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. 

So, can you skip a week of Wegovy? In a word, no. 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 seven 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 two days (48 hours) away, take your missed dose as soon as you remember.

• If your next scheduled dose is less than two days (48 hours) away, wait and take your next dose on the regularly scheduled day.

Contact your healthcare provider if you’ve skipped two 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 

• Restart the dosing escalation process from the beginning 

• 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 (though you really should put your medication in your carry-on) 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 two days (48 hours) away, take your missed dose as soon as you remember.

• If your next scheduled dose is less than two days (48 hours) away, wait and take your next dose on the regularly scheduled day.

• If you’ve skipped more than two consecutive doses of Wegovy, contact your healthcare provider and ask them what to do.

Traveling with Wegovy is easier than you may think. While unopened Wegovy should be kept in the refrigerator at 36°F–46°F, it can be kept at room temperature (46°F–86°F) for up to 28 days. If you have access to a refrigerator at your destination, you can pop it in there once you arrive—just be sure to keep Wegovy away from any cooling elements. Another option, of course, is to bring along a cooler or insulated bag with gel ice packs to keep your medication cold while traveling. 

Whatever method you choose, be sure to pack Wegovy in your carry-on luggage to prevent it from being exposed to extreme temperatures under the plane or on the tarmac. And just be aware that when traveling with medication, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) may take you aside to inspect your bags. So, make sure you keep your medication in its labeled, original packaging to protect the medication from damage—something that’s a good idea no matter your method of transportation—and comply with regulations. 

Traveling by car? The same instructions apply: While you can technically keep unopened Wegovy pens at room temperature for up to 28 days, you can also pack them in an insulated ice pack. Either way, avoid leaving your medication in the car for long periods of time, especially in hot weather or direct sunlight.  

Wegovy is intended to be a long-term medication. 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. You could also see a return of metabolic conditions, such as those associated with obesity (e.g. heart disease, type 2 diabetes). In one study, people who stopped Wegovy regained two-thirds of their lost weight just one year later.

People may decide to stop taking Wegovy for several 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, which are part of a structured titration schedule designed to support long-term treatment for both of the drugs’ indications. 

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Wegovy to:

• Reduce body weight and support long-term weight loss in people with obesity or with overweight and a weight-related health condition, such as type 2 diabetes or sleep apnea

• Reduce the risk of experiencing a major cardiovascular event, such as heart attack, stroke, or death, in people with heart disease and obesity or overweight

Typically, health providers prescribe a starting dose of 0.25 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. 

Common Wegovy side effects include:

• Nausea

• Diarrhea

• Vomiting

• Constipation

• Abdominal pain or indigestion

• Headache 

• Fatigue

• Heartburn (gastroesophageal reflux disease)

• Dizziness

• Skin reaction at the injection site 

• Bloating

• Frequent burping

• Flatulence

• Low blood sugar (especially if you take diabetes medications)

Skipping a dose of Wegovy isn’t ideal, but sometimes it happens. Whether you miss a dose due to travel, medication shortages, or simple forgetfulness, knowing what to do next can help you stay on track with your treatment plan. Here’s what you need to know about missing a week of Wegovy and how to handle it.

• Try to avoid skipping a week of Wegovy, as doing so may reduce the medication’s effectiveness or increase your risk of experiencing side effects when you resume treatment. Because Wegovy has a half-life of seven days, taking the medication weekly ensures it stays in your system. 

• If you miss a dose of the drug, what to do next depends on timing. If your scheduled dose is more than 48 hours away, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it’s less than 48 hours away, wait until your usual dosing day. It’s also always a good idea to consult your healthcare provider to determine how to best get back on track with treatment.  

• Traveling with Wegovy can be manageable, especially since unopened pens can be stored at room temperature for up to 28 days. That said, you can also pack your medication in a gel ice pack—just be sure to keep it in a carry-on, in its original packaging, and away from extreme temperatures. 

• If you stop taking Wegovy, the medication will gradually leave your system over 5–7 weeks, and you may regain weight or see a return of metabolic conditions without continued treatment. Do not stop the drug abruptly yourself; instead, consult your healthcare provider.