Duration of a 1mg Semaglutide Pen
A single-dose pen of 1mg semaglutide lasts for one week only, as it is designed for once-weekly subcutaneous administration. 1
Understanding Semaglutide Pen Packaging
- Each semaglutide pen contains a single dose intended for once-weekly injection, meaning a 1mg pen provides medication for exactly one week 1
- Semaglutide is administered subcutaneously once weekly, with similar exposure achieved regardless of injection site (abdomen, thigh, or upper arm) 1
- The medication reaches maximum concentration 1-3 days after injection and achieves steady-state exposure after 4-5 weeks of once-weekly administration 1, 2
Pharmacokinetic Properties Supporting Weekly Dosing
- Semaglutide has an elimination half-life of approximately 7 days (one week), which enables the once-weekly dosing schedule 1, 2
- The long half-life results from albumin binding (>99% protein-bound), which decreases renal clearance and protects against metabolic degradation 1
- After the last dose, semaglutide remains present in circulation for approximately 5 weeks due to its extended half-life 1
- Steady-state concentrations are achieved following 4-5 weeks of once-weekly administration 1, 2
Practical Dosing Considerations
- For type 2 diabetes management, the 1mg dose represents the standard maintenance dose after titration from lower doses 1, 3
- For obesity management, patients typically titrate up to 2.4mg weekly as the maintenance dose, not 1mg 4
- If a patient misses 2 consecutive weekly doses, clinical judgment is required for subsequent dosing, and resuming at the same dose can be considered if the medication was previously well-tolerated 4
- If 3 or more consecutive weekly doses are missed, consider restarting the titration schedule from a lower dose 4