In the article, we will talk about dosages used in Wegovy treatment.
It is important because:
- There are five types of injector pens, each containing a different Wegovy dose;
- During treatment, every 28 days, you should switch from one dose to another, gradually increasing them;
- Treatment usually lasts more than five months.
When taking the drug, they often follow the Wegovy titration chart, which has been repeatedly tested. So, not following the dosing schedule may lead to decreased effectiveness or side effects.
Wegovy dosing chart
You should take the drug under the Wegovy dose chart. The medicine is available in a Wegovy dosing pen with five different dosages. Wegovy doses per pen are as follows: 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, and 2.4 mg. According to the standard chart, you should start the treatment with a weekly dose of 0.25 mg. And you should increase the dose every four weeks up to the maximum dosage of 2.4 mg.
For the drug to meet your expectations, following the Wegovy dosing instructions included in the package leaflet or prescribed by your doctor is important.
General rules:
- Before starting treatment, you should learn the right injection technique. You can find it in the Instructions for drug use with illustrations.
- You should inspect the injector pen before each use. You can only inject if you see that the solution is clear and doesn’t contain foreign inclusions.
- You should inject on the same day once a week, at any time of the day before or after meals.
- You should inject the drug into the soft tissues of the abdomen, thigh or shoulder.
Wegovy dosing schedule:
| Week | Weekly injection dose | |
| 1–4 | 0.25 | Gradually increasing dosage |
| 5–8 | 0.5 | |
| 9–12 | 1 | |
| 13–16 | 1.7 | |
| 17 and more | 2.4 | Maintenance dose |
If the subsequent dose increase leads to discomfort, the appearance or an increase in side effects, you should postpone it for four weeks and then try to increase the dose again. If you have this effect at the maintenance dose of 2.4 mg, you can return to Wegovy 1.7 dose for four weeks. If discomfort persists, you should stop the medication.
What is the starting dose of Wegovy
The Wegovy initial dose is usually 0.25 mg once a week. You should take the Wegovy first dose for about a month (the exact period is 4 weeks or 28 days).
Although the starting dose is almost ten times less than the maintenance dose (2.4 mg), it plays a very important role. The body, and especially the gastrointestinal system, doesn’t immediately get used to the action of Wegovy. So, treatment begins with a minimum dose. And very gradually, over four months, you increase the dose to the maintenance dose.
What is the max dose of Wegovy?
In chats, they often ask questions such as: what is the highest dose of Wegovy and can you further increase it to improve the drug’s effectiveness?
Wegovy dose increase is gradual, from 0.25 mg to 2.4 mg. Accordingly, the drug’s maximum (or maintenance) dose is 2.4 mg once a week. You should not exceed it due to the increased risk of side effects.
The lowest dose of Wegovy
The lowest dose of Wegovy provided by the dosing system of injector pens is 0.25 mg. It is the minimum dose of the drug. You start the treatment with it. You should take the dose once a week, preferably on the same day, for four weeks and then gradually increase it.
Wegovy maintenance dose
The maintenance dose of Wegovy is 2.4 mg taken on the same day once a week. According to the Wegovy dosing guidelines, you should reach it by week 17 and use it for as long as your doctor recommends.
If you have problems switching to the Wegovy maintenance dose, return to the previous dose of 1.7 mg for another four weeks, and then try to increase it again to 2.4 mg. If your body responds poorly to the maintenance dose or you have side effects, you should stop the drug.
Wegovy missed dose: what to do?
If you miss your next dose of Wegovy, you have two options:
- If more than 48 hours remain before the next dose, administer the missed dose;
- If less than two days remain, do not inject. You should wait until the day of the next dose and resume the treatment schedule.
You should consult a doctor if you miss more than two doses in a row. The doctor can suggest two alternatives:
- To start treatment again with the minimum dose;
- To continue therapy with the dose you reached.
How many doses are in a Wegovy pen?
Each Wegovy injector pen contains one dose of medication. The drug is available in 5 dosages: 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg and 2.4 mg. For users’ convenience, each of the five injector pens with different dosages has a different color.
FAQ
Wegovy is available in the following dosages: 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, and 2.4 mg. Five injector pens of different colors contain one of these doses. A light green injector pen has the minimum dose. A 0.5 mg pen is red. A 1 mg pen is brown. Injector pens containing 1,7 mg and 2,4 mg are blue and black, relatively.
Consult your doctor. According to the standard Wegovy treatment regimen, you should take 0.25 mg in the first month, 0.5 mg in the second month, 1 mg in the third month, 1.7 mg in the fourth month, 2.4 mg in the fifth month of treatment and so on.
Usually, doctors do not recommend starting treatment with a dose of 0.5 mg. It is because the drug affects the gastrointestinal tract (slows down stomach emptying). And it takes the body some time to adapt to this effect.
Conclusion
Wegovy is available in five dosages: 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, and 2.4 mg. Wegovy dosage for weight loss provides for the use of the drug according to a clearly defined schedule. By it, you should gradually increase the dosage over four months and then take the maximum maintenance dose of 2.4 mg. You should strictly follow the dosing regimen. It increases the chances of the maximum effect of the drug and reduces the risk of side effects.
