When does Wegovy peak in the body?

Wegovy reaches peak levels in your body within one to three days – although this can vary from person to person.

Its long half-life of seven days means weekly injections are sufficient to produce significant effects, helping you lose weight efficiently.

Medically reviewed by

Alexandra Cristina Cowell, Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer

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Medically reviewed by

Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell

Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer

on Jun 11, 2025.

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Last updated on Nov 21, 2025.

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Summary:

Wegovy peaks in your body 2–3 days after injection for most people.
Levels stay steady until day 7, when it begins to decline.
Weekly doses help keep a stable level from week 5 onward.
It usually takes up to 7 weeks for Wegovy to fully leave your system.

What does Wegovy look like in the body over the course of a week?

In short, Wegovy levels steadily rise, reaching peak concentration by day two or three. After this, the levels stay relatively stable and gradually decline after day seven.

Figure 1 – The absorption rate of semaglutide was measured for a 1mg/ml concentration. Please note that slight variations may occur with different dosage strengths.

Data taken from: Lau, D. C. W., Batterham, R. L., & le Roux, C. W. (2022). Pharmacological profile of once-weekly injectable semaglutide for chronic weight management. Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology, 15(3), 251–268.

Immediately after injection (Day 0)

After injection, semaglutide is absorbed slowly into your bloodstream.

You won’t feel any effects on this day, as only a small amount may have been absorbed. This usually isn’t enough to produce a noticeable effect.

Day 1

The levels of semaglutide will steadily increase in the bloodstream and travel to the target organs, such as the brain.

You’ll slowly start to feel its effects, like feeling fuller, but this won’t be to its full extent.

Days 2 - 3

Semaglutide reaches peak concentration, with approximately 89% being absorbed. This is the point with the highest level of semaglutide circulating at any given time.

You’ll begin to notice a change in your appetite, often feeling fuller and less hungry.

You may also get side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and headaches. Although not everyone gets them, they are completely normal and show that semaglutide is working.

Days 4 - 7

Semaglutide levels will decline slowly until day seven and continue to decrease afterwards.

On day seven, you’ll take another dose to maintain the high levels. As you continue taking weekly doses, a steady state will be achieved by week five, meaning the levels remain consistent until you stop treatment.

How long does Wegovy stay in the body?

Most people will reach peak Wegovy levels by day three, although it may take longer for some people.

The site of injection (thigh, upper arm or abdomen) doesn’t matter when injecting Wegovy, as all three sites have a similar rate of absorption. However, injecting at the most fatty part of each area can improve absorption rate.

It’s also important to rotate injection sites weekly to prevent irritation, pain and discomfort.

When does Wegovy peak in the body?

Wegovy has a half-life of seven days, after which the level gradually declines. It can take up to seven weeks to completely clear from the body.

Do different weight loss medications peak at different times in the body?

Different weight loss drugs contain different active ingredients, so the rate of absorption for each medication will differ.

Liraglutide (the active ingredient in Saxenda) has a quicker absorption rate than Wegovy and peaks at around 11 hours. But this doesn’t make it more effective, according to research. Liraglutide is also more quickly eliminated from the body, which may make it inconvenient, as you would have to inject daily at consistent times to reach stable levels.

Zepbound reaches peak concentrations at a similar time to Wegovy in approximately one to three days, and reaches a steady level by week four.

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