Dosing guide

Semaglutide dosage: the titration schedule explained

7 min read Updated August 2026 US-licensed providers

The short answer

For weight management, the FDA label for Wegovy (semaglutide) escalates in four-week steps: 0.25 mg weekly for weeks 1 to 4, then 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, reaching the 2.4 mg maintenance dose at week 17. The maximum is 2.4 mg weekly. Titration exists to limit nausea, and a step can be delayed if a dose is not tolerated. Your provider sets your schedule.

The semaglutide titration schedule, week by week

This is the dose escalation schedule in the FDA prescribing information for Wegovy, the semaglutide product approved for chronic weight management. Each step lasts four weeks before the next one:

Weeks	Weekly dose	What this step is for
Weeks 1 to 4	0.25 mg once weekly	Starting dose. It is a tolerability dose, not a treatment dose
Weeks 5 to 8	0.5 mg once weekly	First step up
Weeks 9 to 12	1 mg once weekly	Second step up
Weeks 13 to 16	1.7 mg once weekly	Final step before maintenance
Week 17 onward	2.4 mg once weekly	Maintenance dose, and the maximum dose

Dose escalation schedule from the FDA prescribing information for Wegovy (semaglutide). The label adds that if a dose is not tolerated during escalation, escalation can be delayed for 4 weeks, and that if the 2.4 mg maintenance dose is not tolerated it can be temporarily lowered. Labeling is updated over time. Compounded semaglutide is not FDA-approved and your provider sets your individual schedule.

The diabetes-branded product is dosed differently. Ozempic (semaglutide) starts at 0.25 mg once weekly for 4 weeks and steps up to 0.5 mg, then 1 mg, then a maximum of 2 mg once weekly. Which product and which schedule apply to you is a provider's decision, not a self-service one.

Why does semaglutide need to be titrated at all?

Titration is not a formality and it is not a way of stretching out your subscription. Semaglutide slows gastric emptying and acts on appetite signalling, and the digestive system needs time at each level before the next one. Going straight to a maintenance dose would mean far more nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, and the people most likely to quit treatment early are the ones who felt awful in week one.

The FDA label says the escalation schedule exists specifically to minimize gastrointestinal adverse reactions. So the slow climb is the tolerability strategy. Read the full picture on semaglutide side effects.

A step can be delayed. The label supports holding at the current dose for another four weeks if the next step is not tolerated.
Higher is not automatically better. Plenty of people do well below the maximum, and the right dose is the one that works and that you can live with.
Escalating faster is not a shortcut. It mostly buys nausea, and nausea is the main reason people stop.
It is not a fixed calendar. Your provider adjusts the pace to how you respond.

What a maintenance dose actually means

The maintenance dose is the dose you settle at once escalation is finished, and for Wegovy that is 2.4 mg once weekly. It is not a finish line so much as a steady state: the dose you stay on while treatment continues, reviewed at each check-in.

Two honest caveats. First, not everyone reaches the maximum, and that is a normal outcome rather than a failure, since the label allows the maintenance dose to be lowered temporarily if it is not tolerated. Second, a maintenance dose is not a cure that lets you stop. Semaglutide works while it is in your system, which is covered on do you have to take a GLP-1 forever.

What happens if you miss a dose?

The FDA label for Wegovy gives a clear rule, and it hinges on how close your next scheduled dose is:

Situation	What the label says to do
You missed one dose and the next scheduled dose is more than 2 days (48 hours) away	Take the missed dose as soon as possible, then continue on your regular day
You missed one dose and the next scheduled dose is less than 2 days (48 hours) away	Skip the missed dose. Resume on your regularly scheduled day
You missed more than 2 doses in a row	Resume as scheduled, or, if needed, restart and follow the escalation schedule again, which may reduce the digestive symptoms of restarting

From the FDA prescribing information for Wegovy (semaglutide). Never double up to make up a missed dose. If you have missed several weeks, speak to your provider before restarting so your dose can be set correctly.

