Microdosing is a relatively new term that has gained popularity in the past year, referring to the use of extremely low doses of Ozempic. There is no specific definition of what a microdose is; however, in my practice, I have used low-dose Ozempic with my patients for years with very positive effects. If I had to put a number to it, I would say that doses less than 0.25 mg might fall under the category of microdosing. Now that this term is being more widely spread through podcasts and social media, I have more and more patients specifically asking if I understand and prescribe microdosing with Ozempic, which makes me very happy.
I think this is a very positive trend, as people are beginning to see the other effects and benefits of Ozempic beyond appetite suppression, and are catching on to the idea that you don’t need to use aggressive doses to achieve positive responses. Most of the negative patient stories I hear seem to be related to being prescribed unnecessarily high doses of Ozempic by doctors who don’t understand how peptides work. Alternatively, I have patients asking if they can increase their dose to lose weight faster – not a good idea, based on my observations working with patients over the past three years who have used weight loss peptides like Ozempic. Low and slow is the best approach for peptide-assisted weight loss.
What Are The Benefits of Microdosing with Ozempic?
I have observed several benefits for my patients who use this low-dose or microdosing Ozempic strategy.
- Lower cost
- Fewer side effects
- Less receptor adaptation (giving high doses for extended periods can decrease the efficacy of this peptide, leading to needing even higher doses to get the intended therapeutic response.)
Common Misconceptions About Microdosing with Ozempic
I have many patients ask me if I am going to give them a prescription for “compounded Ozempic”, and while that is an available option, it is not my go-to preferred option. Most people believe that you can only achieve a low dose or microdose with the Ozempic strategy using compounded versions; however, this is not entirely accurate. You can use dosing lower than 0.25 mg, even with the brand-name Ozempic. The benefits of this are a lower cost than compounded and a longer shelf life (only 30 days with compounded, compared to 56 days with brand-name Ozempic). I find that there is a cost-benefit to using a compounded version of Ozempic (technically compounded Semaglutide) when doses exceed 1 mg.
How to Get Started Microdosing with Ozempic
I’ve compiled a list of resources that I recommend my patients start with, so they become more familiar with how this peptide works. Being educated is an important part of the process when microdosing with Ozempic for weight loss. You can access that here.
You can also book a 10-minute Discovery Call with me if you’d like to ask any further questions before getting started.
