Semaglutide dosage chart — 5 proven dose steps.

A clear semaglutide dosage chart helps you understand exactly where you are in treatment and what comes next. Because semaglutide is sold under four brands with different doses, it is easy to get confused.

This guide sets out the full semaglutide dosage chart for Wegovy, Ozempic, Rybelsus and the Wegovy pill, with step-up schedules, maintenance doses, results, missed doses, side effects and switching advice, based on the licensed UK brands.

Semaglutide dosage chart: Wegovy injections

Most people looking for a semaglutide dosage chart want the Wegovy schedule. Wegovy is the semaglutide brand licensed for weight management in the UK. Its dose rises in five steps, each lasting at least four weeks.

Step	Weekly dose	Usual timing	Purpose
1	0.25mg	Weeks 1–4	Starting dose to help your body adjust
2	0.5mg	Weeks 5–8	First increase
3	1mg	Weeks 9–12	Building towards treatment dose
4	1.7mg	Weeks 13–16	Final step before maintenance
5	2.4mg	Week 17 onwards	Standard maintenance dose

A higher 7.2mg dose has also been approved for some patients who need more weight loss after reaching 2.4mg. The NHS guidance on semaglutide sets out the standard approach.

Ozempic dose chart

The Ozempic semaglutide dosage chart is for type 2 diabetes. It follows a similar step-up pattern, but the doses are lower and the maximum is 2mg.

Step	Weekly dose	Usual timing
1	0.25mg	Weeks 1–4
2	0.5mg	Weeks 5–8 and beyond
3	1mg	If more blood sugar control is needed, after at least 4 weeks
4	2mg	If needed, after at least 4 weeks on 1mg

Many people with diabetes stay on 0.5mg or 1mg. See our how to inject Ozempic guide for practical tips.

Tablet doses

Wegovy pill

The Wegovy pill is a once-daily semaglutide tablet for weight management. It starts at a low dose and increases roughly monthly to the 25mg maintenance tablet.

Rybelsus

Rybelsus is a once-daily tablet for type 2 diabetes. It usually starts at 3mg for 30 days, then 7mg, with 14mg used if more control is needed.

Both must be taken on an empty stomach with a small sip of water, then waiting before eating or drinking. See our how to take the Wegovy pill correctly guide.

All semaglutide brands compared

This semaglutide dosage chart compares every licensed brand side by side.

Brand	Form	Starting dose	Maintenance / maximum	Licensed for
Wegovy	Weekly injection	0.25mg	2.4mg (7.2mg higher dose)	Weight management
Wegovy pill	Daily tablet	Low starting tablet	25mg	Weight management
Ozempic	Weekly injection	0.25mg	0.5mg–2mg	Type 2 diabetes
Rybelsus	Daily tablet	3mg	7mg–14mg	Type 2 diabetes

For more on the brands, see our semaglutide UK and Ozempic vs Wegovy guides.

Why doses rise slowly

Semaglutide slows digestion, and the gut needs time to adapt to each step of the semaglutide dosage chart. Starting high would cause far more nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

That is why every semaglutide dosage chart begins with a low dose and increases gradually. Your prescriber only moves you up if you are coping well and need more effect.

Results by dose

The weight loss evidence behind the semaglutide dosage chart comes mainly from the STEP trials of Wegovy 2.4mg. In STEP-1, average weight loss was about 14.9% over 68 weeks, compared with about 2.4% on placebo.

Lower doses are mainly for building tolerance, so most weight loss comes once you reach higher doses. See our Wegovy weight loss results and how long Wegovy takes to work guides.

Missed doses

For Wegovy and Ozempic injections, if it has been five days or less since the missed dose, take it as soon as you remember. If more than five days have passed, skip it and take the next dose on your usual day.

For daily tablets, skip a missed dose and take the next one the following morning as normal. If you miss several weeks, speak to your prescriber, as you may need to restart lower on the semaglutide dosage chart.

Side effects and dose changes

Side effects tend to follow the semaglutide dosage chart: they are usually strongest after starting or increasing a dose, then settle within a few weeks. Eating smaller meals and avoiding greasy food helps.

See our Wegovy side effects and Ozempic side effects week by week guides.

Switching between brands

Moving between brands isn’t a simple swap along the same semaglutide dosage chart, because doses and absorption differ. A prescriber should choose the new dose.

People switching from semaglutide to tirzepatide also need a new starting dose. Compare the two schedules in our tirzepatide dosage chart and semaglutide vs tirzepatide guides.

How to read a semaglutide dosage chart

A semaglutide dosage chart lists each dose in milligrams (mg) and the earliest week you can move to it. You always start at the top row and move down one row at a time.

The timing column shows the fastest possible pace. If your prescriber keeps you on 1mg for eight weeks instead of four, you simply stay on that row of the semaglutide dosage chart for longer.

Each pen or tablet strength gives a fixed dose, so there is no measuring or calculating. Always check the strength on the label before each new pen.

A sample six-month timeline

Here is how the first six months on Wegovy might look for someone following the semaglutide dosage chart at the standard pace.

Month	Weekly Wegovy dose	What many people notice
1	0.25mg	Appetite starts to fall; little weight change
2	0.5mg	Clearer appetite control; possible nausea
3	1mg	Steady weight loss begins for many
4	1.7mg	Side effects may briefly return
5	2.4mg	Maintenance dose reached
6	2.4mg	Continued steady progress

Your own timeline may be slower if you stay longer on any dose.

