Wegovy (semaglutide) pens start at 0.25 mg once a week for 4 weeks, then go up every 4 weeks: 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, and 2.4 mg from week 17. According to the FDA label, the usual long-term dose is 2.4 mg (or 1.7 mg), and 7.2 mg, sold as Wegovy HD, is an option after at least 4 weeks on 2.4 mg. The Wegovy pill (oral semaglutide) starts at 1.5 mg a day for 30 days, then 4 mg, 9 mg, and 25 mg from day 91.
If you've just been prescribed Wegovy, the first thing you'll notice is how many numbers there are. Six pen doses. Four pill doses. A 25 mg tablet that somehow isn't stronger than a 2.4 mg pen. Here's every one of them on one page, taken straight from the FDA label, with what each step looks like.
One thing before the charts: your prescriber decides your doses, and some people stay on a step longer than the chart shows. That's normal, and the label allows for it.
Wegovy dosing schedule: the pen dose chart
You inject once a week, on the same day each week, at any time of day, with or without food. Each step lasts 4 weeks.
| Step | When | Weekly dose |
|---|---|---|
| Starting dose | Weeks 1 to 4 | 0.25 mg |
| Step 2 | Weeks 5 to 8 | 0.5 mg |
| Step 3 | Weeks 9 to 12 | 1 mg |
| Step 4 | Weeks 13 to 16 | 1.7 mg |
| Maintenance | Week 17 onward | 2.4 mg (or 1.7 mg) |
| Optional higher dose | After at least 4 weeks on 2.4 mg | 7.2 mg (Wegovy HD) |
From the FDA label
The Wegovy pen, step by step
One injection a week. Each bar is a step, drawn evenly, not to scale.
- A maintenance dose on the label (dot underneath)
- A step on the way up
| Dose | How long | Maintenance dose on the label |
|---|---|---|
| 0.25 mg | weeks 1 to 4 | No |
| 0.5 mg | weeks 5 to 8 | No |
| 1 mg | weeks 9 to 12 | No |
| 1.7 mg | weeks 13 to 16 | No |
| 2.4 mg | week 17 on | Yes |
| 7.2 mg | HD, if needed | Yes |
Before you take Wegovy
- Don't take Wegovy if you or anyone in your family has had medullary thyroid cancer, or if you have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
- Tell your healthcare provider about a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing or shortness of breath.
- If you also take insulin or a sulfonylurea, ask whether those doses need lowering, because low blood sugar is more likely.
- Tell your prescriber if you're pregnant or planning to be. The label says to stop Wegovy when a pregnancy is confirmed, and at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy.
- Breastfeeding isn't recommended while you take Wegovy tablets.
From the Wegovy prescribing information (boxed warning, sections 4, 5 and 8.1 to 8.3), revised June 2026.
If a step is tough. The label says that if you don't tolerate a dose while stepping up, your prescriber can delay the next step by 4 weeks. Nausea at a new dose is common, and waiting is an ordinary part of the plan, not a failure.
Where to inject. Your stomach (keeping 2 inches away from your belly button), the front of your thigh, or your upper arm. Use a different spot each time.
Wegovy pens and syringes: what each one holds
None of them is drawn up from a vial, so there are no syringe units to measure. Each one gives a set dose.
| Form | What it holds |
|---|---|
| Single-dose pen | 0.25, 0.5 or 1 mg in 0.5 mL; 1.7, 2.4 or 7.2 mg (Wegovy HD) in 0.75 mL |
| Single-dose prefilled syringe | 0.25, 0.5 or 1 mg in 0.5 mL; 1.7 or 2.4 mg in 0.75 mL |
| Wegovy FlexTouch pen | Four 2.4 mg doses of 0.75 mL each (9.6 mg in 3 mL) |
From the Wegovy prescribing information, section 3, revised June 2026.
Wegovy HD (7.2 mg)
Wegovy HD is a 7.2 mg weekly pen, approved by the FDA in March 2026. It's not a step everyone takes. The label allows it only for people who have been on 2.4 mg for at least 4 weeks, tolerate it, and need more weight loss.
According to the Wegovy label (section 14), in the trial behind it people on 7.2 mg lost 18.8% of their body weight on average after 72 weeks. People on 2.4 mg lost 15.5%, and people on placebo 3.9%. The higher dose brought more side effects too. Nausea was reported by 39% on 7.2 mg against 35% on 2.4 mg, and dysesthesia (odd skin sensations such as tingling, burning or sensitivity) by 22% against 6%.
The Wegovy pill dose chart
The Wegovy pill (oral semaglutide) is one tablet a day. It steps up every 30 days and reaches the 25 mg maintenance dose on day 91.
| Step | When | Daily dose |
|---|---|---|
| Starting dose | Days 1 to 30 | 1.5 mg |
| Step 2 | Days 31 to 60 | 4 mg |
| Step 3 | Days 61 to 90 | 9 mg |
| Maintenance | Day 91 onward | 25 mg |
From the FDA label
The Wegovy pill, step by step
One tablet a day. The steps are drawn evenly, not to scale.
