Health
Why microdosing Ozempic could become as common as taking a multivitamin
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They may have gained popularity for diabetes and weight loss, but GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy have been linked to ever-expanding health benefits.
In fact, some doctors — including Dr. Terry Dubrow, a plastic surgeon and TV personality based in Newport Beach, California — recommend that everyone takes a low daily dose, even if they don’t need to lose weight.
Dubrow spoke on camera with Fox News Digital about the benefits of “microdosing” these medications. (See the video at the top of this article.)
How GLP-1s work
GLP-1 receptor agonists work by mimicking a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, which is released from the gut after eating.
The drugs help to regulate blood sugar, slow down emptying of the stomach and diminish appetite, and have also been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease.
Dr. Terry Dubrow, a plastic surgeon and TV personality based in Newport Beach, California, recommends that everyone takes a low daily dose of a GLP-1, even if they don’t need to lose weight. (Terry Dubrow)
“Sugar’s the enemy, and these drugs affect sugar in your blood,” Dubrow told Fox News Digital. “They affect the way insulin reacts.”
GLP-1s help insulin move the glucose (sugar) out of the bloodstream and into the body’s cells, where it can be used for energy or stored, the doctor said. The drugs also help to prevent the inflammation and damage sugar can cause in the blood vessels, nerves and organs.
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“I don’t think anyone would argue that if there was a way to manipulate the amount of sugar and inflammation your body’s exposed to, that is something we want to lean into. And that’s exactly what these drugs do,” Dubrow added.
In addition to regulating blood sugar and triggering weight loss, GLP-1s have also been approved to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events and kidney disease in certain patients.
“I have never seen a drug in the history of medicine be on such a rapid path to approval.”
“Even if you’re not overweight, being on these GLP-1 drugs … helps to minimize and prevent a repeat recurrent heart attack,” Dubrow said.
Semaglutide was also recently approved for MASH (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis), an inflammatory form of fatty liver disease.
Dubrow spoke on camera with Fox News Digital about the benefits of GLP-1 medications. (Fox News Digital)
GLP-1s are also being studied for potential cognitive benefits in Parkinson’s patients.
“I have never seen a drug in the history of medicine be on such a rapid path to approval,” Dubrow said.
The case for microdosing
Along with other experts, Dubrow is an advocate for microdosing, which is where people take low, steady doses of GLP-1s every day, even if they don’t need them for diabetes or obesity.
While patients with diabetes take doses that increase every four weeks, microdosing entails using a low-level dose that doesn’t go up.
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A younger population on TikTok has zeroed in on microdosing, Dubrow pointed out — and he thinks everyone should be doing it.
“I am obsessed with the concept of microdosing,” he said. “I think maybe half the starting dose for diabetes is 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.”
“Even if you’re not overweight, being on these GLP-1 drugs … helps to minimize and prevent a repeat recurrent heart attack,” Dubrow said. (iStock)
The doctor noted that there are still a lot of unknowns with GLP-1 medications.
“We are just figuring out now how to use these drugs for different indications, for different reasons,” he said. “We’re learning as we’re using it.”
“I am obsessed with the concept of microdosing.”
As with other drugs, like Botox, Dubrow said there is a bit of “human experimentation” at play.
“We’re figuring it out, and we’re teaching the medical profession how to do it. The patients are telling us how to use these drugs.”
Potential risks
GLP-1 medications have been linked to several potential risks. The most prevalent is gastrointestinal issues, such as nausea and vomiting.
Others have reported an increased risk of pancreatitis, muscle loss and thyroid tumors.
“I read every study that comes out on these drugs, and I can tell you, it’s very clear they don’t cause pancreatitas,” Dubrow said.
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“In fact, if you really look at the populations who have been using it, pancreatitis is less in those populations.”
Dubrow confirmed, however, that the drug has been linked to an increased risk of the very rare medullary cancer of the thyroid.
Those who experience severe side effects from GLP-1s should talk to a doctor, Dubrow advised. (iStock)
“If you have a family history of that, that’s a contraindication to you using these drugs,” he said.
Regarding the digestive side effects, the doctor said the medications do slow down the GI tract, but it’s been shown that the body adjusts to that over time.
“These particular drugs are natural hormones that occur in our small intestine, and you get used to the side effects. They go away.”
The severity of side effects is linked to the dose amount, Dubrow noted.
“The low dose, particularly the microdose, really has a low propensity toward the constipation, the nausea, the potential diarrhea, the GERD (reflux),” he said. “I think those side effects are less significant for people who microdose.”
To counteract the risk of muscle loss, Dubrow recommends increasing protein intake and incorporating resistance training as a core component of an exercise routine.
Those who do experience severe side effects should talk to a doctor, he advised.
