Wegovy dosage: the injection schedule, the 7.2 mg HD dose, and the pill ladder
Most Wegovy dosage pages stop at 2.4 mg. The June 2026 label does not. The injection still starts at 0.25 mg once weekly for 4 weeks and rises every 4 weeks through 0.5 mg, 1 mg and 1.7 mg to a 2.4 mg maintenance dose, but the same label now lists a 7.2 mg once-weekly Wegovy HD option for adults who need further weight reduction, and it carries the tablet for the first time: 1.5 mg daily for 30 days, then 4 mg, then 9 mg, then 25 mg. Everything below is quoted from that label on DailyMed.
Your prescriber sets your dose. This page reports what the label says, so you can tell when a program's plan matches it and when it does not.
The injection schedule
| Weeks | Dose, once weekly | What the label says it is |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 4 | 0.25 mg | Initiation. A starting dose to reduce gastrointestinal side effects, not a maintenance dose. |
| 5 to 8 | 0.5 mg | Escalation step. |
| 9 to 12 | 1 mg | Escalation step. |
| 13 to 16 | 1.7 mg | Escalation step, and the lower of the two adult maintenance doses. |
| 17 and on | 2.4 mg | Recommended maintenance dose for weight reduction, cardiovascular risk reduction and, in adults, MASH. |
| after 2.4 mg | 7.2 mg (Wegovy HD) | An option the June 2026 label adds for weight reduction in adults who need further reduction; a prescriber decision, not the default. |
Inject under the skin of the abdomen, thigh or upper arm, on the same day each week, at any time of day, with or without food. If a dose is not tolerated during escalation, the label says to consider delaying the next increase by 4 weeks.
The Wegovy pill schedule
| Days | Dose | What the label says it is |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 30 | 1.5 mg once daily | Initiation. |
| 31 to 60 | 4 mg once daily | Escalation step. |
| 61 to 90 | 9 mg once daily | Escalation step. |
| 91 and on | 25 mg once daily | Maintenance dose. |
The tablet has rules the pen does not: take it on an empty stomach in the morning with up to 4 ounces of water and no other liquid, swallow it whole, and wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking anything else or taking other oral medications. A missed tablet is skipped, and the next one is taken the following day. The programs that dispense it, and what each charges, are on the Wegovy pill page.
Missed doses, as the label states them
- Injection, next dose more than 2 days away: take the missed dose as soon as possible.
- Injection, next dose less than 2 days away: skip it and resume on the regular day.
- Injection, two or more consecutive doses missed: the label says to reinitiate dose escalation at a lower dose; that is a prescriber conversation, not a self-adjustment.
- Tablet: skip the missed dose and take the next dose the following day.
What each step costs without insurance
Novo's self-pay program prices the pen by strength: NovoCare self-pay: pen $199/mo for the first two 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg fills through December 31, 2026, then $349/mo at standard strengths or $399/mo for Wegovy HD; oral pill from $149/mo, dose-dependent. The savings offer for people with commercial insurance is as little as $25 per month with commercial insurance, capped at $100 per month. Both routes, with every condition attached, are on the Wegovy coupon and savings card page; what telehealth programs charge for the brand is on the Wegovy cost page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maintenance dose of Wegovy?
For adults the label lists 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg once weekly, with 2.4 mg recommended. The June 2026 label adds a 7.2 mg once-weekly option, Wegovy HD, for weight reduction in adults who need further reduction after 2.4 mg. For patients aged 12 and older the maintenance dose is 2.4 mg, or 1.7 mg once weekly.
How is the Wegovy pill dosed?
The tablet starts at 1.5 mg once daily for days 1 to 30, then 4 mg for days 31 to 60, then 9 mg for days 61 to 90, then 25 mg once daily as the maintenance dose. The label says to take it on an empty stomach in the morning with up to 4 ounces of water, swallow it whole, and wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking anything else or taking other oral medications.
What if I miss a Wegovy dose?
Injection: if the 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 the regular day; if two or more consecutive doses are missed, the label says to reinitiate dose escalation at a lower dose. Tablet: skip the missed dose and take the next one the following day.
Can I stay on a lower dose than 2.4 mg?
The label lists 1.7 mg as a maintenance dose for adults alongside the recommended 2.4 mg, and says to consider delaying escalation by 4 weeks if a dose is not tolerated. Staying on 1.7 mg is within the label; staying on 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg or 1 mg is not a listed maintenance dose. Your prescriber decides.
What does each dose cost without insurance?
Novo's self-pay program prices the pen by strength: NovoCare self-pay: pen $199/mo for the first two 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg fills through December 31, 2026, then $349/mo at standard strengths or $399/mo for Wegovy HD; oral pill from $149/mo, dose-dependent. The savings offer for people with commercial insurance is as little as $25 per month with commercial insurance, capped at $100 per month. Both are on the Wegovy coupon page with their conditions.
Dosing statements are quoted from the Wegovy prescribing information on DailyMed, revision June 2026, read September 4, 2026. Prices from the manufacturer's program on the date shown. Informational only, not medical advice; your prescriber sets your dose.