Semaglutide dosage chart
The weekly semaglutide schedule from the prescribing information and the units to draw for common vial strengths. From our clinical team in Mission Viejo, California.
Medically reviewed by Lindsay Short, NP-BC, Board-Certified Nurse Practitioner · last reviewed October 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)more than a 1 mL syringe holds | 68 units (0.68 mL) | 34 units (0.34 mL) |
| 2.4 mg | 240 units (2.4 mL)more than a 1 mL syringe holds | 96 units (0.96 mL) | 48 units (0.48 mL) |
100-unit (1 mL) syringes are usually marked every 2 units; 30- and 50-unit syringes every unit.
Different strength, or a label that shows a total like 5 mg/2 mL? Use the semaglutide dosage calculator, which converts any strength.
What changed on the Wegovy label in 2026
The Wegovy prescribing information (updated June 2026) adds two things this chart does not convert, because neither is drawn up from a vial:
- A 7.2 mg maximum. For patients who have tolerated 2.4 mg for at least 4 weeks and need additional weight reduction, the dose may be increased to 7.2 mg once weekly with the Wegovy HD pen. 2.4 mg remains the recommended maintenance dose.
- Wegovy tablets. A once-daily oral form that starts at 1.5 mg for 30 days and steps up to a 25 mg daily maintenance dose. Tablets and pens deliver a set dose, so there is nothing to convert.
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.
The label lists 1.7 mg as well as 2.4 mg as maintenance options, and each step is at least four weeks. A dose change is a decision you make with your prescriber, not something to adjust on your own.
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 there a semaglutide dose above 2.4 mg?
Since 2026 the Wegovy label allows a maximum of 7.2 mg once weekly (the Wegovy HD pen) for patients who have tolerated 2.4 mg for at least 4 weeks and need additional weight reduction. 2.4 mg remains the recommended maintenance dose, and going higher is a decision for your prescriber.
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?
The Wegovy label says: if the next scheduled dose is more than 2 days away, take the missed injection as soon as possible; if it is less than 2 days away, skip it and take the next dose on your regular day. If you miss 2 or more doses in a row, contact your prescriber, because the label says to restart the escalation at a lower dose. Do not take two doses close together to catch up.
Sources and references
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.