Glossary
Microdosing
Also called Micro-dosing, Low-dose protocol, Maintenance microdose
Taking a much smaller dose than the standard one, often a fraction of a starter dose. Common in GLP-1 communities for side effects, cost or maintenance.
In more detail
The term comes from psychedelics, where it means sub-perceptual doses. With GLP-1 drugs it usually means staying below the label's starter dose or splitting a weekly dose into smaller, more frequent shots.
There are no trials of GLP-1 microdosing. Doctors quoted in news coverage call it a data-free zone. People who do it report using it to ease nausea, to stretch supply, or to hold their weight after reaching a goal.
Why it matters
Tiny doses need careful syringe reading. A 0.3 mL syringe with fine lines makes small volumes far easier to measure than a 1 mL one. See How to read an insulin syringe.
Related terms
- TitrationStarting at a low dose and raising it in steps over weeks, so the body adapts and side effects stay manageable.
- U-100 insulin syringeThe small insulin syringe most people use for peptides. Its scale is marked in units, where 100 units equals 1 mL, so 1 unit is 0.01 mL of liquid.
- GLP-1A gut hormone that boosts insulin after meals, slows stomach emptying and reduces appetite. GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide copy and extend its effect.
- Units vs mg vs mcgMilligrams (mg) and micrograms (mcg) measure how much peptide you take. Syringe units measure how much liquid you draw. You need the vial's concentration to convert one into the other.
Peptides where this comes up
Sources
Each source is labeled by where the information comes from. How we label sources
- Reference workMicrodosing(opens in a new tab)
Wikipedia · checked
- Media reportOzempic microdosing for weight loss(opens in a new tab)
Healthline · checked
Updated