Should you microdose Ozempic? Experts are split on risks vs benefits

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The rise of GLP-1s (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) has introduced new approaches to both weight loss and overallmetabolic health.

Some users have found that microdosing, or taking the drug in small amounts, achieves the best health outcomes, but some experts warn against it.

Terry Dubrow, a plastic surgeon and TV personality based in Newport Beach, California, recommended that everyone takes a low daily dose, even if they don’t need tolose weight.

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“I am obsessed with the concept of microdosing,” he said.“I think maybe half the starting dosefor diabetesis the way to go — and you probably don’t need it every seven days, it’s probably every 10 days, just to sort of modulate the amount of sugar in the blood.”

Microdosing GLP-1s could be more costly long-term, according to a bariatric surgeon.(iStock)

The approach has gained popularity on social media, as influencers and self-proclaimed “health gurus” have promoted it even for people without diabetes or obesity.

In a recent episode of the Full Send podcast, Bryan Johnson, a venture capitalist and online creator who aims to reverse aging andextend human lifespan, shared that he microdoses Ozempic.

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“There are some side effects.For example, the dose I’m on raises myresting heart rateby two or three beats, which is a big deal for me, but the benefits are great,” he said.

“GLP-1s are the first legit longevity drug,” he went on.“It’s an amazing drug … There’s just nothing that rivals its efficacy.”

“It’s an amazing drug … There’s just nothing that rivals its efficacy,” Bryan Johnson said about Ozempic.(iStock)

Johnson suggested that a future where most people are microdosing GLP-1s is “not too far off.”

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“I am as healthy as a person can be, and I still benefit from GLP-1s,” he said.“It has other metabolic effects, it has goodneuroprotective effects.”

Despite these claims, some weight-loss experts find this approach to be not only more costly, but also less effective.

One longevity guru suggested that a future where most people are microdosing a GLP-1s is “not too far off.”(REUTERS/Hollie Adams/File Photo)

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“[That’s] because you’re adjusting the dose and then not getting the full benefits of the medication,” he said.“I see people who get frustrated that they are not achieving theweight-loss goalthey were hoping for because they are spreading out their doses.”

“The risk is that you’re not only playing with the potential benefits, but you’re also playing with the side effects, likenausea and vomiting.”

The expert recommends working closely with a healthcare provider before starting a GLP-1.“I do not encourage microdosing on your own,” he added.

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�s Melissa Rudy contributed to this report.