The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved a maximum dose of up to 7.2 mg per week of semaglutide (Wegovy). It is administered as three injections of 2.4 mg for weight management in adult patients with obesity only, in addition to a reduced-calorie diet and exercise, who have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30kg/m²?or higher.  

This does not apply to overweight patients with a BMI of less than 30kg/m² using Wegovy for weight management, or for patients using Wegovy to lower their risk of serious heart problems.  

Patients should always use this medicine exactly as their prescriber tells them and to check with their doctor, pharmacist or nurse if they’re not sure.  

When a patient with obesity first starts using Wegovy, the starting dose is 0.25 mg per week. A prescribing healthcare professional will then instruct a patient to gradually increase their dose every four weeks until they reach the dose of 2.4 mg per week. 

If needed, a dose increase to 7.2 mg per week (three injections of 2.4 mg) can be made after a minimum of four weeks on 2.4 mg. The maximum dose is 7.2 mg per week.

For the Wegovy, 7.2 mg weight management dose, patients will need to inject three doses of 2.4 mg, one after each other on the same day. The injections can be given in the same body area but should be at least 5 cm apart. Patients must change the needle between each dose and may need to use multiple pens.  

Each pen contains four 2.4 mg doses. Patients should not discard the pen until their fourth dose has been taken. Partially used pens should be stored in the fridge with the needle removed. Patients should make sure they have a sufficient supply of pens to complete their dose before they start injecting. Once all four 2.4 mg doses have been used, patients should dispose of the pen safely, as instructed by their prescriber.