Semaglutide dose range
The amounts people commonly use, from the low end to the high end, with syringe units, schedule and half-life. The 9 published studies are one click away.
Human trials Metabolic
Common use ranges
Mostly from the official drug label or its main trials, plus clinic protocols. Label and clinic charts match exactly. Based on the 2021 label.
- Half-life
- about 1 week
- How it is taken
- subcutaneous injection
- How long people use it
- Ongoing weekly use. 2.4 mg is the maintenance dose from week 17 with no set end date.
- Mixing used for the units
- 10 mg vial + 2 mL water. 1 unit on a U-100 insulin syringe = 50 mcg.
Pick your vial size and how much water you add. The units below change to match.
10 mg vial + 2 mL water: 1 unit = 50 mcg
| Tier | Each dose | Syringe units10 mg vial + 2 mL water | How often | Schedule | Vial lastsat this tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 [1] | 250 mcg | 5 units 0.05 mL | once a week | Weeks 1 to 4, once a week | 6+ weeks |
| Step 2 [2] | 500 mcg | 10 units 0.10 mL | once a week | Weeks 5 to 8, once a week | 6+ weeks |
| Step 3 [3] | 1 mg | 20 units 0.20 mL | once a week | Weeks 9 to 12, once a week | 6+ weeks |
| Step 4 [4] | 1.7 mg | 34 units 0.34 mL | once a week | Weeks 13 to 16, once a week | about 6 weeks |
| Maintenance [5] | 2.4 mg | 48 units 0.48 mL | once a week | Week 17 on, once a week | about 4 weeks |
Good to know
- Step up every 4 weeks.
- Same day each week, any time, with or without food.
- If a step is rough, clinics hold the dose 2 to 4 more weeks before trying again.
- Compounded vials come in different strengths (1, 2, 2.5 or 5 mg per mL). Units drawn change with each one.
- Nausea is common at step-ups. Slow titration is the main fix.
Sources for these amounts
- Step 1: Wegovy prescribing information (FDA, 2021) · FormBlends, semaglutide dose chart
- Step 2: Wegovy prescribing information (FDA, 2021) · FormBlends, semaglutide dose chart
- Step 3: Wegovy prescribing information (FDA, 2021) · FormBlends, semaglutide dose chart
- Step 4: Wegovy prescribing information (FDA, 2021) · FormBlends, semaglutide dose chart
- Maintenance: Wegovy prescribing information (FDA, 2021) · FormBlends, semaglutide dose chart
How long people use it: Wegovy prescribing information (FDA, 2021)
Half-life: Ozempic FDA label, section 12.3
Take the Semaglutide chart with you
Get a one-page printable chart for Semaglutide, with the syringe units for each vial and water mix. We can also email you when a new Semaglutide study is published.
This page shows what labels, clinics and users report, and what studies gave. It is not medical advice and not a recommendation for anyone. Many of these compounds are not approved for human use. Check your own medicines and lab work with a licensed clinician before using anything.
See the science: 9 published studies
Amounts given to people in studies
How it was given: Under the skin (SC). An oral form was tested up to 14 mg daily.
Every study used for this page
Proof grade: Human trials. Tested in randomized human trials. Amounts are quoted as each study reported them. Where the abstract does not state an amount, the row says so.
| Study | Who was studied | Amount given, as reported | Route | How often | How long | What the authors reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PMID 301223052018 | Human, obesity, phase 2 (n=957) | 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 mg (start 0.05 mg, escalated every 4 wk) vs liraglutide 3.0 mg | SC | Once DAILY | 52 weeks | Weight -6.0% (0.05 mg) to -13.8% (0.4 mg) vs -2.3% placebo |
| PMID 281109112017 | Human, T2D, SUSTAIN 1 (n=387 treated) | 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg vs volume-matched placebo | SC | Once weekly | 30 weeks | HbA1c -1.45% at 0.5 mg (placebo-adjusted -1.43%); 1.0 mg also significant |
| PMID 276331862016 | Human, T2D, SUSTAIN-6 CV outcomes (n=3297) | 0.5 mg or 1.0 mg vs placebo | SC | Once weekly | 104 weeks | Primary CV composite 6.6% vs 8.9% (HR 0.74) |
| PMID 341706472021 | Human, T2D, SURPASS-2 comparator arm (n=1879 total) | Semaglutide 1 mg | SC | Once weekly | 40 weeks | HbA1c -1.86 points |
| PMID 336674172021 | Human, T2D + overweight, STEP 2 (n=1210) | 2.4 mg or 1.0 mg vs placebo | SC | Once weekly | 68 weeks | Weight -9.6% (2.4 mg) vs -3.4% placebo |
| PMID 335671852021 | Human, obesity, STEP 1 (n=1961) | 2.4 mg vs placebo | SC | Once weekly | 68 weeks | Weight -14.9% vs -2.4% placebo |
| PMID 311861202019 | Human, T2D, PIONEER 4 (n=711) | Oral semaglutide dose escalated to 14 mg vs liraglutide 1.8 mg, placebo | Oral | Once daily | 52 weeks | Oral semaglutide arm n=285. Efficacy numbers not captured here |
| PMID 403535782025 | Human, obesity, SURMOUNT-5 comparator arm (n=751 total) | Semaglutide max tolerated dose 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg | SC | Once weekly | 72 weeks | Weight -13.7% (vs -20.2% tirzepatide) |
| PMID 409619532025 | Human, obesity + T2D, STEP UP T2D (n=512) | 7.2 mg (n=307), 2.4 mg (n=103), placebo (n=102) | SC | Once weekly | 72 weeks | Weight -13.2% (7.2 mg) vs -3.9% placebo |
How to read the study numbers
- One study, one group. Each figure is what one team chose for its own participants or animals.
- Route matters. An amount given into a vein (IV) is not the same as the same amount under the skin, in the nose or by mouth.
- Animals are not small people. An animal amount is shown as the study gave it. It is not a human amount.
- Short studies. Many studies ran days or weeks. They do not show what happens over longer use.
Common questions
What amounts of Semaglutide were used in human studies?
In the studies listed here, people were given from 0.5 mg weekly (0.05 mg daily in phase 2) up to 7.2 mg weekly. The amount used most often was 1.0 mg weekly (diabetes trials), 2.4 mg weekly (weight trials). These are what study teams chose for their participants under supervision.
Where do these Semaglutide numbers come from?
From 9 published studies, each linked to its PubMed or ClinicalTrials.gov record. Every figure was checked against the study abstract or its open full text. Proof grade: Human trials.
How long does Semaglutide stay in the body?
Its half-life is about 1 week in people. Half-life is how long it takes for half of a dose to leave the blood. The effect can last longer than that.
Is this a recommendation for how much Semaglutide to use?
No. This page shows the amounts reported by drug labels, clinics and users, next to what researchers gave in studies. It is not medical advice and not a recommendation for anyone. Talk to a licensed clinician before using any of it.