whether a particular dose is right for you.

Frequently asked questions 

Do I have to reach the 7.2mg dose? 

No, if you’re happy with how much weight you’re losing at lower doses, or if you’re having issues with side effects at higher doses, you can remain your chosen dose.

How quickly do Wegovy doses increase? 

The standard minimum time between dose increases is four weeks. You can’t increase your dose faster than this for safety reasons, even if you are not experiencing side effects. If you are, you can stay at your current dose until they resolve and increase your dose in your own time, after speaking to your prescriber.

Can I stay on a lower Wegovy dose long term? 

 Yes, absolutely. Clinical trials show that Wegovy is both safe and effective for weight loss and weight loss maintenance in the long term. 

What happens if I miss a Wegovy dose? 

 If you miss a Wegovy dose, you can take it within three days of your scheduled injection time and day. If it’s been more than three days, skip that dose and take your next dose as usual.

Does a higher Wegovy dose mean faster weight loss? 

 For most people, a higher Wegovy dose does mean faster or more noticeable weight loss, but each individual responds differently to the medication, so some people may see more success at lower doses.

Is there a dose between 2.4mg and 7.2mg? 

No, there is no licensed dose strength between Wegovy 2.4mg and Wegovy 7.2mg.

Can I stay on the lowest dose of Wegovy? 

It’s not typical for people to remain on the lowest dose of Wegovy. However, it is possible if you find you’re happy with your weight loss results at this dose, or if you have unmanageable side effects at any dose above it.

Sources

• Efficacy and Safety of Semaglutide 7.2 mg in Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes: The STEP UP T2D Trial. (2025). Novo Nordisk. [Accessed 26 January 2026]
• Once-weekly semaglutide 7·2 mg in adults with obesity (STEP UP): a randomised, controlled, phase 3b trial. (2025) The Lancet [Accessed 29 January 2026]
• Long-term weight loss effects of semaglutide in obesity without diabetes in the SELECT trial. (2024) Nature Medicine [Accessed 29 January 2026]