Maintenance doses

For Wegovy, 2.4mg is the standard maintenance dose. Some people stay on a lower dose, such as 1.7mg, if they are losing weight well or can’t tolerate 2.4mg.

For Ozempic, maintenance is usually 0.5mg, 1mg or 2mg depending on blood sugar control. Your maintenance place on the semaglutide dosage chart may change over time.

When to increase

Your prescriber will usually consider moving down the semaglutide dosage chart to the next dose if:

• You have been on your current dose for at least four weeks
• Side effects are mild or have settled
• Weight loss or blood sugar control needs more help
• You are taking each dose consistently

If side effects are still strong, staying put for a few more weeks is often the better choice.

The 7.2mg dose explained

A higher 7.2mg Wegovy dose has been approved in the UK and Europe for some adults who need more weight loss than 2.4mg provides. In trials, it produced more weight loss than the standard dose, with more stomach side effects for some people.

It isn’t for everyone, and it is only considered after you have reached and tolerated 2.4mg. Your prescriber will decide whether this extra row of the semaglutide dosage chart is right for you.

Time of day and food

Wegovy and Ozempic injections can be taken at any time of day, with or without food. What matters most is using the same day each week.

Tablets are different: take them first thing in the morning on an empty stomach with a small sip of water, then wait before eating, drinking or taking other medicines. Check your leaflet for the exact waiting time.

Dosing for diabetes vs weight loss

The semaglutide dosage chart for diabetes (Ozempic, Rybelsus) uses lower doses than the chart for weight management (Wegovy, Wegovy pill). That is because the aims are different: blood sugar control versus weight loss.

If you take insulin or a sulfonylurea, these may need lowering when you start semaglutide to avoid low blood sugar. Using Ozempic purely for weight loss is off-label; see our Ozempic for weight loss guide.

Pens and practical tips

In the UK, Wegovy and Ozempic come in FlexTouch pens. Wegovy pens hold four weekly doses of one strength, so each pen usually lasts a month.

• Inject on the same day each week
• Rotate between stomach, thigh and upper arm
• Keep unused pens in the fridge between 2°C and 8°C
• Use a new needle each time

Our how to inject Wegovy guide walks through each step.

Tracking your progress

Keep a simple weekly log of your dose, weight, appetite and side effects. It makes it much easier to decide with your prescriber when to move along the semaglutide dosage chart.

Look at trends over several weeks, as day-to-day weight changes are often just water.

Reducing or stopping

Semaglutide is intended for long-term use. In the STEP-1 extension, people who stopped regained around two-thirds of their lost weight within a year.

If you want to reduce or stop, talk to your prescriber about stepping down gradually and keeping healthy habits. Our Wegovy plateau guide covers what to do when progress slows.

Common dosing mistakes

• Increasing faster than every four weeks
• Assuming you must reach the top dose
• Taking a missed injection more than five days late
• Mixing up pen strengths after a change
• Taking tablets with food or a full glass of water

Avoiding these keeps the semaglutide dosage chart working for you, with fewer side effects.

Appetite and energy

Most people notice appetite dropping within the first few weeks. After each step up the semaglutide dosage chart, appetite usually dips again for a while.

Energy can fall if you eat too little, so regular small meals with protein help keep you going.

Dosing for different goals

Where you settle on the semaglutide dosage chart depends on your goals and health. Someone aiming for a smaller weight loss may do well on a lower dose, while others need 2.4mg or the higher 7.2mg dose.

Heart disease, diabetes, other medicines and how you handle side effects all shape the dose your prescriber recommends.

If your dose is out of stock

If a strength is temporarily unavailable, speak to your pharmacy or prescriber. They may suggest waiting briefly, staying on your current dose or another safe option.

Never skip ahead on the semaglutide dosage chart or buy from an unregulated source to fill a gap.

Travel and time zones

Carry pens in hand luggage in a cool bag with your prescription, and never pack them in the hold. Tablets should stay in their original packaging.

When crossing time zones, keep your weekly injection on the same day where possible, adjusting by a few hours if needed.

Questions to ask your prescriber

• How long should I stay on my current dose?
• Which maintenance dose suits my goals?
• Should I consider the 7.2mg dose?
• When will we review my place on the semaglutide dosage chart?
• Do any of my other medicines need adjusting?

Getting the most from each dose

Every step on the semaglutide dosage chart works better with healthy habits. Protein at every meal, plenty of water and strength training two or three times a week help you lose fat while protecting muscle.

Use the lower-appetite days after each injection to build habits such as smaller portions and fewer snacks. Our best diet on Wegovy and GLP-1 and muscle loss guides have practical ideas for every stage of the semaglutide dosage chart.

Key takeaways

• The Wegovy semaglutide dosage chart rises from 0.25mg to 2.4mg in five steps
• Ozempic for diabetes goes up to 2mg
• The Wegovy pill and Rybelsus are daily tablets with their own schedules
• Stay at least four weeks on each injectable dose
• Missed injections can be taken within five days; otherwise skip

Bookmark this semaglutide dosage chart and check it before each new pen. When you are ready for your next strength, our Wegovy product page shows pricing and availability.

A note on research semaglutide

Some websites sell research or compounded semaglutide with their own dosing charts. These are not licensed medicines in the UK, and their strength and purity are not guaranteed.

This semaglutide dosage chart covers licensed brands only. Our research peptides UK legal guide explains the legal position.