Part of our wegovy patient information.
Wegovy dose schedule
The standard schedule below is for the Wegovy FlexTouch pen supplied in New Zealand. It explains a prescription you have been given; your own prescription and your clinician’s instructions determine the dose you take. Each step normally lasts four weeks so your body has time to adjust.
| Treatment stage | Once-weekly dose | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1–4 | 0.25 mg | Starting dose |
| Weeks 5–8 | 0.5 mg | First increase |
| Weeks 9–12 | 1 mg | Next gradual step |
| Weeks 13–16 | 1.7 mg | Step towards maintenance |
| From week 17 | 2.4 mg | Usual maintenance dose |
These weeks describe the standard sequence, rather than a deadline to reach the highest dose. If symptoms delay a step, your calendar will look different. Keep a note of the strength on your current pen and the date you started it, so the next prescription is based on the dose you actually used.
Why the Wegovy starting dose is 0.25 mg
Starting low and increasing gradually reduces the likelihood of stomach-related side effects. A starting dose gives you time to learn the weekly routine, notice changes in appetite and practise eating comfortably with a smaller appetite. It is not a test that you must pass by losing a particular amount of weight in the first month.
Do not move to a higher-strength pen early because someone else is taking more, or because hunger has not disappeared. Tell us what you are noticing at your review: appetite, eating, fluids, bowel habits and how you feel day to day. Our guide to eating on Wegovy can help you prepare questions about meals and nutrition.
When a dose increase needs a review
If nausea, vomiting or other stomach symptoms are significant, your prescriber may delay an increase until they improve. If 2.4 mg is not tolerated, the New Zealand product information allows a clinician to reduce maintenance treatment to 1.7 mg and consider increasing again if tolerated. This is an individual prescribing decision.
The maximum recommended weekly dose in the New Zealand FlexTouch information is 2.4 mg. A higher number is not automatically a better treatment for you. Follow-up considers tolerability, nutrition, your health goals and whether the overall plan remains suitable.
Before the next pen: confirm the strength, the day to begin it and what to do if symptoms continue. Arrange your review while you still have time to organise the next prescription, rather than deciding on an increase when the old pen is empty.
Four doses in one FlexTouch pen
Each New Zealand Wegovy FlexTouch pen contains four prescribed weekly doses of one strength. For example, the 0.5 mg pen supplies four doses of 0.5 mg. The total medicine in the pen and the dose for one injection are different numbers, so check the dose on your prescription and pen label together.
Use a new needle each time and follow the instructions supplied with your pen. Do not work out a different dose by counting clicks or trying to extract the solution left after four injections. That remaining solution is not an extra complete dose.
If your pen label, prescription or instructions do not agree, check with the dispensing pharmacist before using it. Our Wegovy injection sites guide explains site selection, rotation and where to find the full FlexTouch instructions.
A missed Wegovy dose or a change of injection day
The Wegovy consumer leaflet gives these rules for a single forgotten dose:
- Five days or less since it was due: use it as soon as you remember, then take the next dose on your usual scheduled day.
- More than five days since it was due: skip it and take the next dose on your usual scheduled day.
- Never double the dose to make up for one you missed.
If you have missed several doses, contact your prescriber before restarting. A lower restart dose may be needed. Also seek advice if you are unsure whether a pen delivered a complete dose; taking an extra injection could give you too much medicine.
A planned change of injection day has a separate rule: the product information requires at least three days between doses. Ask your pharmacist to help with the calendar if a missed dose and a planned day change happen together. You can use Wegovy at any time of day, with or without a meal.
What to bring to your dosage review
A short record makes it easier to decide whether to continue, delay an increase or reassess treatment. Bring these details to your appointment:
- Your current pen strength, weekly injection day and date of your last dose.
- How many weeks you have used that strength, including missed doses or interruptions.
- Symptoms, when they started and whether they affect eating, drinking, sleep or daily activities.
- Changes in appetite, meals, weight trend and your health goals.
- Other medicines, including insulin or sulfonylureas, and any planned procedure or pregnancy.
At Stela, follow-up is monthly during the first three months. Your doctor follow-up is $150. We can also discuss dietitian support where eating comfortably or meeting your nutritional needs has become difficult. See how follow-up works before booking.
Get urgent medical help for severe, persistent stomach pain, especially if it reaches your back, or severe vomiting with dehydration. Call 111 for difficulty breathing, collapse or swelling of the face or throat. If you may have injected too much, contact the National Poisons Centre on 0800 764 766 or seek urgent medical care, even if you feel well.
Your questions
Can I stay on a lower Wegovy dose?
Your prescriber decides this based on your response and side effects. Significant stomach symptoms may delay an increase, and the New Zealand product information includes clinician-directed 1.7 mg maintenance when 2.4 mg is not tolerated.
Does every new Wegovy pen mean a higher dose?
No. A new pen can contain the same strength as the last one. Check the prescription and label each time, and increase only when your prescriber has instructed you to.
Should I increase Wegovy if my weight stays the same for a week?
Do not change the dose yourself. Bring your weight trend, appetite and symptoms to a review so your clinician can assess the whole treatment plan.
Make the next dose a considered decision
Bring your dose record and questions to your Stela follow-up. We’ll review how treatment fits your health, symptoms and everyday routine.
Arrange a doctor follow-up