Semaglutide Dosage Chart: Wegovy, Wegovy Pill, Ozempic and Rybelsus Doses

What is semaglutide?

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist made by Novo Nordisk. It acts like a natural gut hormone that slows stomach emptying, turns down hunger and, in people with diabetes, lowers blood sugar. It is sold under several brand names, and each one has its own dosage chart and approved use.

• Wegovy injection: a once-weekly shot for weight loss and long-term weight management in adults and teens 12 and older with obesity, adults with overweight and a weight-related condition, heart risk reduction in adults with heart disease and obesity or overweight, and a type of fatty liver disease called MASH with moderate to advanced scarring.
• Wegovy tablets: a once-daily pill for weight loss and heart risk reduction in adults.
• Ozempic injection: a once-weekly shot for adults with type 2 diabetes, to improve blood sugar and lower heart and kidney risks.
• Ozempic tablets and Rybelsus: once-daily pills for adults with type 2 diabetes.

The labels say not to combine semaglutide with another semaglutide product or any other GLP-1 medicine.

Semaglutide dosage chart at a glance

Every semaglutide brand starts low and goes up slowly. The weekly shots step up monthly, and the daily pills step up every 30 days. These are the label schedules:

• Wegovy injection (weekly): 0.25 mg, then 0.5 mg, 1 mg and 1.7 mg, reaching 2.4 mg (or 1.7 mg) from week 17. Some adults may later go up to 7.2 mg.
• Wegovy tablets (daily): 1.5 mg, then 4 mg and 9 mg, reaching 25 mg from day 91.
• Ozempic injection (weekly): 0.25 mg for 4 weeks, then 0.5 mg, with possible steps to 1 mg and a 2 mg maximum.
• Ozempic tablets (daily): 1.5 mg, then 4 mg, with a possible step to 9 mg.
• Rybelsus (daily): 3 mg, then 7 mg, with a possible step to 14 mg.

The numbers are not interchangeable between brands. A 25 mg pill is not a stronger version of a 2.4 mg shot, because only a small part of a semaglutide pill is absorbed through the stomach.

Wegovy injection dosage chart for weight loss

The weight loss schedule for the Wegovy injection starts at 0.25 mg once a week and reaches the usual 2.4 mg dose at week 17. The full label schedule:

• Weeks 1 to 4: 0.25 mg once weekly (starting dose)
• Weeks 5 to 8: 0.5 mg once weekly
• Weeks 9 to 12: 1 mg once weekly
• Weeks 13 to 16: 1.7 mg once weekly
• Week 17 onward: 2.4 mg once weekly (recommended long-term dose), or 1.7 mg if that suits you better

What is the maximum dose of semaglutide?

The maximum dose of semaglutide for weight loss is 7.2 mg once a week, sold as Wegovy HD. The current Wegovy label allows adults who have tolerated 2.4 mg for 4 weeks or more, and who need more weight reduction, to move up to 7.2 mg. It is an option, not a required step, and it is for adults only.

Wegovy dosing for teens, heart risk and fatty liver

• Teens 12 and older: same schedule, ending at 2.4 mg (recommended) or 1.7 mg.
• Heart risk reduction in adults: 2.4 mg (recommended) or 1.7 mg.
• MASH (fatty liver with scarring): 2.4 mg weekly, with 1.7 mg if 2.4 mg is not tolerated.

Wegovy injection comes as single-dose pens and syringes in each step strength, a 7.2 mg single-dose pen, and a FlexTouch pen that holds four 2.4 mg doses. Never share a FlexTouch pen, even with a new needle.

Wegovy pill dosage chart

The Wegovy pill is taken once a day and steps up every 30 days to 25 mg:

• Days 1 to 30: 1.5 mg once daily
• Days 31 to 60: 4 mg once daily
• Days 61 to 90: 9 mg once daily
• Day 91 onward: 25 mg once daily (maintenance dose)

If 25 mg is not tolerated, the label suggests your healthcare provider consider switching you to the 1.7 mg Wegovy injection. We cover the pill in more detail, including how to take it, in our Wegovy pill guide.

Read our full guide to the Wegovy pill

Ozempic dosage chart for type 2 diabetes

Ozempic injection starts at 0.25 mg once a week for 4 weeks, then moves to 0.5 mg. Further increases depend on blood sugar control:

• Weeks 1 to 4: 0.25 mg once weekly
• Week 5 onward: 0.5 mg once weekly
• If more blood sugar control is needed after at least 4 weeks on 0.5 mg: 1 mg once weekly
• If more is needed after at least 4 weeks on 1 mg: 2 mg once weekly (maximum dose)
• Diabetes with chronic kidney disease: 1 mg once weekly as the long-term dose

Ozempic pens hold several weekly doses, and each pen is set to a specific dose range.

Ozempic tablets and Rybelsus dosage

Both are once-daily semaglutide pills for adults with diabetes. The first 30 days are a starting phase only.

• Ozempic tablets: 1.5 mg for days 1 to 30, then 4 mg, then 9 mg from day 61 if more blood sugar control is needed.
• Rybelsus: 3 mg for days 1 to 30, then 7 mg, then 14 mg from day 61 if more blood sugar control is needed.

The two pills are not swapped milligram for milligram. After the starting phase, 7 mg of Rybelsus matches 4 mg of Ozempic tablets, and 14 mg of Rybelsus matches 9 mg.

Is Ozempic used for weight loss?

Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes, not for weight loss. Its 2 mg top dose is a diabetes dose. For weight loss, the FDA-approved semaglutide is Wegovy, in shot or pill form, and many people with type 2 diabetes also lose weight on Ozempic. Your doctor chooses the brand based on your diagnosis and coverage.

