Microdosing Mounjaro: Expert Insights

Microdosing is when you take a very small amount of a medication instead of the standard dose to potentially experience the benefits of the treatment while also minimising side effects.

For example, when taking Mounjaro, the dosing guide suggests starting at 2.5mg and increasing by 2.5mg every 4 weeks or more, until reaching the maximum maintenance dose of 15mg. Some people also stay on a lower dose, such as 5mg, for the whole time they take the medication, and you can still see significant changes in body weight without taking the maximum dose of the medication.

Someone who is microdosing Mounjaro may choose to take doses that are much less than the starting 2.5mg dose.

Can I microdose Mounjaro?

In the UK, KwikPens are used to administer Mounjaro, with dosages set by the pen to make administration easy and safe. You should always follow the instructions on how to inject Mounjaro set out by your doctor and the patient information leaflet.

It might be possible to adjust the dose to lower than the prescribed dose, but it’s tricky and potentially unsafe. As you’re not using the medication and KwikPen as designed, it’s not recommended by healthcare professionals.

Although there is currently no clinical evidence to suggest that microdosing Mounjaro is safe, some patients claim that it allows treatment plans to be more tailored to their needs. There are a few reasons why people look into microdosing Mounjaro – we’ll have a look at these here, as well as what you can do instead.

Cost

GLP-1 medications can be costly. Some people suggest that taking smaller doses can help the injection pen last longer and reduce the monthly costs. However, microdosing Mounjaro KwikPens is not cost-effective, as opened pens must be used within 30 days or thrown away. As you usually take Mounjaro once a week, if you do not take your full dose each week, then you’ll be left with medication in the pen that would need to be thrown away by day 30. In this case, it’s more cost-effective to stay at a lower dose if you’re worried about side effects, as you’ll get a better effect without wasting money or medication.

There may also be risks to minimising your dosage to reduce costs. Not following clinical dosage guidance when taking medications may result in side effects. Taking a dose that is not monitored by your doctor can put your health at risk while also minimising the effectiveness of your treatment. As a result of this, you risk wasting the money you have spent on treatment to begin with.

What can I do if cost is getting in the way of losing weight?

There are lots of free ways to improve your weight loss results, such as working out more, tailoring your diet, eating less, and being more active in your daily life. If you think you’d benefit from taking weight loss treatment, but there are too many costs in the way of taking GLP-1 medication like Mounjaro, there are alternative, more affordable treatments available.

For example, over-the-counter weight loss tablets like alli start from £39.99 at Asda Online Doctor, while prescription treatments like orlistat start at a month's supply for £44.00. Consult one of our Asda Online Doctors today to find out more information on which treatment is most suitable for you.

Side effects

It’s common to experience Mounjaro side effects, especially when increasing to higher doses. Some people believe that microdosing can help minimise side effects such as nausea (feeling sick), diarrhoea, and gastrointestinal issues while still giving the benefit of appetite control.

However, by taking the risk of microdosing, which is not clinically advised, you also risk experiencing side effects that health professionals are not yet aware of by administering Mounjaro in a way that is not advised and has not been researched. This is especially the case if you try microdosing by taking Mounjaro more than once a week.

What to do if you’re worried about side effects

If you’re worried about the side effects of Mounjaro, you should speak to your doctor before starting treatment. Knowing what side effects you could experience, as well as how to manage them, will help you when starting treatment. You can always stay on a lower dose for longer if you’re happy with your results and are tolerating the dose well. Having any medication in your body can cause side effects, even if you try to microdose.

➤ We have more detailed information on Mounjaro side effects and how to manage them in our guide.

Starting and maintaining slower weight loss

Taking very small doses of Mounjaro to start with may help people ease into their treatment, especially if they are nervous at the beginning of their treatment. Even at low doses, GLP-1 medications may still give you benefits like appetite suppression or stabilisation of blood sugar levels. Losing large amounts of weight rapidly can be very overwhelming and feel unsustainable, so some people have found that microdosing and losing smaller amounts of weight over time feels like a more sustainable option.

However, it’s already advised to titrate GLP-1 medications like Mounjaro. There is a dosing schedule already set up that your doctor will monitor, and you can gradually increase your dose if this is suitable for you and you want to. The medication has been tested as safe to use from 2.5 mg up to 15 mg, depending on the needs of the patient. This helps ease patients into their treatment with the guidance of a healthcare professional.

There is also clinical evidence supporting this method, with tirzepatide (Mounjaro) being proven to cause fewer side effects that are better tolerated when the dosage is gradually increased.

“If you choose to microdose Mounjaro, it may not work as well as it would if you were to take it as instructed by a healthcare professional. Consequently, you may not achieve significant weight loss or blood sugar control. As there are no current approved clinical guidelines for microdosing, it means that you are experimenting without clear safety procedures, making it a risky choice. If you’re uncertain about which dosage may be right for you, it’s better to raise this with your doctor to be on the safe side.” – Dr Zoe Miller, Medical Editor.

There is no clinical evidence or research that proves microdosing Mounjaro or other GLP-1 drugs is safe to do, so it may come with unknown risks. You must speak to a licensed medical professional before starting any weight loss medication. It’s possible that studies on microdosing might be done in the future, but for now, it’s still unknown what effects long-term microdosing will have on the body.