Compound semaglutide doses usually follow the same weekly titration as Wegovy, from 0.25 mg to 2.4 mg. See the dosing charts and unit conversions.
Compound semaglutide doses generally follow the same weekly titration used by brand-name Wegovy: 0.25 mg once a week for four weeks, then 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, and 2.4 mg, with each step held for at least four weeks. Compounded semaglutide is not FDA-approved and is not a generic substitute for Ozempic or Wegovy, so the exact amount you draw depends on the concentration your pharmacy mixed. Use the charts below as a general reference, then confirm every dose with your prescriber and your vial label.
Standard Compound Semaglutide Doses, Step by Step
Nearly every compound semaglutide dosing chart in circulation is a copy of the brand-name titration studied in the STEP trials. The goal is to let your digestive system adjust before the dose reaches a therapeutic level.
| Step | Weekly dose | Typical duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.25 mg | Weeks 1-4 (starter) |
| 2 | 0.5 mg | Weeks 5-8 |
| 3 | 1 mg | Weeks 9-12 |
| 4 | 1.7 mg | Weeks 13-16 |
| 5 | 2.4 mg | Week 17 and beyond (maintenance) |
Three rules matter more than the specific numbers. First, 0.25 mg is a starter dose, not a weight-loss dose, and many people feel nothing at all during the first month. Second, dose increases should not happen more often than every four weeks. Third, a missed week does not mean doubling the next injection.
- If 0.5 mg or 1 mg triggers heavy nausea, holding at that step for an extra month is common and reasonable.
- If progress stalls at 1.7 mg, many clinicians stay there rather than pushing straight to 2.4 mg.
- If you miss more than two weeks, most prescribers restart at a lower step instead of resuming the previous dose.
Reading a Compound Semaglutide Dosage Chart in Units
Most compounded vials are labeled in milligrams per milliliter (mg/mL), but they are drawn with U-100 insulin syringes, where 100 units equals 1 mL. That mismatch is one of the most common sources of dosing errors.
| Weekly dose | 2.5 mg/mL vial | 5 mg/mL vial | 10 mg/mL vial |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25 mg | 10 units (0.1 mL) | 5 units | 2.5 units |
| 0.5 mg | 20 units | 10 units | 5 units |
| 1 mg | 40 units | 20 units | 10 units |
| 1.7 mg | 68 units | 34 units | 17 units |
| 2.4 mg | 96 units | 48 units | 24 units |
Before you draw anything, find the concentration printed on your own vial and match it to the correct column. Never borrow a units chart from another pharmacy, because concentrations vary widely between 503A and 503B compounders.
Compounded vs. Brand-Name Semaglutide
| Feature | Brand-name (Wegovy, Ozempic) | Compounded semaglutide |
|---|---|---|
| FDA approval | Approved for specific uses | Not FDA-approved |
| Concentration | Fixed by the manufacturer | Varies by pharmacy and lot |
| Delivery | Single-use pen with preset clicks | Vial plus insulin syringe |
| Dose precision | Set by the pen | Drawn by the patient |
| Availability | Standard retail pharmacy | Limited to documented clinical need |
The FDA removed semaglutide from its drug shortage list in 2025, which sharply limits when a compounding pharmacy may legally produce it. A compounded version is permitted only when a licensed prescriber documents a genuine clinical need that an approved product cannot meet. That regulatory change matters, because a compound semaglutide dosage chart is only useful if the product itself was made under compliant conditions.
Semaglutide Side Effects and When to Slow the Titration
Most semaglutide side effects are gastrointestinal and tend to appear in the first few days after a dose increase.
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Constipation, burping, or acid reflux
- Fatigue, headache, or reduced appetite
- Injection-site redness or irritation
Serious but uncommon risks include pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, and dehydration from persistent vomiting. Semaglutide carries a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors observed in rodents; human data have not confirmed a causal link, but people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2 should not use it. Treat severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, or vision changes as reasons to call a clinician rather than wait for the next scheduled dose.
What to Check Before You Inject a Compounded Dose
Because the semaglutide ingredients in compounded products can include different salts, preservatives, and added vitamins, two vials labeled semaglutide 2.5 mg/mL are not automatically interchangeable. Look for a certificate of analysis from an independent lab, a US-licensed 503A or 503B facility, and clear labeling of the base form used.
Cost and convenience are the usual reasons people seek compounded versions, but a cheaper vial is not worth an infection or an incorrect dose. If you are unsure whether a product is appropriate for you, bring the vial and its label to a pharmacist and ask directly.
Related Peptides People Ask About
Search interest in stacking has grown, and researchers often compare aod 9604 and semaglutide because both are studied for fat loss through different pathways. Cagrilintide and semaglutide are also frequently paired in trials as a combination known as CagriSema, though cagrilintide remains investigational and is not FDA-approved on its own. Published cagrilintide semaglutide dosage figures come from controlled trials, so copying those numbers without a prescription is not the same as being dosed by a clinician.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the starting dose of compounded semaglutide?
Most prescribers start compounded semaglutide at 0.25 mg once weekly for four weeks, then move to 0.5 mg. The 0.25 mg step is a tolerance-building dose rather than a therapeutic one, so little or no weight change during the first month is normal.
How many units is 0.25 mg of compounded semaglutide?
It depends entirely on the concentration printed on your vial. A 2.5 mg/mL vial makes 0.25 mg equal to 10 units on a U-100 syringe, a 5 mg/mL vial makes it 5 units, and a 10 mg/mL vial makes it 2.5 units.
Is compounded semaglutide the same as Ozempic or Wegovy?
No. Compounded semaglutide is not FDA-approved and is not a generic equivalent of Ozempic or Wegovy, even though it uses the same active ingredient. Concentration, purity, and dose accuracy can vary between compounding pharmacies.
This page provides educational research information and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.