Yes, microdosing Ozempic is happening. And here I thought the only thing you microdosed were ‘shrooms on New Year’s Eve (which didn’t work BTW). There’s a lot of talk about people taking smaller than prescribed doses of GLP-1s like Ozempic to cut the side effects but keep the weight loss benefits. So you can have your Semaglutide and ~literally~ eat your cake, too.
Semaglutides have become the latest not-so-secret celebrity weight-loss hack (which, like most favorites of the rich and famous, is too expensive for us normies with crappy health insurance to afford). Sure, you could try Kourtney Kardashian’s GLP-1 daily capsules for $90 a bottle, but they’re not even gummies or FDA-regulated, so what’s the point?!
Microdosing Semaglutides might seem like an affordable solution since one monthly dose could last you multiple months (which makes it basically free…right? Girl math). But before you hunt down a GLP-1 dealer, let’s see what *actual* licensed doctors have to say about this.
How does microdosing GLP-1s, like Ozempic, work?
Microdosing GLP-1s like Ozempic means essentially customizing your treatment by taking a smaller than recommended dose to get the benefits like appetite suppression and mild blood glucose control without the heavy common side effects that might occur like nausea, vomiting, bloating, dizziness, constipation, and or fatigue, said Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, a board-certified MD and author of Beyond the Stethoscope: Miracles in Medicine.
Microdosing can be a cheaper option since the drug will last longer because it’s being used at a slower pace, said Michael Snyder, MD, the Medical Director of the Bariatric Surgery Center at Rose Medical Center and in-house obesity specialist at FuturHealth.
But there’s a catch…
The problem with microdosing is the recommended prescription dose for GLP-1s “is not derived at random, but is the PROVEN modality for the safe and effective use of these medications,” Snyder explained, adding how the results from studies on the safety and effectiveness of GLP-1s approved by the FDA were based on these standard dosage recommendations — not microdosing.
A lot of people who are microdosing are not doing it under the guidance or supervision of a licensed doctor and are instead “jailbreaking” their medication pens and syringes, which creates an even bigger problem. “This is extremely concerning to me as it would require an advanced knowledge of sterile technique (you are injecting this into your body!) and an understanding of how to safely measure liquid dosing of injectable meds to get the desired dosing,” Snyder said. “These are very big asks. And, to not do them well can have catastrophic consequences.” Well, this just took my fear of needles to a whole new level.
TikTok advice on microdosing Ozempic isn’t FDA-approved
It seems like TikTok has caught wind of the dangers of microdosing, as you can’t even search “microdosing Ozempic” on the app (but you can still search Ozempic). Alexandra Sowa, MD, is a dual board-certified obesity medicine physician and the Founder and CEO of SoWell Health. Sowa has seen the microdosing trend grow; she also has concerns like Snyder. “The problem is it’s kind of being recommended as a way for social media influencers to say, ‘I know better than the FDA or medical doctors, ‘ and that can be harmful,” Sowa said, adding that if you try to hack a pen with smaller doses without medical guidance, there’s a risk of giving yourself a higher or wrong dose which can be super dangerous.
Some talking heads on socials claim they’re microdosing Semaglutides not just for weight loss but for other health benefits like improving their general health, reducing inflammation, and/or cancer prevention. However, according to Sowa, “There is no data or evidence for that yet, so be very careful with those claims.” Synder also agreed, adding, “I know of no clinically relevant studies showing that using less than recommended (under 0.25mg a week for Ozempic) as useful or recommended. The opposite is well studied, noting that in most people, there is a greater clinical utility for larger dosing.”
Does microdosing Ozempic have less stigma associated with it?
We’ve seen celebrities and influencers deny they’re on weight loss drugs like Ozempic. Even Oprah, who’s been on every diet ever, kept on claiming she was not on a Semaglutide until finally admitting it in a TV special that honestly felt more like an infomercial for GLP-1s.
Sowa thinks the reason people (even Oprah) have denied they’re on Semaglutide is because of the “long-standing weight stigma and bias, and people carry shame about using these medications for weight management when they shouldn’t. I think we have to be very careful about this discussion.”
Sowa has found patients asking her about microdosing, which she thinks is because “Their brains are telling them it’s almost like being on the medicine doesn’t count if they’re microdosing, or they should feel less shame. It’s like, ‘Oh, I’m not really on the med. I’m microdosing.'” Right, like I wasn’t really on ‘shrooms that one New Year’s Eve…
Is microdosing Ozempic ever the right option?
There are some cases when doctors recommend microdosing, but it’s unlikely this prescription will come during your first time using a Semaglutide. Sowa finds microdosing most effective after patients have reached their ideal weight and have adapted lifestyle changes to maintain their weight loss. But their maintenance dose is making them lose even more weight, and when they stop the medication entirely, they start to gain weight back. “I think that is the right place for microdosing, which can help patients stay in maintenance without losing or regaining,” Sowa said.
So, microdosing can be effective when recommended by a licensed doctor but problematic when recommended by social media. So before you jailbreak a Semaglutide pen, call your doctor. Please.
