Is micro-dosing Ozempic really a side effect free way to lose weight?
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Ozempic has been in the public consciousness now long enough that we’ve seen the dramatic weight loss effects it can deliver. But we’ve also seen people complaining of the side effects, from vomiting and headaches to terrifying seizures and extreme dehydration, as described by Lottie Moss, the 26-year-old model and sister of Kate Moss.
The semaglutide family of drugs, which includes Ozempic as well as Wegovy, which can be prescribed on the NHS to those with Type 2 diabetes, are medications that mimic the hormone GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1). This hormone, which is found naturally in the body, enhances insulin secretion, decreases glucagon levels, and can slow gastric emptying, leading to better blood sugar control and reduced appetite.
She says the results are amazing. “The most startling thing I’ve seen is that it stops that conversation in the brain, both around food and alcohol, that some people really battle with,” says Dr Wendy Denning, director of central-London based The Health Doctors. “When people are on these drugs, they don’t have to have a debate whether they should or shouldn’t eat that.” One of her patients has recently dropped from a size 22 to a size 12. “It has been a really brilliant tool for her.”.
The problem has been the side effects. Dr Denning had one patient “who was vomiting all week; I’ve had two patients who needed their gall bladders removed. There are real concerns.”. Some medical professionals feel that that the starting doses for semaglutides can often start too high. Doses for Ozempic start at 0.25 milligrams weekly and could go up to 2mg. Instead, some argue that micro-dosing – which could be as little as one-10th of the standard dose – allows for a more tailored approach.
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