Wegovy is taken as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection or, as of 2025, a once-daily oral tablet. Both forms follow a gradual dose escalation schedule over several months to reduce side effects before reaching the full maintenance dose. Here’s what each option looks like in practice.
Weekly Injection Basics
The Wegovy injection is given once per week, on the same day each week, at any time of day, with or without food. You can inject it in three areas: your lower stomach (at least 2 inches from your belly button), the front of your upper thigh, or your upper arm. Both the day of the week and the injection site can be changed at any time without adjusting your dose.
The pen comes pre-assembled with a hidden, built-in needle. There’s no priming, no air bubble removal, and no needle to attach. You pull off the cap, press the pen against your skin, and hold it in place until the injection is complete. Before each use, check that the solution is clear, colorless, and free of particles.
While you can use the same general body area every week, rotate the exact spot where the needle enters. This reduces the chance of skin irritation or hard lumps forming under the skin over time.
Dose Escalation Schedule for Injections
You don’t start at the full dose. The escalation happens over 16 weeks in four-week blocks:
- Weeks 1 through 4: 0.25 mg
- Weeks 5 through 8: 0.5 mg
- Weeks 9 through 12: 1 mg
- Weeks 13 through 16: 1.7 mg
- Week 17 onward: 2.4 mg (maintenance dose)
Each step uses a different pre-filled pen, so you’ll pick up a new strength from the pharmacy roughly every month. The gradual ramp-up exists specifically to minimize nausea and other GI symptoms. If a particular dose is hard to tolerate, your prescriber may hold you at that level for an extra four weeks before moving up.
The Daily Tablet Option
Wegovy also comes in a daily oral tablet, which follows different rules than the injection. You take one tablet every morning on an empty stomach with plain water (up to 4 ounces). No other liquids, no food, and no other oral medications for at least 30 minutes after swallowing. The tablet must be swallowed whole, not split, crushed, or chewed.
The tablet escalation schedule moves in 30-day blocks:
- Days 1 through 30: 1.5 mg
- Days 31 through 60: 4 mg
- Days 61 through 90: 9 mg
- Day 91 onward: 25 mg (maintenance dose)
The 30-minute fasting window matters because semaglutide tablets need direct contact with the stomach lining to absorb properly. Food, beverages, or other pills in the stomach can significantly reduce how much of the drug gets into your system.
What to Do If You Miss a Dose
For the injection, the rule hinges on a 48-hour window. If your next scheduled dose is more than 2 days away, take the missed injection as soon as you remember. If it’s less than 2 days until your next dose, skip the missed one entirely and inject on your regular day. If you miss two or more weeks in a row, you may need to restart the dose escalation from the beginning to avoid a surge of GI side effects.
For the tablet, it’s simpler: skip the missed dose and take the next one the following morning. Never double up by taking two tablets in one day.
Storage and Handling
Wegovy pens should be stored in their original cartons in the refrigerator, between 36°F and 46°F. If you need to travel or lose refrigerator access, pens can stay at room temperature for up to 28 days, as long as the temperature stays at or below 86°F and the pen is kept away from direct light. After 28 days out of the fridge, the pen should be discarded even if it still contains medication. Never freeze the pen.
Each pen is single-use and pre-dosed, so there’s no measuring or dialing involved. Once you’ve used a pen, dispose of it in a sharps container.
Changing Your Injection Day
If your weekly schedule shifts, you can move to a different day without any dose adjustment. Just make sure at least 48 hours have passed since your last injection, then continue on the new day going forward.