Ozempic 'microdosing' is the new weight-loss trend: Should you try it?

A new trend gaining popularity among people trying to lose weight is microdosing the diabetes medication Ozempic.

Eli Lilly also offers a diabetes medication, Mounjaro, as well as a version for weight loss, Zepbound.

She is also the author of the book "The Ozempic Revolution" that is set to be released on Jan. 7.

Fox News Digital spoke to the experts to get the skinny on this latest trend.

This practice is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

There are no established guidelines for microdosing - although there are reports on social media of using 10 to 100 times lower than standard prescriptions, added Dr. Christopher McGowan, a gastroenterologist and obesity specialist who runs True You Weight Loss in Cary, North Carolina.

Some people get confused by the terminology, the doctors noted.

"I think there's a little bit of a misconception, as some people say 'I'm microdosing' when they're just on the starting doses or don't go all the way up in the escalation titration dosing of the medication," Sowa said.

The primary reason for microdosing is to reduce costs, according to McGowan.

The average monthly retail price of Ozempic ranges from $1,000 or more without insurance, per GoodRx.

"Some individuals might start with microdoses to gradually acclimate their body to the medication, potentially easing into the full therapeutic dose over time," she said.

Any potential benefit of the medication, however, will likely wane proportionally with lower doses, experts noted.

Individuals may also microdose due to supply challenges, according to Dr. Amy Rothberg, clinical professor of medicine in the Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology & Diabetes at the University of Michigan. 

"Some feel they may derive a benefit from microdosing by being able to extend their supply and may perceive an effect," Rothberg, who is also the medical director of Rewind, a lifestyle program for type 2 diabetes patients, told Fox News Digital. "As we know, the placebo effect may have a strong impact."

The most likely risk of microdosing is a lack of effectiveness, McGowan noted.

Stanford also warned that smaller doses may not provide adequate blood sugar management, leading to uncontrolled diabetes and associated complications.

It can also lead to suboptimal weight loss and unpredictable results, as well as the potential for misuse, she added.

People who microdose often use a "compounded" version of the medication, which the FDA does not regulate.

"This introduces risks such as contamination, inconsistent formulations and uncertainty about the actual strength of the product being injected," McGowan stated.

Additionally, these compounded versions are usually dispensed in vials, which requires a syringe to draw it up, in contrast to the FDA-approved versions that are simpler to use.

Using the compounded versions through vials runs the risk of drawing up too much medication - so instead of microdosing, it's possible to macrodose, Sowa warned. 

"As long as it is being dispensed and monitored by a physician, I don't see how anybody is going to overdose, especially when we are giving such small amounts," Dr. Suzanne A. Trott, a double board-certified plastic and general surgeon in Beverly Hills, told Fox News Digital.

"I have seen a lot of patients who are given metformin for weight loss - I don't see how this is any different," said Trott, who runs her own microdosing clinic.

Trott pointed out that there are many "off-label" practices offered to patients.

Experts agree that sustained weight loss will not occur with medication alone.

In the absence of changes to diet and physical activity patterns, the long-term benefits will disappear once the drug is stopped, she noted.

Fox News Digital reached out to Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic, for comment.