What is the dosing for Ozempic (semaglutide)?

From the Guidelines

Ozempic (semaglutide) should be dosed at 0.25 mg subcutaneously once weekly for the first 4 weeks, then increased to 0.5 mg once weekly, and further increased to 1 mg once weekly if needed, as recommended in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings study from 2022 1. The dosing strategy for Ozempic is designed to minimize gastrointestinal side effects while effectively managing blood glucose levels.

• The initial dose of 0.25 mg once weekly is not therapeutic but helps reduce gastrointestinal side effects.
• After 4 weeks, the dose should be increased to 0.5 mg once weekly.
• If additional glycemic control is needed after at least 4 weeks on the 0.5 mg dose, it can be increased to 1 mg once weekly.
• For weight management, the dose can be increased to 2.4 mg weekly, as indicated in the study 1. The injection should be administered on the same day each week, though the day can be changed if needed as long as the last dose was administered at least 48 hours earlier.
• The injection is given in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm, and the site should be rotated.
• The medication should be stored in the refrigerator before first use and can be kept at room temperature for up to 56 days after opening, as per standard handling procedures. This gradual dose escalation approach is designed to minimize gastrointestinal side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea while allowing the body to adjust to the medication's effects on slowing gastric emptying and regulating blood glucose levels, as supported by the study 1.

From the FDA Drug Label

Your pen is a prefilled, single-patient-use, dial-a-dose pen. It contains 2 mg of semaglutide, and you can select doses of 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg. Your pen is a prefilled, single-patient-use, dial-a-dose pen. It contains 4 mg of semaglutide, and you can only select doses of 1 mg

The dosing for Ozempic is 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg for the 2 mg pen, and 1 mg for the 4 mg pen.

• The dose is selected using the dose selector on the pen.
• It is essential to follow the instructions for use and consult a healthcare provider for proper training on using the Ozempic pen 2.

From the Research

Dosing Ozempic

• The dosing of Ozempic (semaglutide) is not explicitly stated in the provided studies, but the text mentions that it is administered subcutaneously at a dose of 0.5 or 1.0 mg once weekly 3.
• The study also mentions that semaglutide is presented as prefilled pens for subcutaneous injection 3.
• Another study mentions that semaglutide is available as monotherapy in both subcutaneous and oral dosage forms, with the oral dosage form being the first approved oral GLP-1 receptor agonist 4.
• The oral semaglutide dose is mentioned as a maximal dose of 14 mg once daily in a study published in 2025 5.

Administration Route

• The administration route of Ozempic (semaglutide) can be either subcutaneous or oral, with both routes being effective in reducing major adverse cardiovascular events and kidney events in patients with type 2 diabetes 6, 5.
• The subcutaneous route is mentioned in a study published in 2019, with a dose of 0.5 or 1.0 mg once weekly 3.
• The oral route is mentioned in a study published in 2025, with a maximal dose of 14 mg once daily 5.

Special Considerations

• Semaglutide has been proved to be safe in adults and elderly patients with renal or hepatic disorders, demanding no dose modification 4.
• The use of semaglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes and high cardiovascular risk has been established, with a significantly lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events than placebo 5.