What Is the Semaglutide Dose for Weight Loss?
The maximum dose of semaglutide for weight loss is 2.4mg (milligrams) per week, available with Wegovy®. Your GP (general practitioner) or private provider will start you on a lower weekly dose and gradually increase it over time.
If you have dosing questions about semaglutide medications, like Ozempic® and Wegovy® (brand names for semaglutide), we can help.
Keep reading as we discuss the recommended semaglutide dose for weight loss, what happens if you miss a dose, and how to take the medicine. You’ll also find a handy semaglutide weight loss dosage chart.
Semaglutide for Weight Loss: What Is It?
Semaglutide belongs to a class of medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, or GLP-1s. It’s the active ingredient in three medications licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA):
Ozempic®
Rybelsus®
Ozempic® and Rybelsus® are licensed to treat type 2 diabetes, and Wegovy® is licensed for weight loss in those with obesity or overweight with a weight-related health condition.
Semaglutide treatment works by reducing your appetite and helping you feel fuller.
It’s also intended to be used along with lifestyle changes like a reduced-calorie diet and regular physical activity to help control blood sugar levels (glucose) and aid weight loss and weight management.
The doses are different depending on which type of semaglutide you take.
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Semaglutide Dose for Weight Loss
The maximum semaglutide dosage for weight loss is 2.4mg weekly. However, that’s not what you’ll take when first starting semaglutide.
Semaglutide dosing follows what’s known as a dose-escalation schedule. That means your GP or private provider will start you on a lower dose of semaglutide and gradually increase it to a higher dose over time.
What’s the reason for the low semaglutide starting dose for weight loss? Starting low and gradually increasing the dose can help your body adjust to the medication while minimising the side effects.
Once you reach the maximum dose, you’ll remain at this dose going forward. This is known as your maintenance dose.
For Ozempic®, your GP may only increase your dose beyond 0.5mg if you need ongoing blood sugar control.
The semaglutide dosage chart below shows the dosing schedule for Wegovy® (for weight loss) and Ozempic® (for type 2 diabetes).
Dose | Wegovy® | Ozempic® |
Month 1 | 0.25mg weekly | 0.25mg weekly |
Month 2 | 0.5mg weekly | 0.5mg weekly |
Month 3 | 1mg weekly | 1mg weekly (if necessary) |
Month 4 | 1.7mg weekly | 2mg weekly (if necessary) |
Month 5+ | 2.4mg weekly (maintenance dose) | 2mg weekly (if necessary) |
The starting dose for Rybelsus® is 3mg, and the maintenance dose is 7mg or 14mg if needed. It’s a once-daily tablet for type 2 diabetes.
How Do You Take Semaglutide for Weight Loss?
Semaglutide for weight loss is given as a subcutaneous injection. This means a very thin needle is inserted into the layer of fatty tissue just under the skin.
Wegovy® comes in a pre-filled injection pen that contains multiple doses of semaglutide medication. You select the dose on the pen before self-injecting it.
When you’re first prescribed semaglutide for weight loss, your GP or private provider will show you how to prepare and give yourself injections. They’ll also tell you how much semaglutide to take.
There are a few areas semaglutide can be injected, including the:
Abdomen (stomach)
Thigh
Upper arm
Consider rotating injection sites with each dose. That means not using the exact same spot over and over again. Rotating injection sites helps prevent injection site reactions, like bruising, redness, or mild pain.
What Happens If I Miss a Dose of Semaglutide for Weight Loss?
Semaglutide is supposed to be taken on the same day each week. But missed doses might happen at some point during your treatment programme.
What should you do then? It depends on how far away your next dose is.
If your next dose is still more than 48 hours away, take your missed dose as soon as you remember. Then, take your next dose on your usual injection day.
But if your next dose is less than 48 hours away, don’t take your missed dose. Instead, wait to take your next dose of semaglutide on the usual day. Don’t double up on your dose to make up for the skipped dose.
Reach out to your GP or prescribing healthcare provider if you’re unsure.
If you miss more than one Wegovy® dose, you might need to restart on a lower dose. Your GP or private provider can guide you on what to do.
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What Are the Side Effects of Semaglutide for Weight Loss?
As with other GLP-1 receptor agonists, the most common side effects of Wegovy® often affect the digestive tract. These can include things like:
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Constipation
Abdominal pain
Upset stomach
These symptoms typically resolve within a few weeks. But it’s possible to experience side effects again when you increase your semaglutide dose — it can take some time for your body to adjust each time. Semaglutide side effects should get better once you’ve reached your maintenance dose.
If you’re concerned about nausea — or if it’s something you’re already dealing with — reach out to your GP. They might recommend a prescription anti-nausea medicine.
If eligible, you can get ondansetron (generic for Zofran®) as part of your Hers UK weight loss subscription at no additional cost. That way, you’ll have nausea relief on hand should you need it.
What Happens If You Have Significant Side Effects From Semaglutide for Weight Loss?
Just like any medicine, semaglutide comes with potential side effects that you might find disruptive or uncomfortable.
But it doesn’t happen to everyone. Clinical trials have reported discontinuation rates (people quitting the medicine) of up to eight percent due to gastrointestinal side effects.
Some research suggests that discontinuation rates for GLP-1s may be higher in the real world, particularly among people with obesity.
It’s valid to wonder what happens next if you have significant side effects while taking semaglutide for weight loss. There are several possibilities:
If you’re in the dose-escalation phase, your GP or private provider may recommend staying on your current dose for longer before increasing it.
If you’ve reached your maintenance dose but aren’t tolerating it well, your GP or private provider might reduce your dose for four weeks before increasing it again.
Another option is to try a different GLP-1 to help with weight loss. Mounjaro® (tirzepatide) and Saxenda® (liraglutide) are two other medicines licensed for weight loss.
It’s also possible that GLP-1s may not be the optimal weight management intervention for you. Depending on your individual situation, other weight loss medications (like weight loss pills) or bariatric surgery might be worth exploring.
In any case, your GP or private provider is there to support you. A healthcare professional can work with you to address any questions or concerns that arise during your weight loss journey.
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Semaglutide Dose for Weight Loss: In Summary
Here’s what to remember about the semaglutide dose for weight loss:
Once-weekly semaglutide injections are typically prescribed on a dose-escalation scheme, meaning you start low and gradually increase your dosage.
The starting dose of Wegovy® is usually 0.25mg, and the maximum dose is 2.4mg.
Semaglutide doses are increased every four weeks if the medication is well-tolerated.
If you experience prolonged or significant side effects, you might benefit from a slower dose escalation, a lower maintenance dose, or another medication to support weight loss.
If you’re interested in Wegovy® or other weight loss treatments, take our free online weight loss assessment to find out which one could work best for you.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your GP about the risks and benefits of any treatment.