GLP-1 dosing for weight loss uses a slow titration over four to five months. Wegovy steps from 0.25 mg up to 2.4 mg once weekly. Zepbound steps from 2.5 mg up to as high as 15 mg once weekly. Saxenda steps from 0.6 mg up to 3 mg once daily. Each step is held for four weeks (one week for Saxenda) to let the gut adapt and reduce side effects.
Wegovy (Semaglutide) Dosing Schedule
| Weeks | Dose | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 1–4 | 0.25 mg weekly | Initiation — gut tolerance |
| 5–8 | 0.5 mg weekly | First titration step |
| 9–12 | 1.0 mg weekly | Second titration step |
| 13–16 | 1.7 mg weekly | Third titration step |
| 17 and on | 2.4 mg weekly (maintenance) | Therapeutic weight-loss dose |
If you tolerate the maintenance dose poorly, your prescriber may step you back to 1.7 mg, hold for four to eight weeks, and try again. Patients who cannot tolerate 2.4 mg long-term may stay at 1.7 mg with reduced but real weight-loss benefit.
Zepbound (Tirzepatide) Dosing Schedule
| Weeks | Dose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1–4 | 2.5 mg weekly | Initiation — not therapeutic |
| 5–8 | 5 mg weekly | First maintenance option |
| 9–12 | 7.5 mg weekly | Optional step toward higher doses |
| 13–16 | 10 mg weekly | Second maintenance option |
| 17–20 | 12.5 mg weekly | Optional step toward 15 mg |
| 21 and on | 15 mg weekly | Highest maintenance option |
Three maintenance doses (5, 10, 15 mg) give Zepbound flexibility. Many patients lose weight effectively at 5 or 10 mg without needing 15 mg. Step up only if weight loss has plateaued and side effects allow.
Saxenda (Liraglutide) Dosing Schedule
| Week | Dose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.6 mg daily | Initiation |
| 2 | 1.2 mg daily | Step up |
| 3 | 1.8 mg daily | Step up |
| 4 | 2.4 mg daily | Step up |
| 5 and on | 3.0 mg daily (maintenance) | Therapeutic dose |
Saxenda is daily rather than weekly, so titration moves faster — one step per week instead of one per month. Daily injections appeal to some users but are less convenient than weekly options.
Why Titration Matters
The most common reason people stop a GLP-1 is gastrointestinal side effects. Slow titration substantially reduces:
- Nausea (about 35 to 45 percent on full dose if titrated quickly versus 10 to 20 percent if titrated slowly)
- Vomiting (about 10 to 15 percent rapidly titrated; 3 to 6 percent slow)
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Reflux and burping
- Early-treatment dropout
Each step gives the gut time to slow gastric emptying without overwhelming the system. Holding a step longer is always safer than rushing.
Special Situations
- Missed doses: If your weekly dose is more than five days late, skip it and take the next on the regular schedule. Do not double up.
- Side effects on the current step: Hold the step longer or step back one level — do not push to the next step.
- Switching from Ozempic to Wegovy: Most prescribers continue at the equivalent semaglutide dose rather than restarting titration.
- Switching from Wegovy to Zepbound: Restart titration at 2.5 mg of Zepbound — different drug, no dose equivalence.
- Pregnancy plan: Discontinue at least two months before attempting pregnancy.
Compounded GLP-1 Dosing
Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide products are not standardized. Some pharmacies use mg units mirroring the brand, others use mL or “units.” Common patterns include:
- Starting at lower mg-equivalents than brand to manage side effects
- Smaller, more frequent dose increases (every two weeks instead of four)
- Maximum doses limited by the pharmacy’s preparation
Always follow your prescriber’s specific instructions on the label. Read more on treatment options for context.
What Affects Your Right Dose
- Starting weight and BMI
- Comorbidities (type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease)
- Side effect tolerance
- Concurrent medications
- Weight-loss progress at each step
- Goal: weight loss plus comorbidity improvement, not just scale numbers
Related Reading
For more on individual GLP-1s, see our guides on treatment options and prediabetes basics.
The Bottom Line
GLP-1 dosing for weight loss is a slow titration over 16 to 21 weeks. Wegovy reaches a 2.4 mg weekly maintenance dose at week 17. Zepbound has three maintenance options (5, 10, or 15 mg weekly), reached at week 9, 13, or 21. Saxenda is daily rather than weekly and reaches 3 mg by week 5. Holding or stepping back is always safer than rushing — most dropouts are from rushed titration. Always follow your prescriber’s printed schedule rather than peer comparisons or social-media advice.
