Proponents of the “Ozempic microdosing” trend claim taking smaller amounts of GLP-1 drugs can still help people lose weight with fewer side effects at a fraction of the cost. NurPhoto/Getty Images
This article originally appeared on Healthline Microdosing GLP-1 weight loss drugs is a trend that’s gaining popularity.Anecdotal reports claim that “Ozempic microdosing” may help people lose weight with fewer side effects.
However, there is no current evidence to support claims that microdosing GLP-1 drugs aids weight loss.
Patients report microdosing GLP-1s for a variety of reasons, including cost, side effects, and weight loss maintenance.
Microdosing is a trend that has gained popularity in recent years. It typically involves taking small amounts (“microdoses”) of psychedelic drugs to treat the symptoms of depression and anxiety or boost focus and creativity.
But the basic idea at the heart of microdosing (that you can take a small amount of a drug or medication and still receive some health benefit from it while potentially mitigating side effects) has since expanded beyond just psychedelics.
Interest has now turned to microdosing GLP-1 drugs , the blockbuster class of obesity and diabetes medications that includes Ozempic , Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound .
Anecdotal reports from patients and even some doctors claim that microdosing GLP-1s is more cost-effective and may still offer health benefits, such as maintaining weight loss and managing blood sugar.
However, those claims are not currently backed by scientific evidence or research.“It’s just a data-free zone,” Sarah R. Barenbaum, MD, an assistant professor of clinical medicine and obesity specialist at Cornell University, told Healthline.“I would say it’s not impossible, it just hasn’t been studied,” she added.Other doctors are far more critical. Caroline Apovian, MD , a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and the co-director of the Center for Weight Management and Wellness at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, told Healthline that there is “absolutely no data” to support microdosing GLP-1s.There are also safety concerns.Microdosing must be done with compounded drugs , requiring a patient to draw up and dose themself correctly with a syringe and vial.Apovian said there’s a real potential for overdose […]
Ozempic Microdosing Is Gaining Popularity. Does It Work for Weight Loss?
