Wegovy Dose Increase: What Does the New 7.2 mg Wegovy Mean For Weight Loss Patients

09 January, 2026  |  Holy Winter - Healthcare Writer

Wegovy 7.2 mg: What the New Higher Dose Means for Weight Loss Patients

Novo Nordisk is soon set to receive approval for a new increased dose of Wegovy 7.2 mg, marking a significant development in the purchasable medical weight-loss treatment market, giving customers more choice when making an attempt at losing weight.

The new, higher Wegovy dose offers enhanced appetite suppression and greater average weight loss - when used in combination with a cleaner diet and increased physical activity - in comparison to the current maximum 2.4 mg dose, based on robust clinical trial data.(1). (STEP-UP trial)

With recent price increases affecting alternative treatments such as Mounjaro, patients and clinicians are paying close attention to the rollout of Wegovy 7.2 mg as a viable option in weight loss journeys.

What Is Wegovy?

Wegovy is the brand name for semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist licensed in the UK for weight management. It works by reducing appetite, calming food noise, and slowing digestion, helping patients feel full for longer, when used in tandem with a healthy lifestyle and diet.

Until now, the highest available maintenance dose has been 2.4 mg once weekly. The newly approved 7.2 mg dose represents a three-fold increase and is designed for patients who have already tolerated and plateaued their weight loss on the 2.4 mg dose.

How Will Wegovy 7.2 mg Be Supplied?

At launch, Wegovy 7.2 mg will not yet be available as a single-injection pen.

Instead, weight loss patients will reach the 7.2 mg weekly dose by:

• Injecting three separate 2.4 mg doses per week
• This means three injections weekly, totalling 7.2 mg
• Patients will require three pens to cover a one-month supply

A dedicated single-injection 7.2 mg pen is expected to follow at a later stage once manufacturing and distribution are finalised.

While this increases the number of injections, clinical trials indicate that the higher total dose delivers additional benefits, including stronger appetite control and greater overall weight loss.

Clinical Trial Results: What the Data Shows

The 7.2 mg dose was studied in the STEP UP and STEP UP T2D clinical trials, involving participants with obesity, both with and without type 2 diabetes.

Key findings include¹:

• Average total weight loss of up to 20.7% of body weight
• Around one-third of participants lost 25% or more of their starting weight
• Continued weight loss throughout the 72-week trial period, with no early plateau

These results place Wegovy 7.2 mg close to the outcomes seen with higher-dose of Mounjaro (tirzepatide), whilst maintaining the prior established semaglutide safety profile.

Safety and Side Effect Concerns of Wegovy 7.2 mg

The side-effect profile of Wegovy 7.2 mg was broadly consistent with lower doses and other, similar GLP-1 weight loss medications. Common side effects included:

• Nausea
• Diarrhoea or constipation
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Higher blood pressure

A higher incidence of dysaesthesia (tingling or skin sensitivity) was observed at the 7.2 mg dose. Most cases were mild to moderate, and over 85% resolved without stopping treatment.

Importantly, discontinuation rates due to side effects remained low, suggesting that most patients were able to tolerate the higher dose when appropriately escalated.

Who May Benefit From Wegovy 7.2 mg?

Wegovy 7.2 mg may be suitable for patients who:

• Are currently taking 2.4 mg Wegovy but have reached a weight-loss plateau
• Continue to struggle with appetite control
• Have tried Mounjaro without satisfactory results
• Experience side effects with tirzepatide and are seeking an alternative
• Have tolerated semaglutide well at lower doses

As with all GLP-1 weight loss treatments, patients must progress through lower doses before being considered for the higher strength.

What It Means Going Forward

The approval of Wegovy 7.2 mg represents a meaningful step forward in weight-management medicine. It offers:

• Stronger results for patients who need more support
• A viable alternative amid changing market prices
• Greater weight loss without compromising safety
• Increased competition that may drive innovation, accessibility and prices

iQ Doctor’s Final Take

Wegovy 7.2 mg has the potential to become a powerful option for patients who have stalled on existing weight loss treatments. While the initial requirement for multiple weekly injections may be a consideration, the enhanced appetite suppression (helping patients feel fuller for longer) and weight-loss outcomes demonstrated in clinical trials (2) make this an interesting development.

iQ Doctor will continue to monitor availability and guidance closely with aims to support patients manager their weight as the new dose of Wegovy enters the UK supply chain.

iQ Doctor is a registered UK pharmacy that specialises in medical remedies for weight loss (including Wegovy and Mounjaro),erectile dysfunction,hair loss support and much more. Whether you require over-the-counter relief, or prescription-only medication, the experts at iQ Doctor can assist. Please get in touch if you need any further advice.

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References

1. https://sciencehub.novonordisk.com › documents
2. https://sciencehub.novonordisk.com › documents