Semaglutide dosage — injection and pill explained

Starting low and stepping up safely

Quick read · 4 min

Last reviewed: April 2026Every claim linked to source

Semaglutide comes in two forms with different available doses. The injection (Wegovy) ranges from 0.25mg to 2.4mg weekly. The pill (Wegovy) ranges from 1.5mg to 25mg daily. Most people reach a maintenance dose of 2.4mg (injection) or 25mg (pill).

In simple terms:
  • •Injection doses: 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1.0mg, 1.7mg, 2.4mg — once per week
  • •Pill doses: 1.5mg, 4mg, 9mg, 25mg — once daily on empty stomach
  • •Weight loss increases with dose: about 5% at low doses up to 15% at the highest dose
  • •Maintenance dose is the amount you stay on long-term, usually 2.4mg injection or 25mg pill
  • •Your doctor starts you low to minimize nausea, then increases every 4 weeks if tolerated

Based on clinical trials · No rankings · Every claim linked to source

Available doses

Semaglutide comes in two forms — one injection and one pill. Here are all the doses.

Injection (Wegovy): weekly doses
0.25mg
Starter
0.5mg
Stepping up
1.0mg
Stepping up
1.7mg
Near max
2.4mg
Maintenance
Max
Pill (Wegovy): daily doses
1.5mg
Starter
4mg
Stepping up
9mg
Near max
25mg
Maintenance
Max

Starting vs maintenance dose

Your doctor starts you low to reduce nausea, then you increase gradually until you reach your maintenance dose.

Injection (Wegovy) — weekly
Starting dose
0.25mg
Your first dose — the lowest to minimize side effects
Typical time to reach: 4–8 weeks
Maintenance dose
2.4mg
Your long-term dose — where most weight loss happens
Typical time to reach: 12–20 weeks
Pill (Wegovy 25mg) — daily
Starting dose
1.5mg
Your first dose — the lowest to minimize side effects
Typical time to reach: 4–8 weeks
Maintenance dose
25mg
Your long-term dose — where most weight loss happens
Typical time to reach: 12–20 weeks

Dose progression — how you step up

Standard titration: 4 weeks at each dose before moving up. Your doctor can slow this down if side effects are tough.

Injection (Wegovy) — weekly
  1. Weeks 1–40.25mg

    Your starter dose. Too low to produce real weight loss — the goal is to let your body get used to the drug.

  2. Weeks 5–80.5mg

    First real step up. Side effects (nausea, burps) often peak here for a few days, then settle.

  3. Weeks 9–121.0mg

    Weight loss usually becomes noticeable. Some people stay here long-term if tolerating well.

  4. Weeks 13–161.7mg

    Near-maximum dose. Hunger reduction is strong for most people at this level.

  5. Week 17 onwards2.4mg

    Full maintenance dose. Most people stay here as long as they take the medication.

    Maintenance

This is the standard schedule. Your doctor may slow it down if side effects are tough.

The rule that applies to every pill dose
  1. 1Empty stomach — no food, no coffee, no juice. Plain water only.
  2. 2Small sip of water — no more than 4 oz (120ml) to swallow the pill.
  3. 3Wait 30 minutes — before any food, drink, or other medication. Longer is better.

This applies at every dose — 1.5mg on day one right through to 25mg maintenance. Skipping it can cut absorption by up to half, meaning you get far less medication than prescribed.

Pill (Wegovy 25mg) — daily
  1. Weeks 1–41.5mg

    Starter dose. Teaches your body to handle the drug. Little weight loss expected.

  2. Weeks 5–84mg

    First real step up. Nausea may return briefly, then fade.

  3. Weeks 9–129mg

    Weight loss usually becomes visible. Some people stay at this dose.

  4. Week 13 onwards25mg

    Full maintenance dose. This is where you stay long-term. Consistency with the empty-stomach rule matters most at this dose.

    Maintenance

Pill titration usually takes about 12 weeks total to reach the maintenance dose.

See the full titration schedule →

Weight loss at each dose

Average weight loss from clinical trials. Bars scale with the percentage — higher doses produce more weight loss, but returns get smaller toward the top.

Injection (Wegovy) — 68 weeks
0.25mg~3%
0.5mg~5%
1.0mg~9%
1.7mg~12–13%
2.4mg14.9%

Lower doses are starter doses you pass through during titration — not long-term maintenance doses.

Source: STEP-1 trial (n=1,961, 68 weeks)

Pill (Wegovy 25mg) — 52 weeks
1.5mg~3%
4mg~7%
9mg~10%
25mg~13.6–16.6%

The highest figure (16.6%) reflects people with perfect empty-stomach adherence.

Source: OASIS-4 trial (n=667, 52 weeks)

What this means
In STEP-1 (injection, 68 weeks): weight loss was about 5% at 0.25–0.5mg, 8–10% at 1.0mg, 12–13% at 1.7mg, and 14.9% at 2.4mg. In OASIS-4 (pill, 52 weeks): weight loss was about 3% at 1.5mg, 7% at 4mg, 10% at 9mg, and 13.6–16.6% at 25mg (highest in people with perfect adherence).

When your doctor might change your dose

Your dosing is flexible and tailored to your needs.

Side effects manageable

Increase to the next dose as scheduled every 4 weeks.

Side effects tough

Stay at current dose for 2–4 extra weeks before increasing, or pause increases.

Reached your goal

You can stay at your current dose indefinitely — no need to reach the maximum.

Keep reading

Full Semaglutide overview →How to take it →Titration schedule →Side effects →

Next step most people take

Learn how to take it
Injection technique or daily pill routine
See the titration schedule
Week-by-week expectations and timeline

Based on clinical trials · No rankings · Every claim linked to source

Last reviewed: March 2026

Medical disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any treatment.