What is the Mounjaro dose schedule?
Mounjaro is injected once a week. The licensed starting dose is 2.5 mg, which is taken for 4 weeks. The dose then rises to 5 mg, and can increase in 2.5 mg steps, with at least 4 weeks on each dose before the next step.
| Stage | Weekly dose | How long |
|---|---|---|
| Starting dose | 2.5 mg | 4 weeks |
| First increase | 5 mg | At least 4 weeks |
| Further increases | 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, 15 mg, in 2.5 mg steps | At least 4 weeks on each dose |
| Licensed maintenance doses | 5 mg, 10 mg or 15 mg | Ongoing, as your prescriber advises |
The maximum licensed dose is 15 mg once a week. Your prescriber decides how far to increase based on how you respond and how well you tolerate each step. Many people do not need the highest dose.
What is the Wegovy dose schedule?
Wegovy also starts low and increases every four weeks. The steps below come from the Wegovy SmPC, and the 2.4 mg maintenance dose is reached from week 17.
| Weeks | Weekly dose |
|---|---|
| 1 to 4 | 0.25 mg |
| 5 to 8 | 0.5 mg |
| 9 to 12 | 1 mg |
| 13 to 16 | 1.7 mg |
| 17 onwards | 2.4 mg (maintenance) |
If you need to reduce or pause the dose because of side effects, your prescriber will explain the options. Do not skip steps or move up faster than the schedule allows.
What is the 7.2 mg Wegovy dose?
In January 2026 the MHRA approved a maximum dose of 7.2 mg of semaglutide weekly for adults with obesity, meaning a BMI of 30 or above. The approval does not cover people whose only qualifying condition is overweight with a BMI between 27 and 30.
The 7.2 mg dose can be considered from week 21, which is after at least 4 weeks on 2.4 mg, and only if your prescriber decides it is needed. It is not a standard step for everyone. Read the approval notice on GOV.UK for the official wording.
Why do prices change with the dose?
Each strength is a separate pen with a different amount of medicine, so prices are set per strength. In the NHS, the Drug Tariff reimbursement price for a Mounjaro KwikPen generally rises with strength. The figures below were redetermined from 1 September 2025 and show the reimbursement price for one pen per pack, as summarised by Community Pharmacy England.
| Mounjaro KwikPen strength | NHS reimbursement price (from September 2025) |
|---|---|
| 2.5 mg | £133.00 |
| 5 mg | £180.00 |
| 7.5 mg | £255.00 |
| 10 mg | £255.00 |
| 12.5 mg | £330.00 |
| 15 mg | £330.00 |
These are NHS reimbursement prices, not private prices. Private prices are set by each provider, and they may differ by strength. Check the current price for the dose you need on our Mounjaro price page, and use the cost calculator to estimate monthly costs.
What should you do if you miss a dose?
The rule depends on the medicine.
- Mounjaro: the SmPC says a missed dose should be given as soon as possible within 4 days of the missed dose. If more than 4 days have passed, skip the missed dose and take the next one on your usual day.
- Wegovy: the SmPC says a missed dose should be given as soon as possible within 5 days of the missed dose. If more than 5 days have passed, skip it and take the next dose on your usual day.
Your patient information leaflet explains the exact steps for your product. If you are unsure, or you keep missing doses, speak to your pharmacist or prescriber. Changing your schedule without advice can affect how the medicine works for you.
How should you store Mounjaro and Wegovy pens?
Storage rules are part of the product's licence, so follow the leaflet that came with your pen.
For Wegovy, the SmPC section 6.4 says that before first use the pen should be kept in a refrigerator at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius, away from the cooling element. Do not freeze it. The pen may be kept unrefrigerated for up to 28 days at a temperature not above 30 degrees Celsius, and must be discarded if it has been out of the fridge for more than 28 days. Keep the pen in its original carton to protect it from light.
For Mounjaro, the storage rules are set out in section 6.4 of the SmPC and in the patient leaflet supplied with the pen. Read the leaflet for the exact temperatures and time limits before you rely on them, and ask your pharmacist if you are travelling or are unsure.
How can you keep track of your injections?
Choose one day of the week that suits your routine, and inject on that day each week. A simple calendar reminder, or a note in your phone, helps you spot a missed dose early enough to act on it within the licensed window.
Keep a short record of the strength of each pen, the date of each injection and any side effects. This is useful at review appointments, and it is the information a pharmacist or prescriber will ask for if you need advice. Ask your pharmacist before changing your usual injection day, because the rules on spacing doses depend on the medicine.
Can you change your dose or stop treatment?
Changing your dose, pausing treatment or stopping altogether is a decision for your prescriber. They may adjust the dose if side effects are troubling you, or consider stopping if you are not losing weight as expected. Our guide on stopping weight loss injections covers what to think about before you make that decision.
If you are on a dose you have not yet reached, and you have concerns about the steps, raise them at your next review rather than adjusting the schedule yourself.