Whether you are starting Wegovy, using compounded semaglutide, or trying to figure out how many units to draw from a vial, you need a clear dosage reference. This guide covers every semaglutide formulation used for weight loss with the exact dosing schedules, conversion charts, and practical guidance for each stage.

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  • Semaglutide Weight Loss Dosage Chart: Whether you are starting Wegovy, using compounded semaglutide, or trying to figure out how many units to draw from a vial, you need a clear...
  • This allows more gradual titration if side effects are an issue.
  • GLP-1 medications require a prescription and ongoing medical supervision
  • Some patients choose to stay at 1.7 mg if the weight loss is adequate and side effects are manageable.

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Wegovy (Brand-Name Semaglutide) Dosing Schedule

Wegovy is the FDA-approved semaglutide specifically for chronic weight management. It comes in pre-filled pens at five dose levels:

Phase Weeks Weekly Dose Pen Color Purpose
Initiation 1-4 0.25 mg Light purple Body adjustment, minimal weight loss
Escalation 1 5-8 0.5 mg Dark purple Early appetite suppression begins
Escalation 2 9-12 1.0 mg Blue Significant appetite reduction
Escalation 3 13-16 1.7 mg Teal Strong metabolic effects
Maintenance 17+ 2.4 mg Dark red Full therapeutic dose

Each pen contains 4 weekly doses. You use one pen per month at each dose level, then move to the next.

Key Points

  • Inject once weekly on the same day each week
  • Injection sites: abdomen, thigh, or upper arm (rotate sites)
  • Can be taken with or without food
  • Store in refrigerator (36-46 F). Can be kept at room temperature for up to 28 days
  • If you tolerate a dose well, do not skip ahead. Follow the full escalation schedule

Ozempic (Semaglutide for Diabetes, Used Off-Label)

Ozempic is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes but is frequently prescribed off-label for weight loss. The dosing differs from Wegovy:

Phase Weeks Weekly Dose
Initiation 1-4 0.25 mg
Escalation 5-8 0.5 mg
Maintenance 9+ 1.0 mg
Maximum 2.0 mg

The key difference: Ozempic maxes out at 2.0 mg vs Wegovy's 2.4 mg. For weight loss, the higher Wegovy dose produces better results. However, Ozempic is sometimes more accessible through insurance when prescribed for diabetes or prediabetes.

Compounded Semaglutide Dosing

Compounded semaglutide comes in multi-dose vials rather than pre-filled pens. You draw the prescribed dose using an insulin syringe. This requires understanding concentrations and unit conversions.

Common Vial Concentrations

Concentration Volume per 0.25 mg Volume per 0.5 mg Volume per 1 mg Volume per 2.5 mg
1 mg/mL 0.25 mL (25 units) 0.50 mL (50 units) 1.00 mL (100 units) N/A (too large)
2 mg/mL 0.125 mL (12.5 units) 0.25 mL (25 units) 0.50 mL (50 units) 1.25 mL
2.5 mg/mL 0.10 mL (10 units) 0.20 mL (20 units) 0.40 mL (40 units) 1.00 mL (100 units)
5 mg/mL 0.05 mL (5 units) 0.10 mL (10 units) 0.20 mL (20 units) 0.50 mL (50 units)
10 mg/mL 0.025 mL (2.5 units) 0.05 mL (5 units) 0.10 mL (10 units) 0.25 mL (25 units)

Important: Always check the concentration printed on YOUR vial. Do not assume. Using the wrong conversion with the wrong concentration can result in taking too much or too little medication.

Typical Compounded Dose Escalation

Most telehealth providers follow a schedule similar to Wegovy but may adjust based on your response:

Weeks Weekly Dose Notes
1-4 0.25 mg Starting dose
5-8 0.5 mg First increase
9-12 1.0 mg Appetite suppression noticeable
13-16 1.25-1.5 mg Provider may use intermediate doses
17-20 1.7-2.0 mg Approaching therapeutic range
21+ 2.0-2.5 mg Maintenance (provider-directed)

One advantage of compounded semaglutide: your provider can prescribe intermediate doses (like 0.75 mg or 1.25 mg) that are not available in the pre-filled Wegovy pens. This allows more gradual titration if side effects are an issue.

