Jump to: What is Ozempic? | What is Ozempic microdosing? | Are there any risks with Ozempic microdosing? | Take home message
It’s not clinically recommended to microdose Ozempic or other weight-loss injections like Wegovy and Mounjaro.
Ozempic is a drug that’s approved for type 2 diabetes in the UK and can’t be prescribed for weight loss.
In the U.S., the drug can be prescribed for weight loss, and there are reports of doctors and patients touting the benefits of microdosing the medication.
However, this isn’t clinically recommended, and there isn’t any evidence investigating the impact of micro-dosing Ozempic or other GLP-1s on health outcomes.
Ozempic is available in the following dosing schedule:
- Month 1: 0.25mg
- Month 2: 0.5mg
- Month 3+: Up to 1mg but can maintain on lower doses
Physicians in the UK will only prescribe Ozempic according to this dosing schedule. Using Ozempic outside of this recommendation could result in your prescription being withdrawn.
What is Ozempic?
Ozempic is the brand name of the drug semaglutide, a weekly injectable medication which supports blood sugar control and lowers appetite to support weight loss.
Semaglutide works by mimicking the hormone GLP-1. GLP-1 is a hormone released by the gut after we eat a meal; it communicates directly with the brain to lower food-seeking behaviours and hunger.
Ozempic gained popularity as a weight-loss medication due to its appetite-suppressing effects. This led to a global shortage of the medication as people flocked to get an Ozempic prescription.
This led to the UK government banning the prescription of Ozempic as a weight-loss medication to ensure supply for people living with type 2 diabetes.
Since then, Wegovy (the same drug as Ozempic but available in higher doses) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) have been approved for weight loss and are now available in the UK.
What is Ozempic microdosing?
Microdosing involves taking smaller-than-recommended doses of a medication. People seem to have turned to microdosing Ozempic to minimise side effects, reduce costs, or attempt to enhance its benefits.
However, this approach isn’t supported by medical research and may invalidate your prescription of Ozempic in the UK.
Are there any risks with microdosing Ozempic?
Ozempic is designed to work at specific doses that have been clinically tested. Microdosing may render the medication ineffective for both blood sugar control and weight loss.
Even at low doses, Ozempic may still cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and other gastrointestinal issues. Microdosing doesn’t eliminate these risks and may still lead to side effects.
Additionally, no clinical trials support the safety or efficacy of micro-dosing Ozempic. This practice is experimental without clinical evidence and relies on anecdotal reports on podcasts and social media.
Using Ozempic without proper medical supervision may increase the risk of adverse effects and complications. Self-medicating may lead to incorrect dosages and misuse.
We’d recommend taking Ozempic according to the approved guidelines and maintaining ongoing communication with your prescribing pharmacist and doctor.
Regular medical supervision helps manage side effects and track progress, making necessary adjustments for optimal results.
Healthcare professionals can handle any adverse effects and provide guidance on managing them, reducing the risk of serious complications.
Take home message
We live in a time where access to information is easier than ever. This can be positive as it democratises science and allows people to access actionable health information at the click of a button. However, it can also lead to harm.
Drugs undergo rigorous research and development before they’re finally approved for prescription. This process takes many years and involves thousands of participants.
They’re approved at precise dosing schedules that have been intensely tested to find the appropriate level that maximises effectiveness while minimising potential side effects.
Ozempic is no different, and microdosing Ozempic or similar weight-loss injections isn’t clinically recommended or supported by medical evidence.
We recommend adhering to the approved dosing schedule of any medication under medical supervision to ensure safety and effectiveness.
Weight-loss injections are most effective when combined with a healthier lifestyle. They can help kickstart weight loss while you commit to developing healthier habits.
Mounjaro and other weight loss injections, like Ozempic and Wegovy, can allow you to make lifestyle changes to support long-term weight loss.
These medications can help silence food-related thoughts and give you a boost of confidence with more immediate weight-loss results.
They can also buy you the time and headspace to understand why your body may have struggled to lose weight and build new long-term healthy habits.
The core focus of our medication programmes is to calm down the feeling of food noise, lower your cravings, and allow you to build healthier habits to keep the weight off for good.
The ultimate goal is to make losing weight feel second nature.
Second Nature’s medication programmes
Second Nature has two medication-supported programmes: a Wegovy weight-loss programme and a Mounjaro weight-loss programme.
If you’ve made the decision to try Wegovy or Mounjaro (assuming you’re eligible), why should you choose Second Nature over other medication providers?
For peace of mind.
Second Nature has worked with the NHS for over 6 years, providing weight-loss programmes across the UK.
Whilst our Wegovy and Mounjaro weight-loss programmes are private and not currently used by the NHS, we’ve built the programmes focusing on scientific evidence, patient safety, and data security.
We hope that our 6+ years of working with the NHS and building a track record of effective weight-loss results will give you peace of mind to give us a try.
