Wegovy Dosing Schedule

Wegovy (semaglutide) is a onceweekly injectable medication approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight who have at least one weightrelated condition. Because the drug is titrated gradually, following the proper dosing schedule is essential for safety, effectiveness, and minimizing sideeffects.

Why a Titration Schedule?

Semaglutide can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Starting with a low dose and increasing it stepbystep allows the body to adjust, reduces the risk of severe sideeffects, and helps patients reach the therapeutic dose that provides the greatest weight loss benefit.

Standard Wegovy Initiation Schedule

The FDAapproved titration plan involves five weekly injections before the maintenance dose is reached. Each step is administered on the same day each week (e.g., every Monday).

Key Points During Titration

• Consistency: Inject on the same day each week.
• Injection technique: Rotate sites to avoid lipohypertrophy.
• Missed dose: If you miss a dose by less than 5 days, inject as soon as you remember and continue the weekly schedule. If more than 5 days have passed, skip the missed dose and resume the regular schedule; do not doubledose.
• Sideeffects: If nausea or vomiting is severe, discuss with your providerdose may be held for one week before resuming the next step.

Maintenance Phase (2.4mg)

After reaching the 2.4mg dose in week5, most patients continue this dose indefinitely, provided weight loss goals are being met and sideeffects are manageable.

When to Adjust the Maintenance Dose

• Insufficient weight loss: Some clinicians may consider increasing to 2.4mg after a longer titration (e.g., adding a 3mg dose in a clinical trial), but this is offlabel.
• Adverse events: If sideeffects persist, a dose reduction back to 1.7mg may be tried for a few weeks before retitrating.
• Pregnancy or planning pregnancy: Discontinue Wegovy and discuss alternative management with your physician.

Special Situations

Renal or Hepatic Impairment

Current guidelines do not require dose adjustment for mild to moderate renal or hepatic impairment, but patients with severe kidney disease should use Wegovy only under specialist supervision.

Concurrent Medications

Wegovy can be used with most antihypertensive, lipidlowering, or antidiabetic drugs, but the risk of hypoglycemia rises when combined with insulin or sulfonylureas. Dose adjustments of those agents may be needed.

Switching from Other GLP1 Agonists

• From liraglutide (Saxenda): Stop liraglutide and start Wegovy at week1 dose (0.25mg).
• From semaglutide oral (Rybelsus): A 4week washout is recommended before starting injection therapy.

Practical Tips for Success

• Set a reminder: Use phone alarms or a medication app.
• Keep a log: Record injection date, dose, and any sideeffects.
• Stay hydrated and eat balanced meals: This can lessen nausea.
• Regular followup: Schedule visits every 48weeks during titration.

Always follow the dosing instructions provided by your healthcare professional. This page is for informational purposes only and does not replace personalized medical advice.