Short answer: 7.2 mg of semaglutide is 288 units at 2.5 mg/mL and 144 units at 5 mg/mL on a U-100 syringe. At either strength that’s more than one full 1 mL insulin syringe. That is why 7.2 mg is supplied as a brand-name pen, Wegovy HD, which delivers the dose for you.
What the FDA approved
In March 2026 the FDA approved Wegovy HD, a once-weekly 7.2 mg semaglutide injection. It’s for adults with obesity who need more weight reduction, alongside diet and physical activity.
The label limits who can start it:
- Not a starting dose. It’s only for people who have tolerated 2.4 mg for at least 4 weeks.
- Added weight loss has to be clinically indicated. Your prescriber decides whether stepping up makes sense.
What the STEP UP trial found
STEP UP was a 72-week trial in 1,407 adults with obesity and without diabetes.
| Group | Mean weight loss (if staying on treatment) | Mean weight loss (regardless of adherence) |
|---|---|---|
| Semaglutide 7.2 mg | 20.7% | 18.8% |
| Semaglutide 2.4 mg | about 18% | about 16% |
| Placebo | about 2% | about 4% |
Nearly a third of people on 7.2 mg (31.2%) lost 25% or more of their body weight, compared with 15.3% on 2.4 mg.
The main new side effect was altered skin sensation, such as tingling, sensitivity or a burning feeling. It was reported by 22% of people on 7.2 mg, compared with 6% on 2.4 mg and 0.3% on placebo. The usual GLP-1 side effects also applied: nausea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, fatigue and headache.
7.2 mg in syringe units
| Vial concentration | Units (U-100) | Volume |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 mg/mL | 288 units | 2.88 mL |
| 5 mg/mL | 144 units | 1.44 mL |
Both are larger than a standard 1 mL (100-unit) syringe holds. If you use compounded semaglutide and are wondering about 7.2 mg, don’t scale up your vial dose on your own. The FDA has documented overdoses caused by unit and mL mix-ups with compounded semaglutide. Talk to your prescriber about whether a higher dose is right for you and how it would be supplied.
For your current dose, use the semaglutide units-to-mg calculator or the 7.2 mg conversion page.
Sources
- Novo Nordisk: FDA approves Wegovy HD injection (press release, March 19, 2026)
- Healio: FDA approves high-dose Wegovy 7.2 mg for adults with obesity
- HCPLive: FDA approves higher dose semaglutide (Wegovy HD) injection 7.2 mg
- FDA alerts health care providers, compounders and patients of dosing errors associated with compounded injectable semaglutide products