What is The Highest Dose of Semaglutide You Can Take?

Semaglutide is a popular medication that’s helped many people with weight management, and it comes in a few different doses to suit individual needs. If you’re considering semaglutide for weight loss, you might be wondering about the different dosage options and what the highest semaglutide dose can do for you.

While lower doses are typically used to start the treatment, the highest semaglutide dose is considered the most effective for achieving significant weight loss. Let’s take a closer look at the dosing options and what you can expect when it comes to the highest dose of semaglutide.

Active Ingredient: Semaglutide

Brand Name	Manufacturer	Route	FDA-Approved Use	FDA Approval Year
Ozempic	Novo Nordisk	Injectable (weekly)	Type 2 diabetes; Cardiovascular risk reduction	2017
Wegovy	Novo Nordisk	Injectable (weekly)	Chronic weight management	2021
Rybelsus	Novo Nordisk	Oral (daily tablet)	Type 2 diabetes	2019

Throughout this article, any reference to semaglutide for weight loss refers to Wegovy. Mentions of semaglutide for blood sugar control refer to Ozempic.

What is the highest dose of semaglutide for weight loss?

Like most GLP-1 weight loss medications, semaglutide comes in multiple dosages. Currently, semaglutide comes in five different dose options:

0.25 mg
0.5 mg
1 mg
1.7 mg
2.4 mg

The highest semaglutide dose available for weight loss is 2.4 mg.

This higher dose is generally considered the most effective for helping individuals achieve significant weight loss, but it’s important to remember that the right dose for you may vary.

When will you start taking the highest dose of semaglutide?

When starting semaglutide for weight loss, your doctor will begin with the starting dose and gradually increase your dose over time. This allows your body time to adjust to the medication before moving to a higher dosage.

Side effects for semaglutide can be more severe when starting the medication and when increasing to a new dose. By waiting and slowly increasing the dose, you can help to mitigate the side effects and have a safer, more effective treatment.

Here’s the typical dose escalation schedule:

Weeks 1 through 4: 0.25 mg subcutaneously once a week
Weeks 5 through 8: 0.5 mg subcutaneously once a week
Weeks 9 through 12: 1 mg subcutaneously once a week
Weeks 13 through 16: 1.7 mg subcutaneously once a week

Week 17 and onward: 2.4 mg subcutaneously once a week*

* 2.4 mg, the highest dose of semaglutide available, is considered the maintenance dose for this medication.

If you experience side effects or are not tolerating the dose increase well, your doctor may suggest delaying dose escalation for up to 4 weeks. If you reach the 2.4 mg maintenance dose but find it difficult to tolerate, the dose can be temporarily reduced to 1.7 mg for up to 4 weeks and the increased back up to 2.4 mg.

This is the FDA recommended titration schedule, but your healthcare provider may make adjustments based on your tolerance and weight loss goals. Generally, though, you will not reach the highest dose of semaglutide until at least week 17.

When is your semaglutide dose too high?

In simple terms, your semaglutide dose may be too high if side effects don’t fade after a week or two and are significantly impacting your daily life. Some common side effects, like nausea and fatigue, are temporary as your body adjusts. However, if these side effects persist and interfere with your regular activities, it could be a sign that the dose is too high for you.

Remember, the goal is not to reach the highest dose of semaglutide, but the most effective semaglutide dose for you. While the 2.4 mg dose is considered the most effective overall, you can still see results at lower doses.

Semaglutide Overdose

There is a risk of overdosing on semaglutide that you will need to watch out for. If you are using the prefilled pens, avoid double dosing. Some patients have accidentally administered 5 to 20 times the intended dose due to dosing errors, which can be dangerous. It’s essential to work closely with your healthcare provider to ensure you’re on the right dose and avoid any mistakes.

Risks and Results with the highest dose of semaglutide

Reaching the highest dose of semaglutide, 2.4 mg, is often the goal during the titration process. This dosage has been the focus of most studies, meaning there’s a wealth of information on the risks and rewards.

