How Many Doses Can You Get from One Semaglutide Vial?

Calculating the number of doses in a compounded semaglutide vial requires two pieces of information from the vial label: the total volume (in mL) and the concentration (in mg/mL). Multiply these together to get the total milligrams of semaglutide in the vial, then divide by your weekly dose.

Total mg in vial = volume (mL) x concentration (mg/mL) Number of weekly doses = total mg / weekly dose (mg)

For example, a 5 mL vial at 5 mg/mL contains 25 mg total. If your weekly dose is 1.0 mg, you have 25 doses — roughly six months of treatment from a single vial.

A 5 mL vial is the most common size dispensed by compounding pharmacies. Here is how many weekly doses it provides at various concentrations and dose levels.

At 5 mg/mL (25 mg total): 0.25 mg/week = 100 doses (almost 2 years) 0.5 mg/week = 50 doses 1.0 mg/week = 25 doses 1.7 mg/week = approximately 14 doses 2.4 mg/week = approximately 10 doses

At 2.5 mg/mL (12.5 mg total): 0.25 mg/week = 50 doses 0.5 mg/week = 25 doses 1.0 mg/week = 12 doses 2.4 mg/week = approximately 5 doses

At 1 mg/mL (5 mg total): 0.25 mg/week = 20 doses 0.5 mg/week = 10 doses 1.0 mg/week = 5 doses 2.4 mg/week = approximately 2 doses

Some pharmacies dispense smaller 2 mL vials, especially for patients in early escalation phases or those receiving monthly shipments.

At 5 mg/mL (10 mg total): 0.25 mg/week = 40 doses 0.5 mg/week = 20 doses 1.0 mg/week = 10 doses 2.4 mg/week = approximately 4 doses

At 2.5 mg/mL (5 mg total): 0.25 mg/week = 20 doses 0.5 mg/week = 10 doses 1.0 mg/week = 5 doses 2.4 mg/week = approximately 2 doses

Smaller vials are used up faster at higher doses. If you are on a maintenance dose of 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg, a 2 mL vial at a lower concentration may only last a few weeks. This is normal — your pharmacy adjusts vial size and shipment frequency accordingly.

Knowing how many doses your vial contains helps you plan refills, budget treatment costs, and avoid running out of medication. If your vial provides exactly four doses at your current weekly level, you need a new vial every month. If it provides ten doses, you have roughly two and a half months before a refill.

This calculation also matters during dose escalation. As your dose increases every four weeks, the same vial depletes faster. A vial that lasted eight weeks at 0.5 mg will only last four weeks when you escalate to 1.0 mg. Plan your pharmacy refills around your escalation schedule to ensure continuity of treatment.

Even if a vial contains enough medication for many months, compounded medications have expiration dates that may limit how long you can use a single vial. Most compounded semaglutide vials carry a beyond-use date of 60 to 90 days from the date of compounding, depending on the pharmacy.

Store opened vials in the refrigerator at 36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not freeze. If your vial contains more doses than you can use before the expiration date, you will still need a replacement. Check the beyond-use date on the label and coordinate refills with your pharmacy accordingly.