Semaglutide is started low and increased gradually — a schedule called titration — to help the body adjust. Below is the standard weekly ladder as it appears on the product labels, why each step is spaced out, and how brand and compounded schedules can differ. This is commonly-reported information, not a recommendation; your actual schedule is set by your prescriber.
| Weeks | Once-weekly dose |
|---|---|
| 1–4 | 0.25 mg (starting) |
| 5–8 | 0.5 mg |
| 9–12 | 1.0 mg |
| 13–16 | 1.7 mg |
| 17+ | 2.4 mg (maintenance) |
Raising the dose slowly gives the digestive system time to adjust, which is why nausea and other effects tend to be mildest when each step is spaced out. Steps are usually about four weeks apart, but there is nothing wrong with staying on a dose longer if that’s what you and your prescriber decide.
These are the label’s standard steps — not a plan we are recommending. Your prescriber sets your dose and pace, and a compounded product may follow a different schedule.
If you draw from a vial, convert any milligram step to a syringe mark with the semaglutide units chart or the free calculator — the units depend on your vial’s concentration.
Steps are typically about four weeks each on the standard schedule, but a dose can be held longer for tolerability. Your prescriber decides the pace.
On the standard schedules, Wegovy’s maintenance dose is 2.4 mg weekly and Ozempic’s maximum is 2 mg weekly. Your prescriber sets your target.
Yes — many prescribers hold a dose or slow the climb if side effects are hard to tolerate. Discuss it with your prescriber; never change the dose yourself.
Not necessarily. Compounded products can follow different schedules and concentrations, so follow the plan your prescriber and pharmacy give you.
Units depend on your vial’s concentration. Use the semaglutide units chart or the free calculator to convert a milligram dose into a syringe mark.