Off-label use of GLP-1s, such as for microdosing, is common, Dubrow said — “but finding a doctor willing to prescribe can be difficult.” (iStock)
Drugmakers weigh in
When contacted by Fox News Digital, manufacturers of GLP-1 medications warned against microdosing the products.
“Lilly does not have any data on the benefits or risks of microdosing of Zepbound and Mounjaro,” said a spokesperson for Eli Lilly, maker of the GLP-1 drugs Mounjaro and Zepbounda. “Both autoinjectors and Zepbound vials are approved for single-use only — dose-splitting or ‘microdosing’ is not contemplated by the FDA label. As such, off-label use of Zepbound and Mounjaro may pose patient safety risks.”
“Off-label use of Zepbound and Mounjaro may pose patient safety risks.”
Novo Nordisk, maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, said it does not condone “misuse” of its products.
“It’s important to understand that for Wegovy, only the marked doses on the single-use, fixed-dose pens (0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 1.7 and 2.4 mg) are approved for use and represent an authentic FDA-approved medicine,” a spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “The starting dose of Wegovy® is 0.25 mg once a week, and the dose will gradually increase every four weeks. Patients should work with their healthcare professional to select either 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg for the maintenance dose.”
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“It is also important to note that the authentic Wegovy injectable pen is designed as a single-use pen, the dose is already set, and should not be altered or tampered with, and the pen must be disposed after one use.”
“Ozempic is a multi-use pen with one pen and multiple needles,” the spokesperson added.
Accessing GLP-1s
Dubrow said he’s not concerned about supply issues amid the growing popularity of GLP-1s, as major drug companies have the resources to “scale up” to meet the demand.
Off-label use of GLP-1s, such as for microdosing, is common, Dubrow said — “but finding a doctor willing to prescribe can be difficult.”
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The doctor cautioned against buying these drugs from online marketplaces, which he referred to as the “wild wild west.”
“It’s hard to find these drugs online from compounding pharmacies, because essentially they’re going rogue — it’s illegal. They’re not allow to do it,” he warned.
“These drugs are natural hormones that occur in our small intestine, and you get used to the side effects.”
“So if you’re getting it from rogue pharmacies that aren’t allowed to do it or are willing to bend the rules, what is it? You don’t know what you’re getting.”
“It may be an adulterated, weird version that has side effects or that’s not effective.”
Looking ahead
There are several next-generation drugs in development that combine multiple hormone pathways, Dubrow said.
“I predict within five years, we’ll have a pill … designed to manipulate hunger and insulin resistance,” he predicted.
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Overall, Dubrow said, GLP-1s are “here to stay.”
“They’re just going to get better, and we’re going to learn how to use them in a more appropriate and clinically effective way,” he said. “So fasten your seatbelt. If you’re not on them now, you will be later.”
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Oral insulin could one day replace injections for people with diabetes, new scientific discoveries suggest.
Researchers from Kumamoto University in Japan have announced the development of an insulin pill to help lower blood sugar.
For diabetics, insulin is typically administered via injection, but the pill would offer a non-invasive treatment option.
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“Insulin injections remain a daily burden for many patients,” said associate professor Shingo Ito, a researcher in the study’s press release. “Our peptide-based platform offers a new route to deliver insulin orally, and may be applicable to long-acting insulin formulations and other injectable biologics.”
Oral insulin could one day replace injections for people with diabetes, new scientific discoveries suggest. (iStock)
The study, published in the journal Molecular Pharmaceutics, tested the delivery of oral insulin by building a carrier peptide called DNP-V. This peptide helps to transport insulin through the small intestine, where protein drug absorption is usually poor.
In diabetic mice models, the researchers administered the peptide by mouth with zinc-stabilized insulin, which was formulated with zinc ions to make it more stable, according to the study.
“Insulin injections remain a daily burden for many patients.”
The result was a rapid and significant drop in blood glucose, as well as a sustained (longer-term) decrease. The mice’s blood sugar was reduced to near-normal levels.
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When DNP-V was attached directly to insulin, the results showed enhanced absorption in the intestines and a similar glucose-lowering effect, the researchers noted.
The treatment was effective in different diabetes models, significantly reducing blood sugar spikes after meals with just one dose per day.
The study was done in mice, which leaves uncertainty if the treatment will translate to humans. (iStock)
The findings suggest that DNP peptides could serve as flexible, adaptable platforms for delivering large-molecule drugs by mouth, the authors concluded in the study abstract.
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“This technology can simply and effectively convert injectable biopharmaceuticals into orally administrable forms, offering a promising path to practical, patient-friendly oral therapies,” they wrote.
Although the researchers are optimistic about the findings translating to larger therapeutic models, they noted that the results in mice do not guarantee the same outcome in humans, and that more research is needed.
For diabetics, insulin is typically administered via injection to regulate blood sugar levels. (iStock)
Dr. Marc Siegel commented on this development, noting that oral insulin could make a big difference in healthcare.
