What is Microdosing?
Microdosing a GLP-1 (aka Ozempic, Wegovy, semaglutide, tirzepatide, zepbound, etc) is taking a lower than the lowest granular dose prescribed by the FDA for weight loss, but some people use it interchangeably when referring to one of the smaller doses on the dosing schedule. Microdosing is typically meant to maintain your current weight, but maximize the non-weight loss benefits of the medication – namely blood sugar management (aka reducing the spikes) and combatting inflammation.
At our practice, we have a special Microdosng program designed and developed by our founder and medical director, Dr. Evan Blum, MD. This program is built specifically to optomize the benefits of a dose of .2 mg or less. To book an appointment to begin microdosing, use the code MICRODOSE to get your first appointment and first five weeks of dosing/ medication for $299. Book here!
The microdosing program functions similar to our standard weight wellness program with unlimited access to medical team. The program is $299 every five weeks for doses under .2 mg and includes all medication and care.
The right way to microdose a GLP-1:
The right way to microdose a GLP-1 is to take a subjectively small dose every 7 days. The reason we say subjectively small is because every single person is different. The amount of GLP-1 that is perfect for someone (even at a microdosing level) could be too little or too much for someone else.
When we say microdose, we also specifically think that the medication is meant to work and exist “behind the scenes.” Its impact on appetite is minimal. You may be making better choices and having slightly smaller portions, but on a microdose, you should not be eating significantly less.
The only correct way to microdose a GLP-1 is to take the medication every 7 days. Because the half-life of semaglutide is 7 days (165 hours), it reaches steady state in 4-5 weeks. Not being in a steady state creates an environment of erratic side effects (both positive and negative), in addition to increasing the likelihood of negative side effects (think: nausea, GI issues, etc) as the medication works its way into and out of your system. Dosing on a schedule that is less frequent than a 7 day schedule creates a “sine wave” which attributes to this in addition to allowing us to to key in on the benefits of a specific dose (and its holistic benefits) rather than chasing a moving target.
To maximize low dose benefits, like combatting inflammation, a steady state is 100% necessary. The medication specifically works to combat inflammation primarily by influencing the body's metabolic processes and by directly interacting with cells in the body to modulate inflammatory pathways, particularly through mechanisms involving the AMPK signaling pathway in the liver and brain cells. Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) may cause chronic inflammation and tissue damage. GLP-1RAs decrease ROS generation, thus mitigating oxidative stress and inflammation. These agents protect cells from inflammatory harm by reducing oxidative stress and supporting tissue equilibrium.
If that put you to sleep, it’s best to chat with your doctor or nurse practitioner about what these benefits can mean for you.
The wrong way to microdose:
Microdosing the wrong way can create more internal chaos than harmony. With regard to dosing off of a 7 day schedule, only regulating blood sugar from time to time can make spikes and symptoms of a blood sugar spike more noticeable. A sine wave of medication due to the longer time between doses also can create inconsistent maintenance of weight, and any gain that comes as a result of inconsistent medication can lead to stress and fatigue. Inflammation benefits are also inconsistent when dosing is not done with regard to the half-life, but long term inflammation effects and inconsistency is not known.
Conclusion:
Microdosing a GLP-1 has incredible benefits for maintaining a healthy weight and combatting inflammation – which can cause damage to healthy cells, tissues and organs, and may cause internal scarring, tissue death and damage to the DNA in previously healthy cells, in addition to being linked to chronic illnesses like cardiovascular disease, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, obesity, diabetes. If you’re at a healthy weight, but have a family history of some inflammation linked diseases or if you are looking to optimize your health and want to start with decreasing inflammation, microdosing a GLP-1 could be beneficial for you.
The bottom line is you should consult with your doctor before any change in dosing so that you can have a complete plan and what those implications mean for your body and results. If you’re interested in starting a microdose journey, you can:
- Book an appointment to kick off the microdosing program with code MICRODOSE to get your first appointment and first five weeks of dosing/ medication for $299.
- Email us at info@theaestheticconcierge.co to discuss if microdoing may be right for you
- Schedule a pre-appointment for $19 to assess if microdosing a GLP-1 is right for you.
With providers practicing in North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, New York, Arizona, Florida, Maryland and more, you can book your appointment today.
