Ozepic ‘microdosing’ is gaining popularity — but is it effective?

A new trend that is gaining popularity among people trying to lose weight is the microdosing of the diabetes drug Ozempic.

With about 70% of American adults meeting the criteria for being obese or overweight, more people are turning to weight loss medications to help them shed pounds.

Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes, while its counterpart, Wegovy, is approved for the treatment of obesity. Both are made by Novo Nordisk.

Eli Lilly also offers a diabetes drug, Mounjaro, as well as a weight-loss version, Zepbound.

“Ozempic is the only version among the weekly injectors – Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound and Mounjaro – that has the ability to ‘hack’ the pen for a smaller dose,” Dr. Alexandra Sowa, an obesity medicine specialist and founder of SoWell New. York, told Fox News Digital.

She is also the author of the book “The Ozempic Revolution” which will be released on January 7th.

Fox News Digital spoke with experts to get the skinny on this latest trend.

What is microdosing?

Microdosing Ozempic refers to using smaller amounts compared to standard therapeutic doses that have traditionally been prescribed to manage type 2 diabetes and aid in weight loss, experts say.

This practice is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“Healthcare clinicians typically do not recommend this approach, as the standard dosing regimen is based on clinical evidence that determines the most effective and safest amount for these conditions,” noted Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity medicine physician 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 less than standard prescriptions, Dr. Christopher McGowan, a gastroenterologist and obesity specialist who runs Real Weight Loss in Cary, North Carolina.

Some people are confused by the terminology, doctors noted.

“I think there’s a bit of a misunderstanding, as some people say ‘I’m microdosing’ when they’re only on starting doses or they don’t go all the way to titration dosing,” Sowa said.

Benefits of microdosing

The main reason for microdosing is to keep costs down, according to McGowan.

For example, he said, a patient might think that if a full prescription costs more than $250 a week, they might be able to get a benefit with just $25 worth of medicine.

The average monthly retail price of Ozempic ranges from $1,000 or more without insurance, per GoodRx.

People can also follow microdosing to reduce the incidence or severity of side effects such as nausea, vomiting or stomach discomfort, according to Stanford.

“Some individuals may start with microdoses to gradually acclimate their body to the drug, potentially easing to the full therapeutic dose over time,” she said.

However, any potential benefit of the drug is likely to diminish proportionally with lower doses, experts noted.

Individuals may also microdose due to supply challenges, according to Dr. Amy Rothberg, clinical professor of medicine in the Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetes at the University of Michigan.

“Some find that they can benefit from microdosing by being able to stretch their supply and they can perceive 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 strong impact.”

The most likely risk of microdosing is lack of effectiveness, McGowan noted.

“Microdosing Ozempic or any other [weight-loss] the medications are completely off-label and unproven, with no supporting clinical studies,” he warned.

Stanford also warned that smaller doses may not provide adequate blood sugar management, leading to uncontrolled diabetes and related complications.

It can also lead to suboptimal weight loss and unpredictable results, as well as the potential for misuse, she added.

People who microdose often use a “complicated” version of the drug, which the FDA does not regulate.

“This presents risks such as contamination, inconsistent formulations and uncertainty about the actual strength of the product being injected,” McGowan said.

Additionally, these compounded versions are usually dispensed in a bottle, which requires a syringe to dispense it, in contrast to FDA-approved versions that are simpler to use.

Using compounded versions through vials risks compounding too much medicine — so instead of microdosing, it’s possible to macrodose, Sowa warned.

Medical supervision is essential

Some providers are still content to offer microdosing to select patients with one caveat — that people should always consult a health care clinician before changing their medication regimen.

“As long as it’s dispensed and monitored by a doctor, I don’t see how anyone would overdose, especially when we’re giving such small amounts,” Dr. Suzanne A. Trott, a board-certified plastic and general surgeon in Beverly Hills, told Fox News Digital.

“I’ve seen a lot of patients given metformin for weight loss — I don’t see how it’s any different,” said Trott, who runs her own microdosing clinic.

Trott noted that there are many “off-label” practices offered to patients.

“Botox and fillers aren’t even FDA approved for most of the places we use them,” she noted.

Experts agree that lasting weight loss won’t happen with medication alone.

“I think people realize that it’s easier to take a drug, but they overlook the accompanying behavioral changes,” Rothberg said.

Absent changes in diet and physical activity patterns, the long-term benefits will disappear once the drug is discontinued, she noted.

Trott also recommends maintaining consistent exercise, strength training, hydration and high protein intake to maintain muscle mass.