Wegovy 7.2mg: Everything you need to know about the new dose

The 7.2mg dose of Wegovy is a new, higher strength of semaglutide. It was studied to see if it could offer greater weight loss benefits than the previous maximum dose of 2.4mg. As these trials were successful, Wegovy 7.2mg has been approved and is available for use in the UK with a prescription.

Wegovy is prescribed at gradually increasing doses, with both 2.4mg and 7.2mg once weekly now being the recommended maintenance doses. Research suggests that some patients may need a stronger dose to achieve further weight reduction, which is why 7.2mg was studied and made available.

Wegovy 7.2mg is available as single-dose pre-filled pens. This means you’ll receive 4 pens as part of your monthly treatment, containing 4 x 7.2mg single-use doses.

If you’re currently taking 2.4mg of Wegovy and have been for at least 4 weeks, you can request a dose increase through our online assessment. Let our doctors know which dose you’re currently taking and any other important information, such as side effects. Once approved, your 7.2mg single-dose pens will be delivered.

Several phases of the STEP UP trial were carried out to test the 7.2mg Wegovy dose. Research found that on average, people can lose 21% of their starting weight by week 72 of treatment when taking 7.2mg, alongside a healthy eating plan and increased exercise.

The results showed that on average, those taking:

• 7.2mg lost 21% of their body weight
• 2.4mg lost 17% of their body weight
• a placebo lost 2.4% of their body weight

The higher 7.2mg dose also caused more patients to reach greater weight loss milestones. This table compares the percentage of patients who lost weight at each milestone when taking 2.4mg or 7.2mg in the STEP UP trial over 72 weeks:

Overall, the results suggest that 7.2mg could give an extra boost to weight loss compared to the 2.4mg dose.

Wegovy 7.2mg dose is available in a single-dose pen. This means that for one 4 weeks of doses you should receive 4 pre-filled single-use pens, you should inject one pen once-weekly. The Wegovy 7.2 pen has an automatic dosing mechanism meaning you can only inject the full 7.2mg dose. After you have administered the dose you should discard the pen.

Follow the instructions here or the guidance sent to your private patient account from our doctors. You can also find this information in the Wegovy online patient information leaflet (PIL).

To take Wegovy 7.2mg:

1. Check you have the correct dose strength.
2. Check in the dose window that your dose is clear and colourless and that it is not cloudy.
3. Choose your injection site.
4. Lift off the pen cap and needle cover.
5. Press the pen firmly against your skin. The injection takes around 5-10 seconds. You should hear 2 clicks. The first click happens when your injection starts, and at the second click you should begin to see a yellow bar in the window. Once you see the yellow bar stop moving, the injection is complete.
6. Lift the pen slowly and safely dispose of the pen.

For more information please see our step-by-step guide:

Wegovy is first prescribed for adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 and above with weight-related health issues, alongside diet and exercise changes. This is the same for the new Wegovy 7.2mg dose.

The 7.2mg dose still follows the current Wegovy dosing schedule, which involves starting at the lowest dose and working your way up to the highest maintenance dose suitable for you by increasing the dose every 4 weeks (or longer in some cases). You will not just be able to start on Wegovy 7.2mg if you have never taken Wegovy before.

There is no extra dose between 2.4 and 7.2mg, so once you’ve taken 2.4mg for at least 4 weeks, you can increase to 7.2mg if your doctor thinks it’s safe for you.

The side effects of the 7.2mg dose are similar to the current licensed strengths of Wegovy. These mainly affect the digestive system, such as nausea or diarrhoea, but may be more frequent or more severe at higher doses. In trials, about 10% more people had these gastrointestinal side effects on 7.2mg compared with 2.4mg.

Wegovy 7.2mg also caused a higher rate of the side effect dysaesthesia, which means a change in skin sensation. Around 23% of patients in clinical trials reported symptoms such as:

• burning
• tingling
• skin pain
• sensitive skin

Most cases were mild and settled as treatment continued. If this happens while taking Wegovy 7.2mg and your symptoms are severe or do not go away, speak to your doctor. You may need to reduce your dose or stop treatment.

Very common side effects (affecting more than 1 in 10 people) include:

• feeling sick (nausea)
• being sick (vomiting)
• diarrhoea
• constipation
• stomach pain
• headache
• feeling weak or tired

Common side effects (affecting up to 1 in 10 people) are:

• dizziness
• indigestion, reflux, bloating, or burping
• gallstones
• hair loss
• injection site reactions
• low blood sugar (mainly in people with diabetes)
• changes in skin sensations

Uncommon but serious side effects are:

• inflamed pancreas/pancreatitis (persistent severe stomach pain)
• kidney or bladder stones
• increased pancreatic enzymes

Rare or unknown frequency Wegovy side effects include:

• severe allergic reactions (swelling of the face, lips, or throat)
• bowel obstruction
• hip fractures

Anyone prescribed Wegovy should report unexpected or serious side effects to their doctor and call 999 in an emergency, such as a severe allergic reaction. You can also find the current side effects of Wegovy in the patient information leaflet.