Risks when using the highest dose of semaglutide

While many people experience the benefits, such as weight loss and improved health markers, it’s important to understand the potential side effects and risks that come with the highest dose for semaglutide.

Most side effects are related to the gastrointestinal system and occur in less than 5% of patients. These include:

Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Constipation
Abdominal pain

Headaches and fatigue are also common, though usually mild and temporary. There are more serious risks to consider as well. These include pancreatitis, gallbladder issues, and acute kidney injury. If you experience severe abdominal pain or other signs of these issues, you should seek medical attention immediately.

With rapid weight loss, some patients report cosmetic changes such as “Ozempic face,” which refers to sagging skin in the face, and hair loss.

While these effects can be distressing, they are typically manageable with medical guidance. It’s important to weigh these potential risks against the benefits when considering the highest dose of semaglutide for your weight loss journey.

Results when using the highest dose of semaglutide

Average weight loss with semaglutide is 15-20% of your starting weight. The STEP program results showed that participants on the highest dose of semaglutide experienced a weight loss of -14.9% compared to just -2.4% for those on a placebo.

The STEP 4 trial compared the effect of continuing semaglutide vs the placebo after an initial 20-week run-in. If participants reached the 2.4 mg dose in the initial 20 weeks, they were moved to phase 2.

From Week 20 to Week 69, individuals who continued with semaglutide lost an additional -7.9% of their body weight, while those switched to the placebo actually gained +6.9%.

Over the course of the entire study, from Week 0 to Week 68, participants on semaglutide saw a significant weight loss of -17.4%, compared to -5.0% for those on the placebo.

Do you need to take the highest dose of semaglutide to see results?

Not necessarily. While the highest dose of semaglutide (2.4 mg) is the most studied and has shown the most significant weight loss results in clinical trials, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence supporting weight loss at lower doses as well.

There is also growing evidence supporting the effectiveness of microdosing semaglutide. In one study, participants who received an average dose of 0.77 mg saw significant weight loss, with 14.8% lost at week 64 and 14.9% at week 76.

Ultimately, the right dose for you will depend on your individual needs, preferences, and how your body responds. It’s always best to work closely with your healthcare provider to determine the most effective and sustainable dosage for your goals.

Get the best results with Heally

Finding the right dose for you is key to achieving the best results while minimizing side effects. But you should never make changes to your dose without a healthcare provider.

Heally can connect you with experienced healthcare professionals who will work with you to develop a personalized plan and find your optimal dose.

Don’t hesitate to take the next step in your weight loss journey—start your path toward success with the guidance you deserve. Start with Heally.

Sources

Important Medical Information and Disclaimers

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendation. Semaglutide is the active ingredient in two FDA-approved prescription medications: Ozempic, approved for improving blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes, and Wegovy, approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight who have at least one weight-related medical condition. Although both medications contain semaglutide, they are approved for different uses and have different dosing schedules. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any treatment plan.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS VARY

Outcomes with semaglutide treatment vary from person to person. Clinical trial data may not reflect typical real-world experiences. A variety of factors can affect your results, including medication adherence, lifestyle habits such as diet and exercise, metabolic differences, other health conditions, and concurrent medications. No specific result is guaranteed.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Common side effects of semaglutide may include: Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Constipation, Stomach pain, Decreased appetite, Indigestion, Belching or gas, Injection site reactions

These side effects are often mild and may lessen over time. Always inform your healthcare provider about any medical conditions, allergies, and all medications you are currently taking before starting semaglutide. Ongoing monitoring is recommended during treatment.

WARNING: Semaglutide has a boxed warning about the potential risk of thyroid C-cell tumors. Do not use this medication if you or a family member has a history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).

FDA ADVERSE EVENT REPORTING

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Adverse events may also be reported directly to the manufacturer.