Quick answer: Semaglutide for weight loss steps up on a fixed ladder: 0.25 mg weekly for weeks 1 to 4, then 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, 1.7 mg, and 2.4 mg, with at least 4 weeks at each dose. The 0.25 mg dose is only a starter and is not a maintenance dose. Most people settle at 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg, the dose studied in the STEP 1 trial. Higher doses generally produce more weight loss but more side effects. FormBlends offers clinician-supervised compounded semaglutide through licensed providers. See FormBlends semaglutide.
The semaglutide dose ladder
This is the standard weekly titration for semaglutide approved for weight management. Each dose is a once-weekly subcutaneous injection.
| Weeks | Weekly dose | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 4 | 0.25 mg | Starter, not a weight-loss dose |
| 5 to 8 | 0.5 mg | First step up |
| 9 to 12 | 1.0 mg | Second step up |
| 13 to 16 | 1.7 mg | Third step up, can be a maintenance dose |
| 17 and on | 2.4 mg | Full maintenance dose |
You stay at each dose at least 4 weeks before moving up. If a step is hard to tolerate, you can hold at the current dose longer before trying again.
What is the lowest dose of semaglutide?
0.25 mg weekly is the lowest standard dose and the starting point for everyone. It exists to let your body adjust and to limit nausea, not to drive weight loss. Some compounded "microdose" protocols use amounts at or below 0.25 mg, but the labeled starting dose is 0.25 mg. You should not stay on 0.25 mg as a long-term plan if your goal is weight loss, because it is below the doses that produced the trial results.
What about 0.4 mg and 1.2 mg?
These are not steps in the standard weight-loss ladder.
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Take the Assessment →- 1.2 mg is a dose on the Ozempic (diabetes) schedule, not the Wegovy weight-loss schedule. If you see 1.2 mg, it usually comes from a diabetes titration or a compounded plan.
- 0.4 mg does not appear in the standard weekly schedule. Some daily semaglutide and compounded protocols use figures like this, but for once-weekly weight-loss dosing the steps are 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 1.7, and 2.4 mg.
If your prescriber has you on a non-standard number, follow their plan, but know it sits outside the labeled weight-loss ladder.
0.5 mg vs 1 mg vs 2.4 mg: how they compare
More dose generally means more appetite suppression and more weight loss, with more gastrointestinal side effects.
- 0.5 mg: an early step. Some appetite effect begins here, but it is a transition dose, not a target.
- 1.0 mg: a meaningful working dose. Some people get good results and stay here, especially if higher doses cause side effects.
- 1.7 mg: a recognized maintenance dose. Many people do well here and never move to 2.4 mg.
- 2.4 mg: the full maintenance dose and the one studied in the STEP 1 trial, the drug class studied for chronic weight management. It produced the largest average weight loss but also the most side effects.
The clinical pattern is that 2.4 mg outperforms lower doses on average weight loss, but the best dose for you is the highest one you tolerate that keeps working. Many people stop at 1.7 mg.
How do I convert semaglutide mg to units?
There is no universal mg-to-units number, and this is where people make dangerous mistakes. "Units" on an insulin-style syringe measure volume, not milligrams. The same dose in milligrams maps to a different number of units depending on the concentration of your specific vial. A 0.5 mg dose from one compounded vial may be a completely different number of units than 0.5 mg from another vial.
Because of this, never use a generic online "mg to units" chart for compounded semaglutide. Your compounding pharmacy and prescriber give you the exact units for your vial's concentration. Use only that figure.
Compounded semaglutide doses (2.5 mg vs 5 mg vials and similar)
Compounded semaglutide is sometimes sold by total vial strength, such as a 2.5 mg or 5 mg vial, which is the total amount in the vial, not your weekly dose. A 5 mg vial simply holds more total drug and lasts longer at a given weekly dose than a 2.5 mg vial. Your weekly dose still follows a titration. Compounded semaglutide is prepared by licensed compounding pharmacies and is not the branded Wegovy or Ozempic product. It is the drug class studied in STEP 1. Always dose by your prescriber's instructions, not the vial label. FormBlends connects you with licensed providers who set your exact schedule, which is why FormBlends is worth comparing. Compare options at the provider comparison tool.
Alternative titration
If standard steps cause too many side effects, providers sometimes use a slower or alternative titration, holding a dose for longer than 4 weeks or stepping up in smaller increments. This trades a slower climb for better tolerance. Any alternative schedule should come from your prescriber, not a generic chart.
FAQ
What is the standard semaglutide dose schedule?
0.25 mg weeks 1-4, 0.5 mg weeks 5-8, 1.0 mg weeks 9-12, 1.7 mg weeks 13-16, then 2.4 mg maintenance.
What is the lowest dose of semaglutide?
0.25 mg weekly, used only as a starter dose, not for maintenance.
What is the highest dose of semaglutide for weight loss?
2.4 mg weekly, the full maintenance dose studied in STEP 1.
Is 1.2 mg a weight-loss dose?
No. 1.2 mg is on the Ozempic diabetes schedule, not the standard weight-loss ladder.
How do I convert 0.5 mg or 2.4 mg to units?
There is no universal conversion. Units depend on your vial's concentration, so use only the figure your pharmacy and prescriber give you.
Is 2.4 mg better than 1 mg for weight loss?
On average 2.4 mg produces more weight loss, but with more side effects. Many people maintain results at 1.0 or 1.7 mg.
What is a 2.5 mg vs 5 mg semaglutide vial?
That is the total drug in the vial, not your weekly dose. A 5 mg vial lasts longer at the same weekly dose.
Can I stop at 1.7 mg?
Yes. 1.7 mg is a recognized maintenance dose, and many people do not need to reach 2.4 mg.
Related guides
- Tirzepatide vs Semaglutide Dosage: A Complete Comparison of Titration Schedules, Therapeutic Ranges, and Dose-Response Patterns
- Compounded Semaglutide vs Compounded Tirzepatide: Vial, Dose, B12, and Cost Differences
- Henry Meds vs Ivim Health: Compounded Semaglutide Providers Compared
- Semaglutide vs Retatrutide: Single vs Triple Agonist Compared
- Hims vs Henry Meds vs Ivim Health: Compounded Semaglutide — 3 Providers Compared on Price & Quality
- Semaglutide vs Phentermine vs Contrave: Three Generations of Weight Loss Drugs Compared
- Tool: dosage calculator
Sources
- Wegovy (semaglutide) prescribing information, titration schedule, Novo Nordisk
- Semaglutide dosage chart 2026, InjectCo and TryTrimi
- STEP 1 trial, semaglutide 2.4 mg, New England Journal of Medicine
- Compounded semaglutide dosing variability, clinical compounding guidance
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