Wegovy Maintenance Dose: What to Expect and How Long to Stay On It
Reached your target weight on Wegovy? Here's what the maintenance dose looks like, how long you'll need it, and what happens if you stop.
Written and medically reviewed by:
Key Takeaways
The standard Wegovy maintenance dose is 2.4mg weekly by injection (or 25mg daily by tablet). Most people need to stay on it long-term to keep the weight off. NHS funding typically ends at two years; after that, a private prescription is usually needed.
The standard maintenance dose of Wegovy injection is 2.4mg once weekly. Some people stay at 1.7mg if they cannot tolerate the higher dose. For the oral tablet (Wegovy 25mg), the maintenance dose is 25mg once daily, reached by titrating through the standard steps (1.5mg → 4mg → 9mg → 25mg). Your prescriber decides which dose is right for you based on your weight, tolerability, and how your body has responded during the titration phase.
The dose escalation timeline#
Wegovy is started at a low dose and increased gradually every four weeks. This reduces the chance of nausea and other gut side effects. The table below shows the standard injection schedule.
| Week | Dose | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| 1–4 | 0.25mg | Starting dose, appetite changes are mild |
| 5–8 | 0.5mg | Appetite suppression increases |
| 9–12 | 1mg | Noticeable reduction in hunger for most people |
| 13–16 | 1.7mg | Weight loss typically accelerating |
| 17 onwards | 2.4mg | Standard maintenance dose |
| Higher dose | 7.2mg | Licensed maintenance dose; available where clinically appropriate |
Some people reach maintenance at 1.7mg if side effects at 2.4mg are persistent or severe. There is no clinical requirement to push to the highest dose if a lower one is working well and tolerability is a problem.
Does weight loss continue at the maintenance dose?#
Yes, for many people it does, at least for a while. In the STEP 4 trial, participants who continued semaglutide at maintenance lost an average of a further 7.9% of their body weight over 48 weeks (individual results vary). The maintenance dose is designed to hold the weight loss you have achieved and allow it to continue gradually, rather than to rapidly accelerate it.
You should expect the rate of loss to slow considerably once you reach maintenance. Weight typically stabilises over several months as your body adjusts.
What the NHS covers and what it does not#
This matters a great deal for UK patients. NICE technology appraisal TA875 approves Wegovy on the NHS for up to two years, and only through specialist Tier 3 or Tier 4 weight management services, based on the managed access arrangements in place at the time of publication — patients should confirm current eligibility criteria with their prescriber, as these arrangements may have evolved. Most GP surgeries cannot prescribe it directly without a shared care agreement in place.
When NHS funding ends at two years, patients who still need the medication to maintain their weight will need to either transition to private prescriptions or stop. Because weight regain after stopping is well documented, this is something worth planning for before the two-year mark, not after.
For those accessing Wegovy privately, the ongoing 4-week supply cost at Totiva is £143.88 for 1.7mg, £188.88 for 2.4mg, and £199.88 for 7.2mg (4-pack).
The oral tablet: a licensing note#
Wegovy 25mg oral tablets are available in the UK, but their licensing status differs from the injection. As of mid-2026, oral semaglutide (Wegovy tablet) has received regulatory approval in the UK, though clinical availability is still expanding. In the OASIS 2 trial, participants lost an average of 17% of body weight over 68 weeks, with a placebo group losing approximately 1.8% over the same period; individual results vary under real-world conditions. If you are considering the tablet as a maintenance option, confirm current availability and licensing with your prescriber. At Totiva, a 30-tablet supply of Wegovy 25mg tablets costs £165.00. There is a separate guide on how to take the Wegovy pill if you want more detail on the tablet formulation.
What happens if weight starts creeping back up#
If you are already on 2.4mg and your weight is slowly increasing, there are practical steps to take. First, review your diet and physical activity with your prescriber. Appetite suppression can reduce over time, and old habits can return gradually. Second, ask whether a dose review is appropriate — including whether escalation to 7.2mg (the higher licensed maintenance dose) is clinically suitable for you. Third, consider whether structured behavioural support alongside the medication would help. The goal is to identify which factor is driving the regain before changing the dose.
Got questions? Speak to a pharmacist on WhatsApp now
Prefer to browse first? View treatments
What happens when you stop#
The evidence here is consistent and important. The STEP 1 extension study found that people who stopped semaglutide regained around two thirds of their lost weight within one year. Wegovy does not permanently change your metabolism. For most people, long-term use is necessary to maintain results.
If you do stop, you do not need to taper the dose. However, you should be prepared to monitor your weight closely and have a plan in place for lifestyle support.
If you regain weight after stopping and want to restart, you would begin again from the lowest dose (0.25mg) and titrate back up over the standard 16-week schedule. Efficacy typically returns as the dose increases, though this has not been studied in large formal restart trials.
The cardiovascular indication#
For some patients, the reason to stay on Wegovy at maintenance goes beyond weight. The SELECT trial showed that semaglutide reduced the risk of serious cardiovascular events (heart attack, stroke, cardiovascular death) in adults with established cardiovascular disease and a BMI of 27 or above. This indication is separate from weight loss. If cardiovascular risk reduction is part of your treatment rationale, your prescriber may recommend continued use even after you reach your weight target.
What to do about a missed dose#
According to the Wegovy SmPC, if you miss a dose and your next scheduled injection is more than five days away, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If the next scheduled day is within five days, skip the missed dose and carry on with your usual schedule. Do not take two doses in the same week to make up for a missed one.
For the oral tablet, if you miss a dose, skip it and take your next dose at the usual time the following day — do not take two doses on the same day to make up for a missed one. Refer to the PIL supplied with your tablets for the full instructions and any updates.
For a full walkthrough of the dose schedule from start to maintenance, see the Wegovy doses and dosing schedule guide.
If you are approaching your maintenance phase and want to review your options with a UK clinician, you can start a weight loss consultation at Totiva at no upfront cost.
Medical Information: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting, stopping, or changing any treatment.
