Wegovy pill dosages

The Wegovy pill comes in 4 different doses. Each dose has a specific role in helping your body gradually get used to semaglutide while building up to the full treatment effect with 25mg tablets.

The available Wegovy pill doses are:

The Wegovy pill dosing chart shows how treatment is typically increased during the first few months. This gradual increase is known as dose titration.

The Wegovy pill dosing schedule is designed to slowly increase the amount of semaglutide in your body. This gives your digestive system time to adjust, as it’s common to get gastrointestinal (GI) side effects when starting or increasing your dose.

This is because the Wegovy pill works by mimicking a hormone responsible for digestion and appetite, slowing down the digestive process to keep you fuller for longer. Several clinical studies into the Wegovy pill, called the OASIS trials, found that increasing doses gradually reduced the likelihood of strong side effects and people stopping treatment because of them.

You should not increase your Wegovy pill dose earlier than recommended, even if you do not get side effects on your current dose.

Wegovy pill: starting dose

The Wegovy pill starting dose is 1.5mg once daily. You will normally take this dose for the first month of treatment before moving up.

You might see a small amount of weight loss while using 1.5mg, with studies showing an average of up to 2% weight loss by week 4. However, it’s not likely to cause significant weight loss. You’ll notice stronger appetite control as treatment progresses.

While 1.5mg is the usual starting dose, the exception to this is if you’re switching from a weight loss injection that also contains a GLP-1 medication, such as Wegovy or Mounjaro. If you’re on a high dose of these injections, you may be able to start on a higher dose of the Wegovy pill, but this is up to your doctor based on your medical history and side effects.

For more information on switching and doses, see our guides on:

• switching from Mounjaro to the Wegovy pill
• switching from the Wegovy injection to the pill

When do I have to increase my dose?

You usually increase your Wegovy pill dose every month (30 days of tablets), provided you are tolerating treatment well. Your doctor may recommend staying on a dose for longer if side effects become difficult to manage. Delaying a dose increase is common and does not mean treatment is failing.

It’s likely that after another month, you can continue your dosage schedule, but it's better for side effects to settle first to give you a more comfortable experience and reduce the chance of serious side effects.

Wegovy pill: highest dose

The highest approved Wegovy pill dose is 25mg once daily. This is currently the maximum strength available and the dose used for long-term treatment. Although higher oral semaglutide doses have been investigated in clinical trials, there are currently no approved Wegovy tablet doses above 25mg.

Wegovy pill: maintenance dose

The Wegovy pill maintenance dose is 25mg once daily. This is the highest dose and the dose most people stay on after completing the Wegovy pill dosage schedule at the end of 3 months (or longer if required).

Clinical studies of the Wegovy pill found that people taking 25mg daily lost an average of up to 17% of their starting body weight after 64 weeks of treatment. People in the study were also following a healthy diet and lifestyle changes, including regular exercise.

If Wegovy pill side effects become difficult to manage after a dose increase, speak to your doctor as soon as possible. Depending on your symptoms, they may recommend:

• staying on your current dose for longer to see if they settle in a few days – your doctor may be able to recommend some things to help with your side effects, such as diet tips and making sure you’re eating enough
• returning temporarily to a lower dose and trying to increase your dose again in 4 weeks – this is often enough for your body to adjust
• delaying further increases – you may stay on a lower dose, like 9mg, if you did not get side effects on this dose and are still losing weight, and you can always try a dose increase later on if you want to
• reviewing whether the Wegovy pill remains suitable for you – if you are having severe and ongoing side effects, especially on the lowest 1.5mg dose, the Wegovy pill may not be the right option for you

Do not stop treatment or adjust your dose without medical advice, as stopping the Wegovy pill for 2 or more days might mean you need to start the dosage schedule from the beginning.

How to manage side effects after a dose increase

If you miss a Wegovy pill dose, skip the missed pill and take your next at the usual time the following day unless it’s the same morning and you’ve still not had anything to eat or drink, or taken any oral medications.

Do not take 2 pills on the same day to make up for a missed dose, or take a pill if you no longer have an empty stomach.

What if I miss several doses?

If you miss 2 or more doses in a row, speak to your doctor for advice. You may need to restart treatment at a lower dose depending on:

• how long treatment has been stopped
• your current dose
• whether you had side effects previously

Restarting at a lower dose can help reduce the risk of gastrointestinal side effects when treatment resumes, but it’s not always needed.

If you eat, drink, or take another oral medication less than 30 minutes after taking your pill, the dose may not be absorbed properly.

Oral semaglutide must be taken in a very specific way for it to work. Having anything else in your stomach other than some plain water (no more than 120ml) can reduce how much semaglutide enters your bloodstream and make that day's dose less effective. Doing this often will reduce the Wegovy pill's effectiveness and its appetite-reducing effects.

If this happens, do not take another pill and continue your treatment as normal the following day. It can help to set a timer after you take your pill so you know exactly when you can eat. You should also not take any other tablets or pills at the same time as the Wegovy pill.

No. You should not increase your Wegovy pill dose before completing at least 1 month on your current dose. The dosage schedule is there to keep you safe and reduce side effects. You’re much more likely to get stronger or more side effects if you increase your dose too early.

How long does it take to reach the maintenance dose?

It takes 3 months of treatment to reach the maintenance dose. This may be delayed if you get side effects and need to stay on a lower dose for a bit longer. If you can, it’s recommended to reach the 25mg maintenance dose to get the best results.

Does a higher Wegovy pill dose cause more side effects?

Increasing your dose can cause side effects, as your body needs to adjust to a higher dose. However, it has not been shown in clinical trials that a higher dose causes more side effects than a lower dose, though this may be the case for some people.

Why do doses increase gradually?

Wegovy pill doses increase gradually to get you used to the medication with fewer side effects. Semaglutide works on your digestive system to keep you feeling fuller and reduces your appetite, so it can cause side effects on the digestive system. Introducing it slowly was shown to make treatment more manageable, with mild side effects that should get better as treatment continues.

Can I split my Wegovy dose?

No. You must swallow Wegovy tablets whole with 120ml of water. The Wegovy pill must not be cut, crushed, chewed, or dissolved, doing this can affect how the medication is absorbed and could stop it from having an effect.

Is the Wegovy pill dose the same as the injection?

No. The Wegovy pill has higher doses because oral semaglutide is absorbed less effectively than injected semaglutide, which goes straight to your bloodstream without having to pass through your stomach.

Despite the different doses, both the pill and injection contain the same active ingredient and work in the same way. The Wegovy pill's maximum dose of 25mg is similar to the 2.4mg injection, causing a similar average weight loss of around 17%.