More Than a Third of GLP-1 Drug Users Microdose To Avoid Side Effects, Survey Finds

Users also cited high costs and attempts to ease into GLP-1 medications gradually, as reasons for microdosing Ozempic and similar drugs.

As weight loss and diabetes drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro increase in popularity, more users are learning about the risk of potentially serious gastrointestinal side effects associated with the medications, and are choosing to cut back on their dosages without consulting their doctors.

According to an April 15 survey by healthcare company Tebra, more than a third of users of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are currently “microdosing” Ozempic and similar prescriptions, primarily due to the potential side effects associated with the drugs.

GLP-1 medications are a popular class of drugs that began as type 2 diabetes treatments, including Ozempic, Mounjaro, Victoza, Trulicity and others. In recent years, the number of prescriptions have exploded due to the weight benefits associated with the class, which has resulted in versions being introduced as diet drugs, which are sold under the brand names Wegovy and Zepbound.

However, as the popularity of GLP-1 drugs has surged, so have reports of serious side effects, such as stomach paralysis, intestinal obstructions and vision loss. This has led to a growing number of Ozempic lawsuits, Wegovy lawsuits and Mounjaro lawsuits being filed by individuals nationwide in recent months.

The Tebra survey questioned 640 GLP-1 users about microdosing the popular medications, asking if they did it and why. The goal was to learn, anticipate, and adjust for patient behaviors toward their treatment plans.

According to the findings, 36% of current GLP-1 users report currently microdosing, 32% of users say they used to microdose in the past, but have stopped, and 32% say they have never microdosed.

The most cited reason for microdosing Ozempic and similar drugs was to reduce side effects, which was given by 66% of those who microdosed. At least 40% said it was to ease into the medication gradually, 38% said they did so to save money, and 28% of microdosers said they felt that a full dose was too strong. These results mean that many users gave more than one reason for cutting back on their doses.

However, survey respondents indicated there were several different ways that patients reduced their GLP-1 doses, with 48% saying they took smaller injections than prescribed, 43% saying they split their doses over a longer period of time, 6% admitting using leftover medication from a friend or family member, and 1% indicating they used expired or leftover medication from a past prescription.

More than half, 55% of GLP-1 microdosers made the decision to do so without consulting their doctors, according to the findings.

“While some providers may see microdosing as a way to ease patients into treatment or reduce side effects, others worry about its risks. Concerns could include underdosing, lack of clinical data on microdosing, and patients making decisions without guidance,” Tebra researchers concluded. “By understanding why patients microdose and how it affects their mindset and outcomes, providers can offer more personalized care, correct misinformation, and build trust. As this trend evolves, staying informed will help patients navigate GLP-1 treatment safely and confidently.”

GLP-1 Lawsuits

In addition to patients microdosing, thousands who have already been affected by side effects linked to Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro use are currently pursuing GLP-1 lawsuits in federal courts nationwide. Each claim presents similar allegations that users suffered painful and debilitating stomach problems, which could have been avoided if the drug makers had provided adequate warnings to patients and the medical community.

All of the lawsuits brought throughout the federal court system have been centralized in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania under U.S. District Judge Karen Marston as part of a GLP-1 lawsuit multidistrict litigation (MDL).

To help test how juries may respond to certain evidence and testimony that will be central throughout thousands of individual claims, Judge Marston is presiding over coordinated discovery and pretrial proceedings to prepare a small group of cases for early trial dates.

While the outcomes of these early test cases will not be binding on other claims, they will be closely watched and may help the parties negotiate GLP-1 settlements to resolve large numbers of lawsuits in the future.