Why does the semaglutide dose increase slowly?

Dose escalation is slow to lower the risk of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, which are most likely right after each dose increase. Moving up every 4 weeks, or every 30 days for pills, gives the body time to adjust.

• If a step is not tolerated, the Wegovy label allows your healthcare provider to delay the next increase by 4 weeks.
• A higher dose is not always needed. If your dose is working and side effects are manageable, staying there is reasonable.
• For some people, 1.7 mg is the right long-term Wegovy dose, and the label approves it.

How do you take semaglutide?

Weekly injections (Wegovy, Ozempic)

1. 1.Inject once a week on the same day, at any time of day, with or without food.
2. 2.Inject under the skin of the stomach, thigh or upper arm, and rotate the spot each week.
3. 3.Check that the liquid is clear and colorless before use.
4. 4.If you use insulin with Ozempic, give separate injections and never mix them.

Daily pills (Wegovy tablets, Ozempic tablets, Rybelsus)

1. 1.Take one tablet first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.
2. 2.Swallow it whole with no more than 4 ounces of plain water. Do not split, crush or chew it.
3. 3.Wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking anything else or taking other medicines by mouth.

What if you miss a dose of semaglutide?

• Wegovy injection: if your next 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 take the next dose on your usual day. If you miss two or more doses in a row, your provider will restart you lower and step back up.
• Ozempic injection: take the missed dose within 5 days. If more than 5 days have passed, skip it and take the next dose on your usual day.
• Daily pills: skip the missed dose and take the next tablet the following morning. Never take two in one day.

You can change your Ozempic injection day as long as the two doses are at least 2 days apart.

Can you switch between semaglutide forms?

• Wegovy 2.4 mg injection to Wegovy 25 mg tablets: start the tablets one week after the last shot.
• Wegovy 25 mg tablets to Wegovy injection: start the 2.4 mg shot the day after the last tablet.
• Ozempic 0.5 mg injection to a diabetes pill: one week after the last shot, start 7 mg or 14 mg of Rybelsus, or 4 mg or 9 mg of Ozempic tablets.

Switching should always be planned with your doctor, since the doses do not line up one for one.

What are the side effects of semaglutide?

The common side effects of semaglutide include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation, and they are usually worst early on and after each dose increase. Other common side effects on the Wegovy label:

• Abdominal pain, bloating, burping, gas, heartburn or indigestion
• Headache, tiredness and dizziness
• Unusual skin sensations such as tingling
• Stomach flu-like symptoms
• Hair loss
• Low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, especially with insulin or a sulfonylurea

Smaller meals, stopping when you feel full, avoiding greasy food and drinking enough water may improve stomach symptoms.

Safety: the boxed warning and serious risks

All semaglutide products carry a boxed warning. Semaglutide caused thyroid C-cell tumors in rodents, and it is not known whether it causes these tumors, including medullary thyroid cancer, in people. Other serious risks on the label include pancreatitis, gallbladder problems, kidney problems from dehydration, serious allergic reactions, diabetic eye changes, a faster heart rate, and breathing in stomach contents during anesthesia. Tell any surgeon or procedure team that you take semaglutide.

Who should not take semaglutide?

• Anyone with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2)
• Anyone with a serious allergy to semaglutide or its ingredients
• Women who are pregnant. The labels advise stopping at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy
• Women who are breastfeeding should not take the Wegovy pill

How long does semaglutide take to work?

Many people notice less hunger within the first weeks, but weight loss results build slowly. The Wegovy injection does not reach 2.4 mg until week 17, and the Wegovy pill reaches 25 mg at day 91. Results depend on your dose, your starting point, eating habits, sleep and other health conditions. Protein at each meal and strength training may protect muscle while you lose weight.

How much does semaglutide cost?

• Insurance: Ozempic is often covered for type 2 diabetes. Wegovy coverage varies, and many plans need prior authorization.
• Self-pay: Novo Nordisk runs self-pay offers through its NovoCare pharmacy. Prices change, so check the current offer.
• Pill or shot: one is not always cheaper. Compare both under your plan.
• HSA and FSA funds can usually be used for a prescription medicine.

How Dr. Munib approaches semaglutide dosing

The Pur Health prescribes brand-name GLP-1 medicines only: Wegovy (shot and pill), Ozempic, Zepbound and Mounjaro. Compounded semaglutide is not prescribed here.

A visit may include your weight history, blood pressure, current medicines, thyroid and family history, and labs such as A1C where they are useful. Dr. Munib may discuss whether a weekly shot or a daily pill fits your routine, start at the lowest label dose, and plan follow-up visits to check side effects and progress before each dose change. The aim is the dose that works for you, not the top of the chart.

Learn about semaglutide at The Pur Health

Read about Wegovy at The Pur Health

When should you call a doctor?

• Severe stomach pain, especially pain that spreads to the back
• Vomiting or diarrhea you cannot keep up with, or signs of dehydration
• Pain in the upper right belly, fever or yellowing of the skin or eyes
• A lump in the neck, trouble swallowing or a hoarse voice that does not go away
• Swelling of the face, lips or throat, or trouble breathing

Book a visit in Irvine

If you want help choosing a semaglutide brand or working out your next dose, a visit is the place to start. This article is general health information, not medical advice for your own care. The Pur Health is in-network with most PPO plans. Cash visits are $190 for new patients and $150 for returning patients. We are at 114 Pacifica, Suite 280, Irvine, CA 92618, and you can call (949) 647-5234.