Can you skip a week of Wegovy?

It’s natural to wonder how much wiggle room you have with a drug’s dosing schedule. So, if you’re taking Wegovy (semaglutide) to lose weight, you may wonder if you can skip a dose now and then. 

You should do everything within your power to avoid skipping a week of Wegovy, but sometimes life gets in the way. From taking a vacation to facing unexpected Wegovy shortages, you might encounter hurdles to taking your dose. Read on as we explain why you shouldn’t skip Wegovy if possible, and what to do if you do indeed miss a dose.

No, you should not skip a week of Wegovy. Wegovy is most effective when it is taken every week, as prescribed. Skipping doses of Wegovy may mess with the effectiveness of the drug, or increase your risk of experiencing side effects when you go back to your regular dosing schedule.

Wegovy has a half-life (the amount of time it takes for 50% of the drug to leave your system) of 7 days, which is why it is designed to be taken once a week. Taking Wegovy once a week, on the same day each week, ensures an optimal amount of the drug remains active in your system. 

Ideally, you’d never miss a week of Wegovy. But, if you do miss a week of Wegovy, don’t beat yourself up. Here’s what to do if you’ve missed one dose of Wegovy:

• If your next scheduled dose is more than 2 days (48 hours) away: Take your missed dose as soon as you remember.

• If your next scheduled dose is less than 2 days (48 hours) away: Wait and take your next dose on the regularly scheduled day.

Contact your healthcare provider if you’ve skipped 2 or more consecutive weeks of Wegovy. They may recommend one of the following, depending on your tolerance for Wegovy’s side effects:

• Resume your dosing schedule on the next dose; or

• Restart the dosing escalation process from the beginning; or

• Restart at a lower dose. 

Ultimately, it’s best to speak with your healthcare provider to determine which will be the best approach for you. 

If you’re having trouble remembering when to take your dose of Wegovy, try these tips:

• Treat it like any other appointment, and set a reminder on your calendar or phone.

• Ask a family member, caregiver, or friend to remind you when it’s time to take your dose.

• Pair your injection with another activity you rarely miss, such as taking out the trash or brushing your teeth. 

• Keep track of your Wegovy doses (and injection sites) in a journal or notebook.

Your healthcare provider is the best person to ask if you can skip Wegovy doses on vacation. But, chances are, they’ll recommend you don’t. Wegovy is a chronic prescription medication that is designed to be taken on a long-term basis, as prescribed (which in this case, is weekly). The drug has a half-life of around one week, so it’s important to inject Wegovy once a week to maintain adequate levels of the drug in your system.

In an ideal world, you’ll avoid skipping Wegovy doses on vacation. But, things happen — maybe you lost your suitcase or you simply forgot to pack Wegovy. If you skip your Wegovy dose on vacation, here’s what to do:

• If your next scheduled dose is more than 2 days (48 hours) away: Take your missed dose as soon as you remember.

• If your next scheduled dose is less than 2 days (48 hours) away: Wait and take your next dose on the regularly scheduled day.

• If you’ve skipped more than 2 consecutive doses of Wegovy: Contact your healthcare provider and ask them what to do.

Traveling with Wegovy is easier than you think. Wegovy can be kept at room temperature (46°F to 86°F, or 8°C to 30°C) for up to 28 days. If you have access to a refrigerator at your destination, you can pop it back in there (just be sure to keep Wegovy away from any cooling elements). While traveling, pack Wegovy in your carry-on luggage to prevent it from being exposed to extreme temperatures under the plane or on the tarmac. When traveling with a medication, the TSA may take you aside to inspect your bags so consider keeping Wegovy in a separate container. 

For more tips, read our guide to storing and traveling with Wegovy.

Wegovy is intended to be a long-term medication for weight loss and weight management. When you stop taking Wegovy, you will stop experiencing the effects of the drug as it flushes out of your system (a process that can take up to 5–7 weeks). That means you get to say goodbye to any side effects that bothered you, but it also means you could experience weight gain. In one study, people who stopped Wegovy regained two-thirds of their lost weight back just one year later.

People may decide to stop taking Wegovy for a number of reasons. A small number of people find the side effects intolerable, while others consistently have trouble finding Wegovy in stock. Whatever the reason, it takes 5–7 weeks for the drug to fully flush out of your system after your last dose. 

Wegovy comes in five dosage strengths, including two maintenance dosage strengths. Typically, health providers prescribe a starting dose of 0.25 milligrams (mg) weekly. Then, every four weeks, they will gradually increase your dosage until you reach the maximum effective dosage for you (either 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg weekly). 

So, a typical dosage schedule for Wegovy might look like this:

• Month 1 (weeks 1–4): 0.25 mg of Wegovy each week

• Month 2 (Weeks 5–8): 0.5 mg of Wegovy each week

• Month 3 (Weeks 9–12): 1 mg of Wegovy weekly

• Month 4 (Weeks 13–16): 1.7 mg of Wegovy weekly

• Month 5 (Week 17) and onward: 2.4 mg of Wegovy weekly

The maintenance dosages of Wegovy are 1.7 mg and 2.4 mg weekly. If your health provider determines that a dosage of 1.7 mg is effective for you, they may have you stick to that dosage moving forward. If they determine that you need a bit more, they will increase your dosage to the 2.4 mg dose after another four weeks on the 1.7 mg dosage. 

The majority of Wegovy’s digestive side effects are at their worst when you first begin treatment, and gradually lessen in intensity as your body gets used to the drug. If you notice any worrisome side effects, including increased heart rate, persistent stomach pain, or signs of low blood sugar, talk to your healthcare provider and stop using Wegovy immediately. 

Wegovy can be an effective way to treat obesity or overweight, but it’s important to take it as prescribed every week. If you miss a dose, consult your doctor about what to do next to get back on track with your treatment. 

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Every article on Health Guide goes through rigorous fact-checking by our team of medical reviewers. Our reviewers are trained medical professionals who ensure each article contains the most up-to-date information, and that medical details have been correctly interpreted by the writer.

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Current version

March 01, 2024

Written by

Amelia Willson

Fact checked by

Steve Silvestro, MD

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About the medical reviewer

Steve Silvestro, MD, Ro

Dr. Steve Silvestro is a board-certified pediatrician and Associate Director, Clinical Content & Education at Ro.