Weight Loss
13 min read
Written by Klarity Editorial Team
Published: Apr 18, 2024
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Sheelu Bhatnagar
Wegovy (semaglutide) is a brand-name weight loss medication in the class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists. If you want to minimize side effects and lose weight with Wegovy, using the right dose matters. Here, we give you a complete primer on Wegovy doses for weight loss treatment so you have the information you need.
Wegovy is one available form of a GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) agonist medication that uses the active ingredient semaglutide and is U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for weight loss for people with a body mass index (BMI) or 30 or higher or 27 or higher and with a weight-related health problem. It’s meant to be used with diet and exercise.
Wegovy’s counterpart is Ozempic, which also uses the active ingredient semaglutide. Ozempic is FDA-approved to improve blood sugar (glucose) in adults with type 2 diabetes when used with diet and exercise. Both drugs are approved to lower the risk of major cardiovascular events, such as heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes with known heart disease.
There’s no available generic for either medication. You can get compounded semaglutide at a compounding pharmacy. It’s a custom-made medication that can be tailored to your specific needs or personal preferences. Before trying compounded semaglutide, talk to your provider about the potential risks and benefits.
When it comes to Ozempic vs Wegovy, dosages are different. Wegovy comes in more doses and most people use a higher maintenance dose, which leads to greater weight loss. In separate clinical trials:
Wegovy comes in 5 different doses. Each dose is in a prefilled single-use pen. You take it just once each week. So for a month, you need 4 pens. You’ll start at the smallest dose and work up to a maintenance dose.
Available Wegovy doses are:
Each strength dose comes in a pack of 4 single-use pens and in a different color to help differentiate dose strengths.
You use a pen to inject yourself under the skin of your stomach, upper arm, or thigh each week.
Wegovy, like type 2 diabetes and other weight loss injections, has you start with the smallest dose and increase over time to a maintenance dose. You then increase your dose every 4 weeks until you reach a maintenance dose.
Starting at a smaller dose and stepping up every 4 weeks, lets your body adjust to each dose and can help minimize common side effects, like nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach pain, indigestion, heartburn, gas, bloating, fatigue, or headache.
Weeks | Wegovy (semaglutide) dose |
Weeks 1–4 | .25 mg once a week |
Weeks 5–8 | .50 mg once a week |
Weeks 9–12 | 1.0 mg once a week |
Weeks 13–16 | 1.7 mg once a week 💉 |
Weeks 17+ | 2.4 mg once a week 💉 |
The target maintenance dose for Wegovy is 1.7 or 2.4 milligrams. Clinical studies show that people lose more weight on the 2.4-milligram dose than the 1.7-milligram dose. But, if you struggle to tolerate the 2.4-milligram dose, your healthcare provider may have you use a 1.7-milligram maintenance dose. If you don’t tolerate the 1.7-milligram dose, your provider may have you stop taking Wegovy.
It’s best to give yourself your Wegovy injection on the same day each week. Every Saturday for example. Taking it on the same day each week ensures you have a consistent amount of medication in your body and get the most out of it.
To make sure you take your dose on time, set a reminder with an alert on your smartphone or post a note somewhere you’ll see it regularly — perhaps your bathroom mirror.
If you do miss a dose, here’s what to do:
Time of your normal weekly dose | When to take your missed dose | When to take your missed dose if not taken by Saturday at 9:00 a.m. |
Saturday at 9:00 a.m | Anytime on or before Monday at 9:00 am. | Following Saturday 9:00 a.m. — the time of your normal weekly dose |
Important! Never take 2 doses of Wegovy at the same time or within 2 days of each other. Taking too much is considered an overdose and can be harmful. If you miss 2 doses in a row, call your provider to talk about what to do.
Taking extra Wegovy won’t make you lose more weight or lose weight faster, but it can cause serious side effects.
If for any reason you take 2 doses within 2 days (48 hours) of each other, call your healthcare provider or the Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) for advice on what to do.
It’s easy to change the day you give yourself your Wegovy injection.
If you have been taking it on Saturday and want to change to taking it on Tuesday, skip your Saturday dose and take it on Tuesday. Then continue taking it on Tuesday each week after that.
When changing your injection day, just don’t take 2 doses within 2 days (48 hours) of each other. So, if you want to switch from Saturday to Sunday, don’t take it Saturday and the next day (Sunday), wait a full week and take it the following Sunday.
You can only get a prescription for Wegovy when you talk to a licensed healthcare provider, such as a medical doctor (MD), a registered nurse (RN), or physician assistant or physician associate (PA). You can find one of these providers and get a Wegovy prescription if you meet the criteria through a healthcare marketplace like Klarity.
Your provider can create a tailored weight loss plan for you that may include a weight loss medication, and monitor your health and help manage side effects if needed during your weight loss journey.
If your provider starts you on Wegovy for weight loss, make sure you understand all possible side effects as well as the contradictions and warnings. You can get these from your provider, pharmacist, or on Wegovy’s page on DailyMed.
Get an online or in-office appointment with a weight-loss provider on Klarity in as little as 48 hours. Find a weight loss provider today.
Sources
The New England Journal of Medicine, Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity, Feb. 2021, https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183
The Lancet, Efficacy and safety of once-weekly semaglutide monotherapy versus placebo in patients with type 2 diabetes (SUSTAIN 1): a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multinational, multicentre phase 3a trial, Jan. 2017, https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(17)30013-X/abstract
Wegovy, https://www.wegovy.com/
Wegovy semaglutide injection 2.4 mg, Prescribing Information, https://www.novo-pi.com/wegovy.pdf
DailyMed, LABEL: WEGOVY- semaglutide injection, solution, Mar. 2024, https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=ee06186f-2aa3-4990-a760-757579d8f77b
*Appointments are generally available within 24 hours. Prescriptions, particularly for controlled substances, may require an in-person evaluation depending on the state of residence and current federal regulations.
The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions or concerns you have regarding your health. Providers on Klarity Health are independent practitioners with clinical autonomy. Nothing in this article is intended to diagnose or treat any condition, including guaranteeing prescription medication of any kind or dosage.
If you’re having a mental health crisis or experiencing a psychiatric emergency, it’s crucial to seek immediate help from a mental healthcare professional, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or therapist. You can also call your local emergency services, visit your nearest emergency room, or contact a crisis hotline, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, by calling or texting 988 or dialing the Lifeline’s previous phone number, 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) in the U.S.
How we reviewed this article
This article went through rigorous fact-checking by a team of medical reviewers. Reviewers are trained medical professionals who ensure each article contains the most up-to-date information, and that medical details have been correctly interpreted by the author. Learn more about the editorial and medical review process and standards for the HelloKlarity site.
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