FDA titration schedule
Ozempic dosage chart
Ozempic (semaglutide) is titrated gradually — 4 dose steps from a 0.25 mg starter to a 2.0 mg maintenance dose, increasing no faster than every 4 weeks. Here is the full schedule, how much to take, when to step up, and what to do if you miss a dose. From the FDA prescribing information.
The titration ladder
| Step | Dose | Minimum time before increasing | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.25 mg | 4 weeks | Starter — builds tolerance, not fully therapeutic |
| 2 | 0.5 mg | 4 weeks | Titration step |
| 3 | 1.0 mg | 4 weeks | Titration step |
| 4 | 2.0 mg | — (maintenance) | Maintenance — the target dose |
Escalate only when the current dose is tolerated. Your prescriber may hold a step longer if side effects are limiting — a slower ladder is safer than pushing through.
If you miss a dose or stop
If within 5 days: take immediately, resume normal schedule. More than 5 days: skip, take next scheduled dose. Never double up.
- Within 5 days: take immediately, resume schedule.
- More than 5 days late: skip, take next scheduled dose.
- Off therapy ≥3 weeks requires re-titration from 0.25 mg starter.
Full guidance on the Ozempic missed-dose page.
Frequently asked
What is the Ozempic dosage chart?
Ozempic escalates through 4 dose steps — 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, 2.0 mg — increasing no faster than every 4 weeks. You start at 0.25 mg (a tolerance-building starter dose that is not fully therapeutic) and step up to the 2.0 mg maintenance dose. Your prescriber may hold a dose longer if side effects are limiting.
How much Ozempic should I take?
You begin at 0.25 mg once weekly and increase step by step to your maintenance dose (up to 2.0 mg), on the schedule your prescriber sets. You do not have to reach the maximum dose — the right maintenance dose is the one that sustains your result with tolerable side effects.
When should I increase my Ozempic dose?
The FDA label increases the dose no sooner than every 4 weeks, and only when the current dose is tolerated. If nausea or other GI side effects are rough at a step, your prescriber can keep you there longer before moving up — pushing the dose too fast is the main driver of intolerable side effects.
What if I miss a Ozempic dose?
If within 5 days: take immediately, resume normal schedule. More than 5 days: skip, take next scheduled dose. Never double up.
Titration schedule from the FDA prescribing information (Ozempic label). Individual dosing is set by your prescriber. Medically reviewed by Jane Novak, MD, MPH.