Maintenance dose
Clinical reviewer: Jacob Moore, MD · Last checked September 24, 2026
What is a maintenance dose?
Maintenance dose is the dose a patient stays on once dose escalation is complete, chosen from the range listed on the drug's label. For Wegovy injection, the labeled maintenance dosage is 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg weekly, with a maximum of 7.2 mg; for Zepbound, it is 5 mg, 10 mg, or 15 mg weekly. The prescriber selects the dose.
What is the maintenance dose for Wegovy and Zepbound?
The maintenance dosage of Wegovy injection is either 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg, the recommended maintenance dose, injected subcutaneously once weekly [1]. If a patient tolerates 2.4 mg for at least 4 weeks and additional weight reduction is clinically indicated, the label allows increasing to a maximum of 7.2 mg weekly [1]. Wegovy tablets have a separate maintenance dosage of 25 mg taken orally once daily [1]. Zepbound's label lists a maintenance dosage of 5 mg, 10 mg, or 15 mg injected subcutaneously once weekly [2].
Who decides the maintenance dose?
The label directs prescribers to consider treatment response and tolerability when selecting a maintenance dosage, rather than fixing one dose for everyone [1][2]. Zepbound's label allows a lower maintenance dosage if a patient does not tolerate the one first tried [2]. A maintenance dose is different from the step-up schedule used to reach it and from a planned step-down before stopping treatment.
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This entry is for education and is not medical advice. Talk with a licensed clinician about your own situation before starting, stopping, or changing any treatment.
