The Rise of GLP-1 Microdosing
Can you microdose GLP-1 medication?
By now everyone has heard a lot about Ozempic and other GLP-1 agonist products. We’ve learned of their use in not only managing diabetes, but how they can help with weight loss.
We’ve also heard about some of the symptoms of these medications. What if there was a way to avoid them while achieving their benefit? That’s the question that is driving the rise of GLP-1 Microdosing. In this article we’ll commence the first in a series of articles specifically addressing this hot topic.
How GLP-1 drugs work
Semaglutide, the name of the most popular GLP-1 agonist (GLP stands for’ Glucagon-Like-Peptide’) is well known but is only one of the class of GLP-1 products. It was intended to help manage insulin response in diabetics but it quickly became apparent that it could help with weight loss. It works by lowering blood glucose and promotes weight loss by activating GLP-1 receptors in the GI tract, brain, and pancreas. It responds to elevated blood glucose after a meal and it slows down the emptying of the stomach, reducing hunger cravings. It appears to also affect the brain and lowers cravings for food while making you feel full. All of this is helpful for those afflicted with Diabetes and it helps facilitate weight loss.
What Is GLP-1 Microdosing?
It seems that even small doses, less than the prescribed amount, can have a beneficial effect in stabilizing blood sugar levels and improving insulin sensitivity. Microdosing is the practice of taking smaller amounts to avoid the potential pitfalls of side effects. People react differently to drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound or Tirzepatide which all contain semaglutide as their principal ingredient. They have different formulations and secondary ingredients for the purposes of delivery and ingestion. Known side effects vary but can be unpleasant and include nausea, constipation etc. The idea is to avoid all this with smaller doses. You effectively lower your dose to the smallest amount possible to maintain the desired result. If you think about it, physicians and psychiatrists typically do this with psychological medication. There are things to be aware of however. If you take less than the prescribed dose you may not get enough of the drug in your system to reap the benefit, but as you experiment you may find that it mitigates the side effects. It is best to do this with a physician, they can tailor a treatment plan. Some physicians do not support microdosing but users often do it on their own, monitoring their progress and success. At the end of the day, for most medication, taking a lower dose is far less risky than a higher than recommended dose. The FDA has not released any guidelines on microdosing GLP-1 medication. There likely will not be any until more research is done. People report success but that’s not the same as clinical proof demonstrating that the same results can be achieved with lower than prescribed doses.
How GLP-1 Microdosing can help weight loss
As noted, Ozempic was originally developed and released for diabetes related insulin control and the weight loss component is a side benefit. For those looking to use Ozempic or other GLP-1 medication for weight loss, the typical starting dose is .25 mg. This is effectively a microdose. Typical dosage is increased so long as the side effects are tolerable and there is a corresponding weight loss. The goal is usually about one or two pounds a week. Once the pace of weight loss is steadily maintained the patient stays with it. The maximum recommended dose is 2.4mg. Ozempic and GLP-1 discussion groups, Reddit threads and blogs are constantly debating and discussing dosage amounts and results from personal experience. The effects of weight loss are truly unprecedented. Of the drugs mentioned, Ozempic and Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) are used for diabetes but can be used ‘off label’ for weight loss. They are also used as products from compounding pharmacies that make customizable dosing easier to do. Zepbound and Wegovy are versions of tirzepatide and semaglutide respectively, that are approved for weight loss.
How much weight can you lose with GLP-1 drugs?
Patients taking GLP-1 medication are definitely able to lose substantial amounts of body weight. Any weight loss plan should be accompanied by diet and exercise as is recommended by all physicians. There are studies that show users of semaglutide can lose about 15% of their body weight in approximately 68 weeks. Users of tirzepatide report even greater percentages of weight loss – up to 20% of body weight.
Side Effects and downside of GLP-1 medication
Now to the “not so fun” part. It is well known and widely reported across the literature that there can be some quite unpleasant side effects to taking GLP-1 drugs. These side effects include: nausea, vomiting, constipation and diarrhea. They are manageable with some but can be debilitating for others. They are the short term side effects that are experienced while taking the drug. There are also some more rare but serious side effects in some cases.
These include:
- pancreatitis,
- gastroparesis, (impaired movement of food out of the stomach)
- bowel obstruction,
- gallstone attacks and bile duct blockage.
Physicians advise that people who have IBS or who already suffer from gastroparesis should avoid GLP-1 drugs. Similarly, people with a family history of endocrine neoplasia, thyroid cancer or pancreatitis should avoid taking these drugs.
Why is microdosing so popular?
Microdosing GLP-1 drugs is popular and will likely remain popular due to the ability to calibrate dosages and the ability to mitigate side effects. This includes the gradual muscle loss and the occasional sagging, ‘wrinkly’ face known as ‘Ozempic face’ that characterizes the symptoms of rapid weight loss.
A lot of the adoption is attributed to social media and anecdotal reports of success with varying doses. The appeal of tailoring your own treatment while minimizing negative effects seems to be the driving factor. Regardless, it seems that there are promising benefits of microdosing, it will require some studies to confirm that the benefits are achievable at lower doses. Tailoring the dose to suit each individual’s goals and how well they tolerate the medication will remain as strong incentives.
Conclusion
More study is needed and in time medical professionals may add their support to microdosing with GLP-1 medication. In the meantime, as always it is essential to consult with a physician and you should pay attention to diet and have a consistent exercise regimen to accompany your treatment plan. Healthy weight management requires all three components.