Semaglutide dosage chart
The weekly semaglutide schedule from the prescribing information, the units to draw for common vial strengths, and a calculator for any other strength. From our clinical team in Mission Viejo.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Nezar Dahdal, Medical Director · last reviewed September 2026
Semaglutide dosage schedule in the prescribing information
This is the escalation schedule in the US prescribing information for Wegovy. Each step follows at least four weeks on the previous dose. Your prescriber sets the actual pace, and many patients stay on a lower dose that works for them. It is reference information, not a plan to follow on your own.
| When | Weekly dose | Role in the schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1 to 4 | 0.25 mg | Starting dose, not a treatment dose. |
| Weeks 5 to 8 | 0.5 mg | Escalation step. |
| Weeks 9 to 12 | 1 mg | Escalation step. |
| Weeks 13 to 16 | 1.7 mg | Escalation step, and a maintenance option. |
| Week 17 onward | 2.4 mg | Usual maintenance dose. |
Semaglutide dosage chart in units
For compounded vials drawn up with a U-100 syringe. Find your prescribed dose, then the concentration printed on your vial.
| Prescribed dose | 1 mg/mL vial | 2.5 mg/mL vial | 5 mg/mL vial |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25 mg | 25 units (0.25 mL) | 10 units (0.1 mL) | 5 units (0.05 mL) |
| 0.5 mg | 50 units (0.5 mL) | 20 units (0.2 mL) | 10 units (0.1 mL) |
| 1 mg | 100 units (1 mL) | 40 units (0.4 mL) | 20 units (0.2 mL) |
| 1.7 mg | 170 units (1.7 mL) | 68 units (0.68 mL) | 34 units (0.34 mL) |
| 2.4 mg | 240 units (2.4 mL) | 96 units (0.96 mL) | 48 units (0.48 mL) |
Different strength? Use the calculator below, or the semaglutide dosage calculator.
Semaglutide dose calculator
Enter the dose your prescriber gave you and the concentration printed on your vial label. The calculator converts it to units on a U-100 insulin syringe.
Enter your prescribed dose and your vial concentration to see the units.
This converts a dose you have already been prescribed. It does not recommend a dose. Always use the concentration printed on your pharmacy label. If the number here does not match what you were told, stop and call your prescriber before injecting.
Compounded tirzepatide and semaglutide are not FDA-approved. They are prepared by a licensed pharmacy for an individual patient, and their strength varies from pharmacy to pharmacy, which is exactly why the concentration on your own label is the number that matters. Brand pens (Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Ozempic) deliver a fixed dose and need no conversion.
Why the doses climb slowly
Semaglutide slows stomach emptying and reduces appetite. Starting low and stepping up every four weeks or more gives the gut time to adapt, which keeps nausea manageable. In STEP 1, the trial behind semaglutide for weight management, the dose reached 2.4 mg by week 16 and weight loss continued at a steady dose well beyond that.
Many people do well staying longer on a step, or at 1.7 mg. A dose change is a decision you make with your prescriber, not something to adjust on your own.
Sources
Answers before you book
What is the standard semaglutide dosage schedule for weight loss?
Per the Wegovy prescribing information: 0.25 mg weekly for four weeks, then 0.5 mg, 1 mg and 1.7 mg, each for at least four weeks, reaching the 2.4 mg maintenance dose. 1.7 mg is also a maintenance option. Your prescriber sets the pace.
How many units is each semaglutide dose?
On a 2.5 mg/mL vial: 0.25 mg is 10 units, 0.5 mg is 20 units, 1 mg is 40 units, 1.7 mg is 68 units and 2.4 mg is 96 units on a U-100 syringe. Other strengths are in the chart above.
Is Ozempic dosed the same way?
Ozempic is semaglutide approved for type 2 diabetes, with its own label schedule and a lower top dose. Wegovy is the version approved for weight management. Follow the schedule your prescriber gives you.
What if I miss a dose?
Follow the missed-dose directions in your prescribing information or from your prescriber. Do not take two doses close together to catch up.
Want a clinician to check your plan?
Book a free GLP-1 consultation, in person in Mission Viejo or by telehealth anywhere in California. No insurance needed.