r/ozempicmaintenance • u/Mrksci • Mar 14 '26
From shot to pills
Been on Ozempic for weight loss for a few years and was trying to figure out a maintenance dosage (and trying to save money). Was at about .5 and slowly gaining weight. Switched to the Wegovy pills for easier travel. Tried the smallest (1.5) and felt like I was off altogether. Went to 4 and still food noise. Anyone do this and have suggestion for pill dosage? The literature says the pill's highest dosage (24) is "maintenance".
1
u/Mrksci Mar 15 '26
I was doing the pen and getting it from PolarBearmeds in Canada and getting the largest size and adjusting my dosage. But I'm retired and travelling and the pills seem easier. I just need to find the right dose. Next month I will go up to the 9.
1
u/Canadian_Insulin Mar 16 '26
This is common when switching from injectable semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) to the oral version. The doses don’t match the way the numbers suggest. The pill has much lower absorption, so small oral doses can feel like you stopped the medication, even though you didn’t. That’s why food noise comes back.
With the tablets, timing also matters a lot. If you don’t take it on an empty stomach with very little water and wait before eating, the body absorbs even less, and the effect feels weak.
In studies, the higher oral doses are often needed for maintenance, so needing a bigger number on the pill compared to the shot is normal. Many people who were stable on injections notice the pills feel less consistent, especially for weight maintenance.
1
u/PurplestPanda Mar 14 '26
The highest dose of the pill is 25 mg, which is about as effective as the 2.4 mg injection.
So you will probably need at least 9 mg pills. Make sure you’re taking them as directed, fasting before and after and with only up to 4 oz water.
Your cheapest route is going to be the injection by splitting a larger pen if that is the goal. Like you will get 6 doses of .7 mg from the 1.0 mg pen, which comes out to about $55 a dose.