The practical details of taking it

Once weekly, same day each week. The label says it can be taken at any time of day, with or without meals.
Where to inject. Subcutaneously in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. The label notes the injection site and time of day can be changed without adjusting the dose. Rotate sites.
Inspect before you inject. The label says to use it only if the solution is clear, colorless, and free of particles.
Storage. Follow the storage instructions that come with your specific product, which your pharmacy provides. Do not use a product that has been frozen.
Pick a sensible day. Many people choose a day where the following 48 hours are quieter, since that is when nausea is most likely.

Do not change your own dose, split doses, or self-manage a "microdose" schedule based on something you read. Dosing changes are a clinical decision, and getting them wrong is one of the main ways people end up in trouble on these medications.

Your provider sets your schedule

The table above is the labeled schedule, not your prescription. Your history, your tolerance, and your response decide the pace. At Expert Health, compounded semaglutide starts at $199 per month ($597 for a 3-month supply), and the dose management is the part you are actually paying for:

A free consultation with a health specialist, with no obligation to buy
A US-licensed provider sets your starting dose and titration pace from your history and goals
Semaglutide compounded by an FDA-regulated US pharmacy, with free discreet shipping
Provider check-ins every four weeks, which is exactly the cadence at which titration decisions get made

Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Compounded products can also be supplied in different concentrations to the brand pens, so follow the instructions on your own prescription rather than a schedule you found online. Compare with the tirzepatide dosing schedule.

Semaglutide, as low as $199/mo Prescribed by a US-licensed provider, compounded by a licensed US pharmacy, shipped free. See the full plan and what is included.

See Semaglutide

Frequently asked questions

What is the semaglutide dosing schedule?

For weight management the FDA label for Wegovy escalates in four-week steps: 0.25 mg once weekly for weeks 1 to 4, 0.5 mg for weeks 5 to 8, 1 mg for weeks 9 to 12, 1.7 mg for weeks 13 to 16, and 2.4 mg once weekly from week 17 as the maintenance dose. Your provider sets your individual schedule.

What is the maximum dose of semaglutide?

For Wegovy, the weight-management product, the maximum is 2.4 mg once weekly. For Ozempic, the type 2 diabetes product, the maximum is 2 mg once weekly. Which applies to you depends on the product prescribed and your provider's judgement.

What is the starting dose of semaglutide?

0.25 mg once weekly for the first four weeks. The label is explicit that this is an escalation step intended to minimize gastrointestinal side effects rather than a treatment dose, which is why it is followed by planned increases.

What happens if I miss a dose of semaglutide?

If your next scheduled dose is more than 2 days away, take the missed dose as soon as possible. If it is less than 2 days away, skip it and resume on your regular day. If you have missed more than two doses in a row, contact your provider, since the label allows restarting with the escalation schedule.

How long do you stay on each semaglutide dose?

Four weeks per step under the labeled schedule. If a dose is not tolerated, the label supports delaying the next increase for another four weeks. Some people stay longer at a given dose, which is a decision for your provider.

Do I have to reach the maximum dose?

No. The maintenance dose on the label is 2.4 mg once weekly, but the label also allows lowering it temporarily if it is not tolerated, and a provider may keep you at a lower dose. The right dose is the one that is working and that you can tolerate.

Can I change which day I take semaglutide?

Discuss it with your provider before you shift your day, since spacing rules apply and they differ between products. The label allows the injection site and time of day to be changed without adjusting the dose.

Is compounded semaglutide dosed the same as Wegovy?

Not necessarily. Compounded semaglutide is not FDA-approved and can be supplied in different concentrations, so the instructions on your own prescription are what you follow. A US-licensed provider sets your dose and titration schedule.

Sources

Wegovy (semaglutide) injection, Prescribing Information · U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Ozempic (semaglutide) injection, Prescribing Information · U.S. Food and Drug Administration

This article is for general educational purposes and is not medical or legal advice. Statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and treatments referenced are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Individual results vary. Always consult a licensed provider before starting any treatment.