From the FDA label (DailyMed)Verified 2026-06-01

Ozempic Dosing & Titration Schedule

The semaglutide starting dose, full titration ladder, maintenance dose, and maximum dose — transcribed from the FDA prescribing information.

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Ozempic Titration Schedule

The step-by-step dose-escalation ladder for Ozempic from the FDA label's Dosage & Administration section (DailyMed SetID adec4fd2-6858-4c99-91d4-531f5f2a2d79). Your prescriber sets your actual schedule — this is the label reference, not medical advice.

Step	Dose	When
1	0.25 mg once weekly	Weeks 1–4 (initiation only — not effective for glycemic control)
2	0.5 mg once weekly	After 4 weeks on 0.25 mg
3	1 mg once weekly	After at least 4 weeks on 0.5 mg, if more control is needed
4	2 mg once weekly	After at least 4 weeks on 1 mg, if more control is needed

Source: Ozempic FDA prescribing information via DailyMed (SetID adec4fd2-6858-4c99-91d4-531f5f2a2d79), Section 2 Dosage & Administration. Last verified 2026-06-01. This is summary information — read the full label and follow your prescriber's instructions.

Ozempic Dosing at a Glance

Starting dose

0.25 mg injected subcutaneously once weekly for 4 weeks

Maintenance dose

0.5 mg, 1 mg, or 2 mg injected subcutaneously once weekly

Maximum dose

2 mg once weekly

How to titrate safely

Increase the dose only after at least 4 weeks on the current dose, and only if more glycemic control is needed. Administer on the same day each week, at any time of day, with or without meals.

The guiding principle: only increase the dose if you're tolerating the current one, and slow down (or pause the escalation) if side effects flare. Going up faster than the label schedule does not speed up results — it mostly increases nausea and other GI side effects.

If you miss a dose or can't tolerate a step

Missed a dose? The late-dose window differs by drug. See our GLP-1 missed-dose rules by drug for the exact rule for Ozempic before doubling up or skipping.

Can't tolerate a dose increase? The label allows delaying escalation or staying on a lower dose. Read what to expect at each step on the Ozempic side effects page, then talk to your prescriber before changing your schedule.

Compare every Ozempic provider

A prescriber sets your dose and titration plan before prescribing. See current pricing, verification status, form, and states served across every vetted provider in one place.

View the full comparison table Browse the ranked directory Ozempic drug guide

Frequently Asked Questions

The recommended starting dose of Ozempic (semaglutide) is 0.25 mg injected subcutaneously once weekly for 4 weeks. This is the initiation dose from the FDA label (DailyMed SetID adec4fd2-6858-4c99-91d4-531f5f2a2d79); the starting dose is intended to let your body adjust and is generally not the dose that delivers the full effect.

Increase the dose only after at least 4 weeks on the current dose, and only if more glycemic control is needed. Administer on the same day each week, at any time of day, with or without meals. Always follow the exact schedule on your prescription — the dose ladder above is the FDA-label escalation, not medical advice for your situation.

The maximum recommended dose of Ozempic per the FDA label is 2 mg once weekly. The recommended maintenance dose is 0.5 mg, 1 mg, or 2 mg injected subcutaneously once weekly.

Missed-dose rules differ by drug — see our GLP-1 missed-dose guide for the exact late-dose window. If a dose increase causes side effects, the label allows staying on (or returning to) a lower dose; talk to your prescriber before changing your schedule. See the Ozempic side-effects page for what to expect at each step.