Semaglutide Half-Life: How Long It Stays in Your System

How long Semaglutide stays in the body, how that shapes dosing frequency, and what is known about drug testing.

Medically reviewed by Juan Pablo Frías, MD · 3 Oct 2026 · DisclosureGLP-1 agonistUpdated 3 Oct 2026

Half-life: approximately 1 week; subcutaneous, in people · FDA label (Ozempic)
Dosing interval: Varies by study; as used in studies
WADA: Not listed; 2026 Prohibited List
Detection window: Not found; None reported as of 2 Oct 2026

Semaglutide half-life

A half-life depends on the route (under the skin, into a vein, by mouth or nasal spray) and the species it was measured in, so we report each value with its route and source.

Semaglutide half-life by route
Route	Half-life	Measured in	Source
subcutaneous	approximately 1 week	People	FDA label (Ozempic)
subcutaneous and oral	approximately 1 week	People	FDA label (Wegovy)
subcutaneous	approximately 1 week	People	The New England journal of medicine 2016, PMID 27633186
As labelled	approximately 1 week (subcutaneous)	People	FDA label (Ozempic)
As labelled	approximately 1 week (injectable and oral)	People	FDA label (Wegovy)
As labelled	approximately one week (oral)	People	FDA label (Rybelsus, Ozempic tablets)

Other pharmacokinetic findings (these are not half-life values):

Semaglutide: other pharmacokinetic findings
Route	Half-life	Measured in	Source
oral	approximately one week	People	FDA label (Rybelsus, Ozempic tablets)

What half-life means

Half-life is the time it takes for the amount of a drug in the blood to fall by half. After one half-life, about 50% is left; after two, about 25%; after four to five, only a few percent remain.

A long half-life lets a drug be dosed less often, for example once a week.
A short half-life means levels rise and fall quickly, which is why some peptides are given daily or more often.
Effects can outlast blood levels, so half-life alone does not tell you how long a drug works.

What it means for dosing frequency

Dosing intervals used in published studies of Semaglutide:

once-daily, oral (Human RCT; Lancet 2026, PMID 41865758)
once-weekly, subcutaneous (Human RCT; The New England journal of medicine 2025, PMID 40305708)
once daily, oral (Human RCT; The New England journal of medicine 2025, PMID 40934115)
once-weekly, subcutaneous (Human RCT; The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology 2025, PMID 40961952)

Changing the interval changes how much drug builds up between doses, so it is not a free choice.

Drug tests and sport

Not on the WADA Prohibited List

GLP-1 and GIP agonists are not named anywhere on the 2026 list. This one is an approved medicine, so the catch-all S0 (which only covers drugs with no approval anywhere) does not apply to it.

Anti-doping labs use tests built for specific substances. Whether a given test detects Semaglutide, and for how long, is not reported in the anti-doping literature we checked (as of 2 Oct 2026).

Common questions

How long does Semaglutide stay in your system?

Its reported half-life is approximately 1 week (subcutaneous); approximately 1 week (subcutaneous and oral). Most of a dose is gone after about four to five half-lives.

What is the half-life of Semaglutide?

Approximately 1 week (subcutaneous); approximately 1 week (subcutaneous and oral), from the sources cited below.

Is Semaglutide on the WADA prohibited list?

No, it is not listed. GLP-1 and GIP agonists are not named anywhere on the 2026 list. This one is an approved medicine, so the catch-all S0 (which only covers drugs with no approval anywhere) does not apply to it.

More on Semaglutide

DosageDoses used in published studies, with the source for each.CalculatorVial, water and dose to syringe units.Side effectsWhat labels and studies report, and what is unknown.ResultsStudy outcomes and when they were measured.PricePrice per mg and per week from dated listings. No vendor links.Legal statusFDA, compounding and WADA status with dates.

Sources

1World Anti-Doping Code International Standard Prohibited List 2026World Anti-Doping Agency · 2026wada-ama.orgAccessed 2 Oct 2026
2These highlights do not include all the information needed to use OZEMPIC ® safely and effectively. See full prescribing information for OZEMPIC. OZEMPIC (semaglutide) injection, for subcutaneous use FDA label (Ozempic), DailyMed · current labeldailymed.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
3These highlights do not include all the information needed to use WEGOVY ® safely and effectively. See full prescribing information for WEGOVY. WEGOVY (semaglutide) injection, for subcutaneous use WEGFDA label (Wegovy), DailyMed · current labeldailymed.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
4Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.The New England journal of medicine · 2016PMID 27633186Accessed 2 Oct 2026
5These highlights do not include all the information needed to use RYBELSUS ® and OZEMPIC ® tablets safely and effectively. See full prescribing information for RYBELSUS and OZEMPIC tablets. RYBELSUS (FDA label (Rybelsus, Ozempic tablets), DailyMed · current labeldailymed.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
6Efficacy and safety of oral semaglutide 14 mg (flexible dose) in early-stage symptomatic Alzheimer's disease (evoke and evoke+): two phase 3, randomised, placebo-controlled trials.Lancet (London, England) · 2026PMID 41865758Accessed 2 Oct 2026
7Phase 3 Trial of Semaglutide in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis.The New England journal of medicine · 2025PMID 40305708Accessed 2 Oct 2026
8Oral Semaglutide at a Dose of 25 mg in Adults with Overweight or Obesity.The New England journal of medicine · 2025PMID 40934115Accessed 2 Oct 2026
9Once-weekly semaglutide 7·2 mg in adults with obesity (STEP UP): a randomised, controlled, phase 3b trial.The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology · 2025PMID 40961952Accessed 2 Oct 2026

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