Weight Loss Trend: People Are Now Microdosing Ozempic

Weight Loss Trend: People Are Now Microdosing Ozempic

In recent years, medications like Ozempic and Wegovy have transitioned from a diabetes treatments to widely used weight loss drugs, often without medical oversight. Now, a new trend has emerged, with some individuals “microdosing” Ozempic. Here, we explore the trend.

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WHAT DOES MICRODOSING OZEMPIC INVOLVE?

Ozempic, the brand name of medication semaglutide, belongs to a class of drugs known as GLP-1 agonists. GLP-1 agonists work by providing a synthetic, longer-lasting version of the GLP1 peptide hormone, which is naturally produced by our body. This hormone that influences appetite and insulin secretion. The drug was originally approved as a diabetes treatment, but it has recently garnered attention for its ability to suppress appetite and promote weight loss, leading to its off-label use for obesity management.

Microdosing Ozempic typically involves using the medication at doses lower than those recommended by the manufacturer. Those at the forefront of the trend claim that this approach can help to minimise side effects, reduce costs, and potentially enhance the drug’s benefits. Some patients and doctors have reported success with this method, particularly in managing gastrointestinal side effects that are common with standard dosing.

ARE THERE BENEFITS OF MICRODOSING? 

Supporters argue that microdosing allows for a more gradual introduction to the medication, potentially improving tolerability and adherence. By taking smaller doses, users hope to experience the appetite suppressing effects of Ozempic without the gastrointestinal discomfort commonly associated with the medication. Microdosing may make the medication more accessible by extending the lifespan of each prescription, which can be particularly appealing given the high cost of weight loss injections.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF MICRODOSING OZEMPIC?

There are a number of potential concerns around microdosing weight loss injections like Ozempic. They include the following: 

REDUCED EFFECTIVENESS

Weight loss injections are designed to work at specific doses that have been clinically tested. Lowering the dose may render it ineffective for both blood sugar control and weight loss, as there is no established data around the efficacy of microdosing these drugs.

SIDE EFFECTS

Even at lower doses, Ozempic can still cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and other gastrointestinal issues. Microdosing does not eliminate these risks and may still lead to adverse effects. Read our guide to the side effects of weight loss injections like Ozempic and Wegovy.

LACK OF CLINICAL TRIALS

There is no clinical evidence supporting the safety or efficacy of microdosing Ozempic. This practice is experimental and relies on anecdotal reports rather than scientific data.

HIGH RISK

Since there are not currently tested recommended dosing instructions for microdosing these drugs, the risk rises when they are used in this way. Without proper medical supervision, individuals may incorrectly adjust their dosage, potentially leading to complications or reduced efficacy. Using medications without medical oversight can increase the risk of adverse effects and misuse.

MENTAL HEALTH RISKS

There are studies linking Ozempic to mental health issues such as anxiety, panic attacks, and suicidal thoughts. These side effects could be exacerbated by improper dosing.

SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS

The long-term effects of microdosing Ozempic are largely unknown, but the medication itself has been linked to several serious health risks. These include an FDA warning for thyroid C-cell tumours, potential but inconclusive links to pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, reports of acute kidney failure, and associations with gallbladder disease such as cholelithiasis. Long-term monitoring and further research are needed to fully understand these risks.

MICRODOSING WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS: IN THE MEDIA

Bunnie XO, wife of country singer Jelly Roll, made headlines when she shared her experience with “microdosing” tirzepatide, a weight loss drug typically used for diabetes, on her podcast, Dumb Blonde. Despite taking a small dose, she suffered severe side effects, including nausea and gastrointestinal distress, leading her to spend the night in the bathroom. Bunnie noted that while she lost weight—about a pound and a half—she still felt extremely hungry. She expressed concerns about the medication’s effects, emphasising her preference for natural health solutions.

PROCEED WITH CAUTION

With a move toward microdosing Ozempic as a new approach to weight loss, we urge individuals to proceed with caution. Working with a qualified medical professional and adhering to approved dosing schedules is always recommended. The potential risks of experimenting with unproven dosing methods may outweigh any perceived benefits.

If you want to achieve long term weight loss, it typically requires more than medication alone. It’s important to take a comprehensive approach that includes optimising your diet and lifestyle. Read more about how to manage your nutrition while on weight loss injections in our article What’s The Best Diet When You’re On Ozempic.

WORK WITH US 

We work with a number of clients to support them in optimising their diet while they’re on weight loss injections like Ozempic. And many more who prefer to lose weight in a natural way, without the use of medicatiosn. If you’re ready to overcome your health and weight challenges and establish supportive habits that stick long term, we can help. You can use this link to book in for a complimentary call today. This is an opportunity to talk through your challenges with a member of our team. Together you can decide together whether one of our Intelligent Weight Loss programmes is right for you. Or contact us to request a copy of our brochure and we will get back to you soon.

