Wegovy® – when to increase your dose?

Reviewed by Dr Mitra Dutt

Wegovy® is a medicine that helps people with a high body mass index (BMI) lose weight. It has an active ingredient called semaglutide, which makes you feel less hungry.

What's the starting dose of Wegovy®?

The initial dose of Wegovy® is 0.25mg. You inject it once a week under your skin. 

The Wegovy® dosing plan is set up to gradually increase over 16 weeks until you reach a regular maintenance dose of 2.4mg once a week. It starts at a lower dose to make sure you can handle any side effects.

You can keep taking the maintenance dose as long as it's helping, and you can handle any side effects. While using the medicine, you will need to keep in touch with your provider.

When can I increase my dose?

You can start increasing your dose after four weeks. If you're okay with the 0.25mg, you can go up to 0.5mg, following the schedule. 

If you're already a patient with LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor, you can up your dose by checking your Patient Record and looking under suggested treatments. Re-order emails will also be sent to you as reminders. 

Can I buy a stronger dose from you if I'm not a LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor patient?

Yes, you can. But we need to make sure it's safe for you, check your BMI, and that you've been on a lower dose. 

If you become a patient with LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor, our clinicians will help you throughout your journey.

• We'll check in with you after about a week to see how you're doing.
• We've got lots of resources to support your healthy lifestyle.
• We'll remind you when it's time to reorder so you don't miss any doses. 

Are higher doses of Wegovy® more effective?

The effectiveness of Wegovy® has only been studied in those who gradually moved up to 2.4mg. If you stay on 0.25mg, you may not achieve maximal weight loss potential. 

An average of 15% weight loss over 68 weeks was only shown in patients who moved up the dosing schedule to reach a maintenance dose of 2.4mg. Weight loss effects will be most noticeable when you reach 2.4mg. 

What if I can’t tolerate a higher dose?

You should talk to your provider if you’re struggling with side effects. At LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor, you can message us in your Patient Record and our clinical team will advise you on what to do next. You can also learn about managing side effects in our information hub.

If you suddenly develop severe abdominal pain, it's important you contact your GP immediately. If this isn't possible, ring 111 or attend A&E. 

References

https://www.nice.org.uk/news/article/nice-recommends-new-drug-for-people-living-with-obesity
https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.13799.pdf
https://www.novomedlink.com/obesity/products/treatments/wegovy/efficacy-safety/clinical-trial-1-results.html