Semaglutide Units to mg Converter
Compounded semaglutide is dispensed in vials, but most patients inject using a U-100 insulin syringe marked in units — not mg. Enter your vial concentration and prescribed dose to see the exact number of units. The FDA has warned that compounded semaglutide potency can vary between batches[FDA], so confirm every calculation with your pharmacist before injecting.
Enter your vial and dose
Find this on the vial label as “mg/mL”. Call your pharmacy if you can't find it.
Common semaglutide doses: 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 1.7, 2.0, 2.4 mg
Visual: U-100 insulin syringe
The orange marker shows where your dose lands on a standard 1 mL U-100 insulin syringe (0–100 unit range).
Draw slowly to this line. Tap the syringe to dislodge air bubbles, then push any air out before injecting.
Verify before you inject. Compounded semaglutide potency may vary by pharmacy and batch. Always confirm your concentration and calculated dose with your prescribing clinician or pharmacist before injecting. This calculator is a reference, not a prescription.
Common conversions at a glance
Pre-calculated units for the three most common compounded vial strengths. Use these as a sanity check against the calculator above.
| Dose | 2.5 mg/mL | 5 mg/mL | 10 mg/mL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25 mg | 10 units (0.10 mL) | 5 units (0.05 mL) | 2.5 units (0.025 mL) |
| 0.5 mg | 20 units (0.20 mL) | 10 units (0.10 mL) | 5 units (0.05 mL) |
| 1.0 mg | 40 units (0.40 mL) | 20 units (0.20 mL) | 10 units (0.10 mL) |
| 1.7 mg | 68 units (0.68 mL) | 34 units (0.34 mL) | 17 units (0.17 mL) |
| 2.0 mg | 80 units (0.80 mL) | 40 units (0.40 mL) | 20 units (0.20 mL) |
| 2.4 mg | 96 units (0.96 mL) | 48 units (0.48 mL) | 24 units (0.24 mL) |
A note on U-100 syringes
Insulin syringes are calibrated so that 1 mL = 100 units (the "U-100" standard). This is based on the concentration of standard insulin (100 units/mL), but syringe markings are just volume — they work perfectly well for drawing semaglutide too. A reading of "20 units" on a U-100 syringe is always exactly 0.20 mL, regardless of what drug is in it.
For small semaglutide doses, a smaller-barrel insulin syringe (e.g., 0.3 mL / 30 units total) is easier to read. For doses requiring more than 30 units, use a 0.5 mL (50 unit) or 1 mL (100 unit) syringe.
A worked example
You are prescribed 1.0 mg weekly from a 5 mg/mL compounded vial:
- 1.0 mg ÷ 5 mg/mL = 0.20 mL
- 0.20 mL × 100 = 20 units
- Draw to the "20" mark on a U-100 syringe.
References & further reading
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Medications Containing Semaglutide Marketed for Type 2 Diabetes or Weight Loss — safety alert on compounded semaglutide potency variance. fda.gov
- FDA. Human Drug Compounding — Questions & Answers. Labeling and potency testing requirements for 503A and 503B pharmacies. fda.gov
- Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Injection Safety — Clinical Overview. Standards for syringe handling and subcutaneous injection. cdc.gov
- Wegovy (semaglutide) FDA prescribing information — concentration reference for branded pens (3.2 mg/mL in the 2.4 mg Wegovy pen). FDA label PDF
- Ozempic (semaglutide) FDA prescribing information — 1.34 mg/mL pen concentration reference. FDA label PDF