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LINDA ROBINSON

Linda is our Practice Coordinator, helping to keep the clinic running smoothly.

 

Originally from Texas, Linda completed her MBA at SDA Bocconi in Milan. Linda has worked as a Strategy Consultant across multiple industries globally in cities including Kyoto, Paris, Chicago and San Francisco. She developed an interest in nutrition whilst volunteering for an organisation that provides cooking and nutrition education to children and families.

Linda is now settled in London with her husband, two children, and her very bouncy, sociable dog.

SARAH LAW

Sarah has worked with hundreds of clients over the past decade to help them live in a healthy body that they feel confident in.


Sarah spent a large part of her teens and 20’s as a professional dancer battling with orthorexia and an unhealthy relationship with food and her body. This created a desire to understand the human body more so she could finally cut through the confusion and end the cycle of yoyo dieting. This fuelled her passion to help other women do the same.

 

Sarah specialises in supporting women who are struggling to lose weight due to underlying health issues. She’s helped many women manage their weight during and after the menopause, as well as clients with thyroid disease and immune system dysfunction. Sarah loves food and sharing healthy recipes with her clients. Her aim is to ensure that clients don’t feel deprived and instead, achieve their weight loss and health goals in a positive and sustainable way.

 

To enquire about working with Sarah, please contact us.

AILSA HICHENS

 

Ailsa is one of our most experienced practitioners. She specialises in helping clients to lose weight, develop a healthy relationship with food and finally feel comfortable in their skin. Ailsa’s mission is for everyone she works with to enjoy the journey and that working with a nutritionist should not be a punishment, but your access to a new possibility.

 

Ailsa is not only an experienced weight loss nutritionist, she is also a skilled coach. She helps our clients overcome emotional eating, destructive habits and self-sabotaging behaviours that have prevented successful weight loss in the past. Ailsa has spent years in clinic working with clients who have experienced yo-yo dieting and have discovered that long term weight loss is not just about eating less until you can stand it no longer.

 

Working with Ailsa you will be comprehensively supported, not only in improving your nutrition and lifestyle, but also your eating habits and your relationship with food. When you work on all these elements together, the results can be truly astonishing.

 

To enquire about working with Ailsa, please contact us.

Test Nikki is our Practice Manager, managing our team of practitioners and heading up the day-to-day running of the business. Nikki is involved in the strategic development of our practice, coming from a strong business background in town planning. A Florida girl, Nikki relocated to the UK in 2014 with her husband and two children.

NIKKI ANDRIANI

Nikki is our Practice Manager, managing our team and heading up the day-to-day running of our clinic.

 

Coming from a background in town planning, Nikki is involved in the strategic development of our practice, continually ensuring we are delivering the very best service to our clients.


A Florida girl, Nikki relocated to the UK in 2014 where she lives with her husband, two children, and her rescue dog Skyy.

STÉPHANIE ACHAR

Stéphanie is a skilled nutritional therapist and functional medicine practitioner with additional training in eating disorders, disordered eating and obesity. She believes that working towards both physiological and mental health is key in achieving optimum wellbeing.

 

Stéphanie’s personal experience of emotional eating and the ongoing struggle to find the right support led her to combine the science of nutrition with behavioural coaching to motivate and empower her clients. She specialises in helping people who struggle with their weight and their relationship with food. She helps them develop a healthier and more peaceful relationship with food and their bodies.

 

To enquire about working with Stéphanie, please contact us.

INNA WEARN

Inna is passionate about supporting women on their journey to improved health and wellbeing. She believes that the solution to effective weight loss does not lie in ever more restrictive diets, but a more sophisticated approach that optimises health and vitality, as well as promoting effective weight loss.

 

Working with Inna you will benefit from her in-depth knowledge of female health and hormones. She will support you in developing a healthy diet, lifestyle and mindset that ensures you reach your ideal weight and maintain it in the years to come.

 

Inna is passionate about food with a wide repertoire of delicious healthy recipes and meal ideas to ensure your weight loss journey is as enjoyable as possible!

 

To enquire about working with Inna, please contact us.

ANIA MASON

 

Ania is a firm believer that improving your health and losing weight should be a positive, empowering journey, not one centred around deprivation.

 

After being diagnosed with two autoimmune conditions in her twenties, Ania spent several years educating herself on the power of food and nutrition. She put it all into practise and changed her diet and lifestyle, reversing her endometriosis and thyroid disease. After experiencing such a significant improvement in her health, Ania had a big desire to help others. She embarked on a four year journey to study nutrition, graduating from the Institute for Optimum Nutrition with distinction.

 

Ania specialises in autoimmunity and works with clients who have underlying health issues preventing successful weight loss. Her expertise enables her to successfully support our clients with conditions such as hypothyroidsm (underactive thyroid), PCOS and diabetes. 

 

To enquire about working with Ania, please contact us.

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