Madison Burgess has faced weight challenges throughout her life.

At 25, she encountered obstacles in her journey to shed 50 pounds, battling an ineffective workout routine and a strong craving for sweets that often led her to indulge in desserts more than she intended.

The Michigan resident began contemplating bariatric surgery—an operation that reduces stomach size, limiting how much food one can consume—in 2023 as the popularity of Ozempic and similar medications surged.

In March 2023, Madison joined Claya, an online weight loss platform where she consulted with a physician who prescribed her Ozempic, an innovative diabetes drug that is often used off-label for weight management.

This injectable medication is administered once every four weeks, with the initial dose starting at 0.25 mg and gradually escalating to a maximum of 2 mg.

After beginning at the lowest dose, Madison quickly noticed positive changes. Her body inflammation decreased, her hunger diminished, and she lost five pounds within her first week of treatment.

Three months later, her doctor increased her dosage to 1.7 mg, a common step for patients who are responding well and may benefit from a higher dose.

However, Madison soon experienced severe side effects, including nausea and intense stomach pain, accompanied by episodes of vomiting and irregular bowel movements.

Ms. Burgess aimed to lose 50 pounds with Ozempic. Since starting treatment in 2023, she has achieved a weight loss of 60 pounds.

“I came to realize this wasn’t the way I wanted to achieve weight loss,” she reflected.

This led her and her physician to explore a microdosing approach, opting for doses lower than the initial 0.25 mg starter level, which she had comfortably managed.

Since making this adjustment, Madison has successfully lost a total of 60 pounds.

It remains uncertain how many individuals have opted for personalized microdosing, but for Madison, it proved to be a transformative strategy.

The administration guidelines for Ozempic and comparable medications like Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound recommend gradual increases every four weeks.

Katie Sorensen, a nurse practitioner specializing in GLP-1 medications, who was not involved in Madison’s treatment, stated to Parade: “Microdosing offers attractive advantages, such as minimizing side effects and tailoring the dosage to each patient’s optimal level.”

However, microdosing has not received FDA approval, primarily because of uncertainties regarding the patient’s ability to achieve the full benefits established in recent clinical trials, according to Sorensen.

Individuals might experience significant weight loss with smaller doses due to being classified as “super responders,” a term for those who lose weight rapidly on these medications.

While research indicates that most patients must remain on semaglutide or similar drugs long-term to maintain weight loss, it’s unclear if these guidelines apply to microdose standards.

Emerging studies on the drug’s long-term effects suggest that patients may need to continue treatment, as it suppresses appetite but does not permanently modify metabolic rates.

Madison did not reveal her current dosage but has experienced no negative side effects over her two years of microdosing Ozempic. Her appetite has returned, but cravings are much less intense.

She expressed, “I now firmly support microdosing. My philosophy is to take it slow and stay at a low dose, which I believe yields better long-term results.”

“It’s been nothing short of amazing.”

Ms. Burgess began microdosing Ozempic when higher doses made her unwell.

A UK study indicated that participants who used Wegovy lost 18% of their weight over 68 weeks but regained two-thirds of it, translating to a 12% increase from their original body weight the following year.

Witnessing the initial five-pound drop inspired Ms. Burgess to fully leverage her medication. To ensure her progress didn’t falter after reducing her dosage, she also focused on increasing her fiber and protein intake.

She stated, “You can’t expect that taking a GLP-1 medication will transform everything; it’s merely a tool. You must cultivate sustainable healthy habits to achieve lasting results, especially if you plan to discontinue use.”

Many individuals who cease these medications do experience weight regain, with some weighing even more than before.

A recent study found that most people who discontinued semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, regained about two-thirds of the weight they lost and reported worsened health metrics, including increased blood pressure and cholesterol levels, as well as a higher risk of heart disease.

Around 12% of adults in the U.S. have reportedly used Ozempic or similar medications for weight reduction, while 6% are currently undergoing treatment.

Approximately 85% of those who recently started on such medications stopped within two years, with 71% discontinuing within the first year, either due to achieving their weight loss goals or financial barriers, given that these injections cost roughly $1,000 monthly.

Additionally, these medications have been associated with serious, life-altering side effects.

Experts have voiced concerns about prominent weight loss medications, such as Ozempic, potentially leading to vision impairment.

Research suggests these injections may lead to conditions that cause inflammation and limit blood flow to the eyes, resulting in severe, sometimes irreversible, vision loss.

Furthermore, these drugs can cause gastric paralysis, hindering the stomach’s ability to work effectively, and ischemic colitis, which involves reduced blood circulation to the colon that inflames and damages the intestinal lining.

An investigation by DailyMail.com last year revealed that at least 160 individuals have passed away while taking Ozempic. While none of the fatalities have been conclusively linked to the injections, experts suggest these reports indicate circumstances where the drug may have played a role.