“Microdosing” is a fairly new phenomenon that has grown in popularity in recent years. It was first applied to psychedelic drugs and medications, to help with depression and anxiety. Now, with the current popularity of weight loss injections, like Mounjaro and Wegovy, attention has turned to taking “microdoses” of them to experience potential benefits.
Mounjaro and Wegovy belong to a group of weight loss injections called GLP-1 receptor agonists. These are medications that mimic the natural hormone, GLP-1, that is found in our bodies. This makes you feel fuller quicker and for longer, which can be used to help control blood sugar levels to treat type 2 diabetes, and can also make it far easier to lose weight.
Microdosing Mounjaro
The idea behind microdosing is to take a smaller dose of a medication than the recommended dose. There are various different reasons why someone might decide to take a smaller dose of the GLP-1 medications.
Some anecdotal claims say that taking a microdose of Mounjaro or Wegovy can help achieve its benefits of weight loss and lower blood sugar levels whilst simultaneously potentially minimising side effects. As of publishing, there has been no clinical evidence of this.
Another reason can be cost. The GLP-1 injections can be very expensive and many who use the medication cannot afford it, especially if you are taking Mounjaro or Wegovy for a long period of time. Because of this, you might decide to take smaller doses to make your injection pen last longer. Or decide that purchasing a lower, smaller dose of Wegovy and Mounjaro might be a more cost effective decision for you.
Mounjaro and Wegovy are both very effective methods to help aid the process of weight loss. Many experience significant weight loss, all the way to their target weight. Once they come off the medication, some patients find maintaining the new reduced weight challenging. Some view microdosing as a method to help them prevent putting the weight that they have lost back on.
The Risks of Microdosing
As mentioned above, the benefits of microdosing weight loss drugs have not been clinically researched. Most of the “evidence” advocating for microdosing have been from users’ experiences or the opinion of some healthcare professionals – there have been no clinical trials that support whether the practice of microdosing is safe, meaning microdosing is not recommended.
It is important to also note that Mounjaro and Wegovy pens have been designed to work at very specific doses. Each pen is designed to accurately deliver their set dose, and these doses have been clinically researched and approved.
So, microdosing might actually lead to getting less of the medication, rendering it less effective at reducing weight and decreasing blood sugar levels. Not only can microdosing lead to underdosing, there is a risk of overdosing. This can happen if you inject too much medication.
And, actually, taking a smaller dose of Mounjaro or Wegovy actually does not reduce the risk of side effects. Even at low microdoses, they still can lead to common side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and GI upset. And, if you take microdoses without medical supervision, then, this can increase the chances of experiencing complications and adverse effects due to the risk of self-administering an incorrect dose.
So, it is recommended to take Mounjaro or Wegovy as per the guidelines. This is safer as the doses have been clinically researched and have been approved for use. It is important to have open communication with your doctor or pharmacist if you feel that Mounjaro or Wegovy is not working for you.
Proper Dosing
So, you may be wondering what the correct doses for weight loss medications like Mounjaro and Wegovy are. Both injections are taken in a similar fashion and both follow a similar style of dosing schedule.
Mounjaro is available in doses ranging from 2.5 mg to 15 mg. You would be started on an initial dose of 2.5 mg which would be taken for 4 weeks. Then, the dose of Mounjaro can be increased in 2.5 mg increments, moving up to a higher dose every 4 weeks until your maintenance dose has been reached.
The maintenance dose is the highest dose that you will stay on that will maximise your long-term weight loss. This can vary from 5 mg, all the way up to 15 mg. For further details, see our Mounjaro dosing guide.
Wegovy is similar to Mounjaro in that you start on an initial dose that is taken for 4 weeks, then you increase your dose in increments every 4 weeks until you reach your maintenance doses. They range from 0.25 mg to 2.4 mg. Even though these doses seem lower than Mounjaro, Wegovy is still a very effective tool for weight management.
Your doctor will ultimately decide what the correct doses will work the best for you and your weight management journey.
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References
Ken (2024). Microdosing GLP-1 Medications: A New Weight Management Trend. [online] Integra Health and Wellness. Available at: https://integrahealthandwellness.com/microdosing-glp-1-medications-a-new-trend-in-weight-management/ [Accessed 22 Nov. 2024].
Mammoser, G. (2024). Ozempic Microdosing Is Gaining Popularity. Does It Work for Weight Loss? [online] Healthline. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health-news/ozempic-microdosing-weight-loss [Accessed 22 Nov. 2024].