Oral Semaglutide (Rybelsus) Dosing

Rybelsus is an oral semaglutide tablet taken daily (not weekly). It is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes and prescribed off-label for weight loss.

Phase Duration Daily Dose
Initiation 30 days 3 mg
Escalation 30 days 7 mg
Maintenance Ongoing 14 mg

Important Instructions for Rybelsus

  • Take on an empty stomach with no more than 4 ounces of plain water
  • Wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking, or taking other medications
  • Do not split, crush, or chew the tablet
  • Must be absorbed in the stomach; food interferes with absorption

Rybelsus produces less weight loss than injectable semaglutide at current approved doses. However, it eliminates injections entirely. Some telehealth providers also offer compounded oral semaglutide lozenges as an alternative.

What to Expect at Each Dose Level

0.25 mg (Starter)

Most patients feel little to no effect. This dose is about letting your GI system adapt to the medication. Do not be discouraged if the scale does not move much.

0.5 mg

Appetite suppression begins for most patients. You might notice eating smaller portions naturally. Mild nausea is common for the first 3-5 days after the dose increase.

1.0 mg

This is where most patients start seeing consistent weight loss. Food noise (constant thoughts about eating) often decreases significantly. Side effects from the jump to 1 mg are usually the most noticeable of any single dose increase.

1.7 mg

Strong appetite suppression. Many patients report that they need reminders to eat. Weight loss is typically steady at this dose. Some patients choose to stay at 1.7 mg if the weight loss is adequate and side effects are manageable.

2.4 mg (Maintenance)

Full therapeutic dose. Maximum appetite suppression and metabolic effects. This is the dose used in the STEP 1 trial that produced 14.9% average body weight loss. Not everyone needs to reach this dose.

When to Talk to Your Provider About Dosing

  • You are experiencing severe side effects that are not improving after 2 weeks at the same dose
  • You have been at the maintenance dose for 3+ months with less than 5% weight loss
  • You want to try a lower maintenance dose because the side effects outweigh the benefits
  • You missed multiple doses and need guidance on restarting
  • You are considering switching to tirzepatide (compare Zepbound vs Wegovy)

Find a Semaglutide Provider

Ready to start or adjust your dosing? Find a GLP-1 clinic near you or compare telehealth providers offering semaglutide at competitive prices. Our provider quiz can match you in 2 minutes.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Dosing should always be directed by your prescribing healthcare provider. Do not adjust your dose without consulting your provider.

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Compounded GLP-1 medications are not FDA-approved. While legal during FDA-recognized drug shortages, they do not undergo the same rigorous testing as brand-name drugs. Always verify your provider uses a licensed 503A or 503B compounding pharmacy.

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Cost at Each Dose Level

Your semaglutide cost may vary by dose. Brand-name Wegovy through NovoCare is $349 per month across all injectable dose levels, making it flat-rate regardless of where you are in the titration schedule. The starter doses (0.25 mg and 0.5 mg) are available at an introductory $199 per month for the first two fills.

Compounded semaglutide pricing typically increases with dose. Through providers like Henry Meds, expect $119 to $149 per month at the lowest dose, ramping to $297 to $397 per month at maintenance doses. Hims offers a flat $175 per month across all doses.

With commercial insurance and the manufacturer savings card, copays can be as low as $25 per month at any dose level. HSA and FSA accounts can also cover the out-of-pocket cost. See our full cost breakdown for current pricing across all channels.

Sources

  1. Wegovy (semaglutide) Full Prescribing Information. Novo Nordisk, 2021.
  2. Ozempic (semaglutide) Full Prescribing Information. Novo Nordisk, 2017 (updated 2024).
  3. Rybelsus (semaglutide) Full Prescribing Information. Novo Nordisk, 2019.
  4. GLP1 Clinics telehealth provider data, April 2026.