- A maintenance dose on the label (dot underneath)
- A step on the way up
| Dose | How long | Maintenance dose on the label |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 mg | days 1 to 30 | No |
| 4 mg | days 31 to 60 | No |
| 9 mg | days 61 to 90 | No |
| 25 mg | day 91 on | Yes |
Why 25 mg isn't stronger than the 2.4 mg pen. Only about 1% to 2% of the semaglutide in a tablet gets into your blood, according to the label. So the pill needs a much bigger number of milligrams to land close to the level a weekly 2.4 mg injection gives you. We've written more about this in why a 25 mg pill isn't ten times a 2.4 mg shot.
How to take the Wegovy pill
From the FDA label
Your morning with the Wegovy pill
- When you wake up
Before you eat or drink anything, while your stomach is empty.
- Take the tablet
Swallow it whole with up to 4 ounces (half a cup) of plain water. No other drink.
- Wait at least 30 minutes
No food, coffee, other drinks or other pills yet.
- After that
Breakfast, coffee and your other medicines.
More on the morning routine, missed tablets and how the pill compares: the Wegovy pill guide.
Missed doses and changing your day
From the FDA label
Missed a Wegovy dose?
The label's rules, in plain words
Pen, next dose more than 2 days away
Take the missed dose as soon as you can.
Pen, next dose less than 2 days away
Skip it and take your next dose on your usual day.
Pen, 2 or more weeks missed in a row
Call your prescriber before your next dose. The label says to restart the steps at a lower dose, to cut the risk of stomach side effects.
Pill, one day missed
Skip it and take your next tablet the following morning. Never take two.
Changing your injection day
Fine, as long as there are at least 2 days (48 hours) between the two doses.
Switching between the pen and the pill
From the FDA label
Switching between the Wegovy pen and pill
At maintenance doses. Your prescriber makes the call.
2.4 mg pen to the pill
Start the 25 mg tablet one week after your last injection.
25 mg pill to the pen
Start the 2.4 mg pen the day after your last tablet. If the 25 mg tablet didn't agree with you, the label says your prescriber can consider the 1.7 mg pen instead.
Side effects as you step up
The most common side effects are in your stomach and gut. Here's how often people reported each one in the trials of the 2.4 mg pen, next to people on a placebo (a shot with no medicine in it). People taking the 25 mg pill reported side effects of the same types, at similar rates.
According to the Wegovy label, 44% of people on the 2.4 mg pen reported nausea in the weight-loss trials, against 16% on placebo, and 6.8% stopped because of side effects, against 3.2%.
Published data
Side effects reported with the Wegovy 2.4 mg pen
Share of people in the weight-loss trials who reported each one at least once
- Placebo (no medicine)
- Wegovy 2.4 mg pen
| Side effect | Placebo | Wegovy 2.4 mg pen |
|---|---|---|
| Nausea | 16% | 44% |
| Diarrhea | 16% | 30% |
| Vomiting | 6% | 24% |
| Constipation | 11% | 24% |
| Stomach pain | 10% | 20% |
| Headache | 10% | 14% |
| Tiredness | 5% | 11% |
| Indigestion | 3% | 9% |
| Dizziness | 4% | 8% |
| Hair loss | 1% | 3% |
From the Wegovy Medication Guide
When to stop, call or get help
Severe stomach pain that won't go away
With or without nausea or vomiting, and it can spread to your back. Stop Wegovy and call your healthcare provider right away. It can be a sign of pancreatitis.
Signs of a serious allergic reaction
Swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat, trouble breathing or swallowing, severe rash or itching, fainting or feeling dizzy, or a very fast heartbeat. Stop Wegovy and get medical help right away. Call 911 if you need to.
Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea that won't go away
Tell your healthcare provider right away. Losing fluids can lead to kidney problems.
Signs of gallbladder problems
Pain in your upper stomach, fever, yellowing of your skin or eyes, or clay-colored stools. Tell your healthcare provider.
Your heart racing or pounding at rest
If it lasts for several minutes, tell your healthcare provider.
And tell any doctor planning surgery or a procedure with anesthesia or deep sedation that you take Wegovy, because it slows how fast your stomach empties.
Insurance and Medicare
- With commercial insurance: whether Wegovy is covered depends on your plan, and most plans need prior authorization. Novo Nordisk runs a savings offer for people whose insurance covers it. Paying yourself? See what Wegovy costs without insurance.
- With Medicare Part D: since July 1, 2026, the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge covers Wegovy (pen, HD and pill) for people who meet its health criteria, with prior authorization. It runs through December 31, 2027.
If you track your weeks on Wegovy, our Wegovy tracking guide covers what to note and when.
Frequently asked questions
What is the starting dose of Wegovy?
How long do you stay on each Wegovy dose?
Can you stay on 1.7 mg of Wegovy?
What is Wegovy HD?
Why is the Wegovy pill 25 mg when the pen is 2.4 mg?
What if I miss a dose of Wegovy?
Can I drink coffee after taking the Wegovy pill?
Is Wegovy the same as Ozempic?
Can I start Wegovy at 1.7 mg?
Is there a different Wegovy dose after you reach your goal weight?
How many units is a Wegovy dose?
This chart is general information from the FDA label, not medical advice. Your prescriber sets your doses, and some people step up more slowly than the chart.
