Wegovy
Wegovy Dosages for Weight Loss: Your GoodRx Guide
Wegovy (semaglutide) is an injectable weight-loss medication for certain adults and children ages 12 and older. It can also treat metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and lower the risk of serious cardiovascular problems in certain adults.
The starting Wegovy dosage is 0.25 mg once weekly, with gradual increases every 4 weeks until reaching a maintenance dose of 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg weekly. The maximum Wegovy dosage is 2.4 mg weekly.
If you miss a dose of Wegovy, take it as soon as you remember if your next regularly scheduled dose is more than 48 hours away. If your next regular dose is within 48 hours, skip the missed dose and get back on your usual schedule.
There are many ways to save on Wegovy. If you’re eligible, a manufacturer savings card can help you get Wegovy at no cost. GoodRx can also help you pay as little as $499 per month.
Wegovy (semaglutide) is a once-weekly injection for weight loss and cardiovascular protection in certain people. It's also FDA-approved to treat metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) with moderate-to-advanced fibrosis (scar tissue in the liver).
Wegovy works by mimicking glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a hormone that plays a role in regulating appetite and food intake. It can cause unpleasant digestive side effects. So you’ll typically start at a low dose that’s gradually increased over time to help your body adjust. Understanding Wegovy’s dosage schedule can help ensure you get the most from treatment — while minimizing side effects. It can also help you stick with Wegovy long term, since rebound weight gain is possible if you stop taking it.
So, how much semaglutide should you take? We break down the typical Wegovy dosage schedule below.
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Wegovy comes as a prefilled injection pen. The pens are available in five different doses, ranging from 0.25 mg to 2.4 mg. Each dose comes in a different colored pen to help you tell the difference between them.
You’ll inject Wegovy once weekly, at any time of day. And you can choose from one of three places to inject each time — under the skin on your stomach, upper arm, or upper thigh. Throw the pen away in a sharps container after injecting your dose.
Your Wegovy dosage depends on what condition you're treating.
Wegovy is approved for weight loss in adults and children ages 12 and older who are considered obese. Adults with a larger body size and at least one weight-related health condition (such as high blood pressure) are also eligible.
The starting Wegovy dosage for adults and children ages 12 and up is 0.25 mg once weekly for 4 weeks. After that, your dosage will typically be increased every 4 weeks as long as you’re tolerating the medication. The maintenance dosage for Wegovy is 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg once weekly. The maximum Wegovy dosage is 2.4 mg weekly.
Your Wegovy dosing schedule may look like this:
Weeks 1 through 4: 0.25 mg once a week
Weeks 5 through 8: 0.5 mg once a week
Weeks 9 through 12: 1 mg once a week
Weeks 13 through 16: 1.7 mg once a week
Weeks 17 and beyond: 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg once a week (maintenance dose)
Following this dosage schedule can help lessen Wegovy side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. But if you can’t tolerate a dose increase, your prescriber may delay your next dose increase by 4 weeks.
Your healthcare team may have you follow a different dosage schedule, depending on how you respond to treatment. Be sure to follow their instructions when taking Wegovy.
For MASH, you'll follow the same Wegovy dosing schedule described above for weight loss. But the target Wegovy dosage for MASH is 2.4 mg once a week. That being said, your prescriber may reduce your dosage to 1.7 mg weekly if you're unable to tolerate the higher Wegovy dosage due to side effects.
How to save: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications like Wegovy don’t need to break the bank. Explore ways to save on your prescription with this GLP-1 savings guide.
Wegovy injection tips: How should you inject Wegovy? Here are pharmacist-backed tips for Wegovy injections.
Wegovy side effects: Do you feel nauseated after injecting Wegovy? Learn about potential Wegovy side effects and ways to manage them.
It’s always best to take your medication as prescribed. But it’s normal to occasionally forget a dose. If you miss a dose of Wegovy, when your next dose is due will determine the steps you take:
If your next dose is greater than 48 hours away: Go ahead and take the missed Wegovy dose as soon as you remember.
If your next dose is within 48 hours: Skip your missed dose and take Wegovy on your next regularly scheduled day. Don’t take 2 doses of Wegovy within 48 hours of each other.
If you miss your Wegovy dose for more than 2 weeks: Contact your healthcare team. They may have you resume your usual schedule, or have you restart Wegovy at a lower dose to help with side effects.
If you’re frequently forgetting your Wegovy dose, there are tools that can help you stay on track. Medication reminder apps, alarms, and visual reminders are a few things you can try. Your pharmacist can also provide useful tips on how to remember to take your medication.
If you accidentally take too much Wegovy, it’s possible that you’ll experience nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. You may also feel bloated and have a loss of appetite.
Usual Wegovy doses don’t regularly cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). However, hypoglycemia may be more likely if you’re taking Wegovy with diabetes medications. And if you take too much Wegovy, you’ll need to watch for hypoglycemia symptoms, too. These can include shaking, nausea, and a fast heartbeat.
If you experience hypoglycemia symptoms, check your blood glucose levels (if possible) and consume fast-acting carbohydrates (e.g., ½ cup fruit juice) to help bring them back up. Repeat this every 15 minutes until your levels are above 70 mg/dl. Glucose levels below 55 mg/dl are considered severe and may require emergency care.
If you think you’ve taken too much Wegovy, contact your healthcare team or call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for guidance. If any side effects feel severe or life-threatening, go to the nearest ER.
There are ways to save on Wegovy, which is available as a brand-name medication.
If your commercial insurance plan covers Wegovy: You could pay as little as $0 per month for Wegovy with a copay savings card.
Save with GoodRx: GoodRx coupons can also help you save on your prescription. The price of Wegovy is as low as $499 per month with GoodRx.
Save with direct pharmacy options: You could pay as little as $499 with the Wegovy savings card. You could also pay as little as $499 per month through NovoCare Pharmacy.
Wegovy (semaglutide) is a once-weekly injectable medication for weight loss in adults and children ages 12 and older. It can also treat metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and lower the risk of serious cardiovascular problems in certain adults.
The starting Wegovy dosage is 0.25 mg once weekly, which is increased every 4 weeks until you reach 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg weekly. The maximum Wegovy dosage is 2.4 mg weekly. Your prescriber may prescribe a lower dose depending on how you tolerate the medication.
If you find that you regularly miss Wegovy doses, talk to your healthcare team. They can make recommendations to help you stick with your treatment plan.
Novo Nordisk. (2025). Wegovy - semaglutide injection, solution [package insert].
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2025). FDA Approves Treatment for Serious Liver Disease Known as ‘MASH’.
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