Semaglutide dosage for weight loss starts at 0.25 mg weekly and titrates to a 2.4 mg maintenance dose. See the full week-by-week dosing chart and safety tips.
Semaglutide dosage for weight loss follows a fixed once-weekly schedule: it starts at 0.25 mg, increases every four weeks, and tops out at 2.4 mg per week for the FDA-approved weight-management brand Wegovy. The slow step-up, called titration, exists to reduce nausea and other gastrointestinal side effects while your body adapts. Semaglutide is not a start-high, lose-fast drug — the early low doses are about tolerability, not fat loss.
Semaglutide Dosage for Weight Loss: Week-by-Week Chart
The FDA-approved Wegovy titration schedule looks like this:
| Weeks | Weekly dose | What this step is for |
|---|---|---|
| 1–4 | 0.25 mg | Starting dose; tolerability only |
| 5–8 | 0.5 mg | First step up |
| 9–12 | 1 mg | Appetite changes often become noticeable |
| 13–16 | 1.7 mg | May serve as a maintenance dose |
| 17 and beyond | 2.4 mg | Maximum approved maintenance dose |
Doses above 2.4 mg per week are not FDA-approved, and clinical data do not show meaningful extra weight loss above that level.
The Semaglutide Starting Dose for Weight Loss Is 0.25 mg
Treatment begins with 0.25 mg injected once weekly for the first four weeks. This dose is deliberately below the range that produces significant appetite suppression, so many people notice little or no weight change during month one.
Titration is not always rigid. A prescriber may hold you at a given dose longer than four weeks if side effects are difficult, or keep you at 1.7 mg if 2.4 mg is not tolerated.
If you miss a weekly injection, the label guidance is simple: take it if fewer than two days have passed, otherwise skip it and resume your normal day. Never double up to catch up.
Why the Dose Increases Every Four Weeks
Gastrointestinal side effects from GLP-1 medications are dose-dependent, which is why the schedule climbs in small increments rather than jumping straight to a therapeutic level. Each four-week block gives your digestive system time to adjust before the next increase.
Some people ask why increase dose of semaglutide for weight loss at all once a lower dose already feels effective. The reason is that appetite suppression tends to fade as the body adapts, and higher doses produce greater average weight loss in trials. At 2.4 mg weekly, participants in the STEP trials lost roughly 15% of body weight on average over 68 weeks.
Maximum Dose of Semaglutide for Weight Loss
The maximum approved dose of semaglutide for weight loss is 2.4 mg once weekly. That is the highest strength of Wegovy cleared by the FDA for chronic weight management.
For people who cannot tolerate 2.4 mg, 1.7 mg weekly is an approved maintenance dose and still delivers clinically meaningful results. Escalating beyond 2.4 mg is not recommended and is not supported by the prescribing information.
Injection vs. Oral vs. Compounded: Semaglutide Doses for Weight Loss Differ
Not every semaglutide product uses the same numbers, and mixing them up is a real safety risk.
| Product | Typical dosing | FDA-approved for weight loss? |
|---|---|---|
| Wegovy injection | 0.25 mg to 2.4 mg weekly | Yes |
| Ozempic injection | 0.25 mg to 2 mg weekly | No (type 2 diabetes) |
| Rybelsus tablets | 3 mg, 7 mg or 14 mg daily | No (type 2 diabetes) |
| Compounded semaglutide | Varies by pharmacy; measured in mg or units | No |
Dr. offices frequently field questions about the semaglutide tablet dose for weight loss, but oral semaglutide is currently approved only for type 2 diabetes at 3 mg, 7 mg and 14 mg daily. Higher-dose oral formulations for weight management have been under FDA review.
For context on other options, tirzepatide vs semaglutide dosage for weight loss is a common comparison: tirzepatide (Zepbound) titrates up to 15 mg weekly, and head-to-head trial data showed greater average weight loss with tirzepatide.
Compounded Semaglutide Dosing: Units Are Not Milligrams
Compounded semaglutide is not FDA-approved and is not reviewed for safety, effectiveness or quality the way brand products are. Dosing is set by the individual pharmacy and can be written in milligrams or in syringe units.
Concentration is the variable that trips people up. A 5 mg/mL vial and a 1 mg/mL vial can both be drawn to "20 units," but 20 units equals 1 mg in the first case and only 0.2 mg in the second.
- Always confirm the concentration in mg/mL with your pharmacy.
- Never copy another person's dose or units.
- Report side effects to your prescriber before changing anything.
Side Effects, Safety and Who Should Not Take It
The most common side effects are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain, fatigue and headache. They usually peak in the days after each dose increase and ease over time.
Semaglutide carries a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors seen in rodents, and it is contraindicated in people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN2 syndrome. Other reported risks include pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, kidney injury from dehydration, gastroparesis and low blood sugar when combined with insulin or sulfonylureas.
Semaglutide is not for use during pregnancy, and the label advises stopping it at least two months before a planned pregnancy. Talk with a healthcare professional before starting, and never adjust your own dose.
How to Get Semaglutide for Weight Loss
Every legitimate path starts with a prescription. Primary care doctors, endocrinologists, obesity medicine specialists and telehealth platforms can all evaluate whether semaglutide for weight loss is appropriate for you.
Many people search for where can i get semaglutide for weight loss and find a mix of brand pens, compounded options and questionable online sellers. Verify that any pharmacy is licensed in your state, and be skeptical of sites that ship without a prescription.
Cost and insurance coverage vary widely, so ask about prior authorization requirements, manufacturer savings programs and whether a different dose strength changes your out-of-pocket price.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the starting dose of semaglutide for weight loss?
The starting dose of Wegovy for weight management is 0.25 mg injected once weekly for the first four weeks. This low dose is used mainly to help your body adjust, and little weight loss is expected during that period. Most people move up to 0.5 mg in week five under their prescriber's direction.
What is the maximum dose of semaglutide for weight loss?
The maximum FDA-approved dose of semaglutide for weight loss is 2.4 mg once weekly, which is reached after about 16 weeks of titration. Some people stay at 1.7 mg weekly if 2.4 mg causes side effects they cannot tolerate. Doses above 2.4 mg weekly are not approved.
How long does it take to lose weight on semaglutide?
Most people see little change at 0.25 mg and begin noticing appetite and weight effects somewhere between 1 mg and 2.4 mg, often around weeks 8 to 16. In the STEP trials, participants at 2.4 mg lost about 15% of body weight on average over 68 weeks. Individual results vary based on dose, diet, activity and how long treatment continues.
This page provides educational research information and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.