“Insulin use, especially in type 1 diabetes, is sometimes difficult to regulate by injection,” Siegel, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. “Oral use would have major advantages.”
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He added, “This is very promising provided that it works in humans, which is a big ‘if.’”
Fox News Digital reached out to the study authors for comment.
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Students at the University of Kent in the U.K. are calling for a shutdown in light of an active meningitis outbreak.
The demands follow multiple alerts from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) about the outbreak.
As of March 18, the agency had announced a total of 15 confirmed cases of meningococcal disease, 12 additional potential cases and two deaths in Kent, a county in the southeast of England. The University of Kent is located in Canterbury, a historic city within Kent.
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Meningococcal disease is a serious bacterial infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It can cause two life-threatening conditions: meningitis (infection of the brain and spinal cord lining) and a bloodstream infection called septicemia, which can lead to sepsis, per the above source.
Two people have died amid an outbreak of meningitis at the University of Kent in Canterbury. (Carl Court/Getty Images)
Even with prompt treatment, meningococcal disease can become fatal within hours. Health agencies report a typical fatality rate of about 10% to 15%.
In response to the outbreak, students at the University of Kent launched an online petition calling for campus to be closed.
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“Students at the University of Kent are increasingly concerned about reports of meningitis and sepsis cases affecting members of the campus community,” the petition states, as posted on Change.org. “The confirmation of two deaths, along with reports of hospitalizations, has caused understandable concern among students and staff.”
The petition expressed concern that in-person exams, lectures and other campus activities are continuing amid the outbreak.
As of March 18, health officials had announced a total of 15 confirmed cases of meningococcal disease, 12 additional potential cases and two deaths in Kent, a county in the southeast of England. (Carl Court/Getty Images)
“Many students feel that they are being placed in a difficult position: attend exams and in-person activities during a period of heightened concern or prioritize their health and well-being while risking potential academic consequences,” the petition states. “Students should not feel forced to choose between protecting their well-being and continuing their education.”
“Students deserve to feel safe on campus,” the petition concluded. “We are therefore calling on the University of Kent to consider precautionary steps to prioritize the well-being of students and staff during this situation.
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Preventative antibiotic treatment is being distributed to University of Kent students, according to UKHSA, as well as to those who visited Club Chemistry, a nightclub in Canterbury, between March 5 and March 7.
“A vaccination program has started for students and staff who live in or work in the halls at the University of Kent Canterbury Campus — approximately 5,000 students,” the agency noted.
Fox News Digital reached out to the university requesting comment.
Symptoms of meningococcal disease
Described by the CDC as a “rare but severe illness,” meningococcal disease most commonly causes symptoms of meningitis, including fever, stiff neck, headache, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light or altered mental status.
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It can also cause meningococcal bloodstream infection, which is marked by fever and chills, vomiting, fatigue, vomiting, cold hands and feet, severe aches and pains, diarrhea, rapid breathing or a dark purple rash, the CDC notes.
Transmission and treatment
Meningitis infections can spread through close contact with someone who has meningococcal disease, “generally, through things like coughing or kissing, but it can also spread by being in the same household or room for extended periods of time with an individual who is infected,” Dr. Barbara Bawer, a primary care physician at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, previously told Fox News Digital.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is contacting 30,000 students and staff of the university to notify them of the outbreak. (Carl Court/Getty Images)
Those who have symptoms of the disease should see their primary care physician immediately, according to the doctor.
As symptoms tend to progress quickly and can be life-threatening, it is essential that the patient receives antibiotics immediately.
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“It can become fatal or dangerous very quickly — within hours — for any individual, especially if antibiotics are not initiated in a timely manner,” Bawer warned. “Even with antibiotics, meningitis can be fatal.”
She added, “This is often due to misdiagnosis, because meningitis can mimic many other illnesses.”
Infection prevention
Most cases of meningococcal disease worldwide are caused by six variations of the Neisseria meningitidis bacteria — A, B, C, W, X and Y.
In the U.S., the most common variations are B, C, W and Y. There are vaccines available to protect against types A, C, W and Y (the MenACWY vaccine) and type B (MenB vaccine), according to the CDC.
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“MenACWY vaccines are routinely recommended for adolescents and for people with other risk factors or underlying medical conditions, including HIV,” the agency previously stated.
“Students should not feel forced to choose between protecting their well-being and continuing their education.”
To reduce risk, Bawer recommends that people get vaccinated with the current meningitis vaccine as recommended by the CDC and avoid being in very closed-in spaces with others as much as possible.
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“If you know of someone who has meningitis in your household or you’ve come in contact with their oral secretions (i.e., you kissed them), then you should get preventative antibiotics,” the doctor told Fox News Digital.
This is even more important for those who are immune-compromised or who are on medications that decrease the immune system, Bawer added.
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