A new trend that is gaining popularity among people trying to lose weight is microdosing the diabetes drug Ozempic.
With approximately 70% of American adults meeting the criteria for obesity or overweight, more and more people are turning around weight loss drugs to help them lose weight.
Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabeteswhile its counterpart, Wegovy, is approved for the treatment of obesity. Both are manufactured by Novo Nordisk.
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Eli Lilly also offers a diabetes drug, Mounjaro, as well as a weight-loss version, Zepbound.
In a new trend, some people are using smaller daily “microdoses” of Ozempic, doctors report. (iStock)
“Ozempic is the only version among the weekly injections — Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound and Mounjaro — that has the option to ‘hack’ the pen for a lower dose,” Dr. Alexandra Sow, a cure for obesity expert and founder of SoWell in New York, told Fox News Digital.
She is also the author of the book “The Ozempic Revolution”, which should be published on January 7.
Fox News Digital spoke with experts to shed some light on this latest trend.
What is microdosing?
Ozempic microdosing refers to the use of smaller amounts compared to standard therapeutic doses traditionally prescribed for treatment type 2 diabetes and helps with weight loss, experts say.
This practice is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
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“Healthcare practitioners typically do not recommend this approach, as the standard dosing regimen is based on clinical trials that determine the most effective and safest amount for these conditions,” noted Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, obesity treatment doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
There are no set guidelines for microdosing – although there are reports on social media of using 10 to 100 times lower than standard prescriptions, added Dr. Christopher McGowan, a gastroenterologist and obesity specialist who runs True You Weight Loss in Cary, North Carolina.
“Healthcare clinicians typically do not recommend this approach.”
Some people get confused by the terminology, doctors noted.
“I think there’s a bit of a misconception, because some people say ‘I’m taking microdoses’ when they’re just starting doses or not going all the way through the escalating titration,” Sowa said.
Advantages of microdosing
The primary reason for microdosing is cost reduction, according to McGowan.
For example, he said, a patient might think that if a full prescription costs more than $250 a week, he might be able to get some benefit with just $25 worth the medicine.
With approximately 70% of American adults meeting the criteria for obesity or overweight, more and more people are turning to weight loss medications to help them shed pounds. (iStock)
The average monthly retail price of Ozempic starts at $1,000 or more without insurance, according to GoodRx.
People can also continue microdosing to reduce the frequency or severity of side effects such as nausea, vomiting or stomach discomfortaccording to Stanford.
“Some individuals may start with microdoses to gradually adapt their body to the medication, potentially moving to a full therapeutic dose over time,” she said.
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Any potential benefit from the drug, however, is likely to disappear proportionally with lower doses, experts noted.
Individuals may also take microdoses due to supply issues, according to Dr. Amy Rothberg, clinical professor of medicine in the Department of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetes at the University of Michigan.
“Some individuals may start with microdoses to gradually adapt their body to the medication, potentially moving to a full therapeutic dose over time.” (iStock)
“Some feel that they could benefit from microdosing by being able to extend their supply and they could see an effect,” Rothberg, who is also the medical director of Rewind, a lifestyle program for patients with type 2 diabetes, told Fox News Digital. “As we know, the placebo effect can have a powerful impact.”
Potential risks of the practice
The most likely risk of microdosing is lack of efficacy, McGowan noted.
“Microdosing Ozempic or Dr [weight-loss] the drugs are completely unlabeled and untested, without support clinical studies“, he warned.
Stanford also warned that lower doses may not provide adequate blood sugar control, leading to uncontrolled diabetes and related complications.
It can also lead to suboptimal weight loss and unpredictable results, as well as potential abuse, she added.
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People who take microdoses often use a “compound” version of the drug, which is not regulated by the FDA.
“This introduces risks such as contamination, inconsistent formulations and uncertainty about the actual strength of the product being injected,” McGowan said.
Without changes in diet and physical activity, the long-term benefits will disappear after stopping the drug, one doctor noted. (iStock)
In addition, these complex versions are usually dispensed in vials, which require a syringe for withdrawal, unlike the FDA-approved versions, which are easier to use.
Using complex versions through vials runs the risk of drawing too much of the drug — so instead of microdosing, macrodosing is possible, Sowa warned.
Medical supervision is crucial
Some providers are still willing to offer microdosing to select patients with one caveat — that people should always consult with health clinician before changing the medication regimen.
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“As long as it’s dispensed and monitored by a doctor, I don’t see how anyone will overdose, especially when we’re giving such small amounts,” Dr. Suzanne A. Trott, a double board-certified plastic and general surgeon in Beverly Hills, told Fox News Digital.
“I’ve seen a lot of patients on metformin for weight loss — I don’t see how it’s any different,” said Trott, who runs her own microdosing clinic.
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Trott noted that there are many “off-label” practices offered to patients.
“Botox and fillers they’re not even FDA approved for most of the places we use them,” she noted.
“Some individuals may start with microdoses to gradually acclimate their body to the medication.”
Experts agree that permanent weight loss will not occur with medication alone.
“I think people think it’s easier to take drugs but ignore the side effects behavioral changesRothberg said.
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In the absence of changes in diet and physical activity, the long-term benefits will disappear after stopping the drug, she pointed out.
Trott also recommends maintenance consistent exercisestrength training, hydration and high protein intake to maintain muscle mass.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic, for comment.
